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Baseball honors rolling in
Bernard, Duran finish tellar senior seasons
By Dick Sparrer
The high school season ended weeks ago, but the honors continue to roll in for the baseball stars of the 1999 spring season.
And seniors Ryan Bernard of Saratoga and Gabe Duran of Fremont pretty much top the list.
Bernard wrapped up an outstanding baseball career for the Falcons in impressive fashion.
A four-year starter for Saratoga, Bernard hit an impressive .545 and knocked in 17 runs to lead the Falcons to the championship in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
But it didn't stop there for the Saratoga senior. He also helped the Falcons to the Central Coast Section Division II title, and was picked to play in the first annual North-South County High School All-Star Series. His home run in game three helped the North win the series.
That was the just the beginning of the postseason honors for the talented Saratoga infielder. Bernard was named to the all-league first team in the El Camino Division and won a place on the All-Central Coast Section first team.
And to top off his outstanding Saratoga career, Bernard earned a place on the 1999 High School All-State team in the medium-school division.
Fremont's Duran was selected for the all-league first team in the SCVAL's De Anza Division after a sensational senior season for the Firebirds. Duran hit .468 for the 'Birds and socked a pair of homers. The Fremont infielder was picked to the All-CCS honorable mention list.
Duran, like Bernard, was a member of the North squad in the County All-Star Series, and he played well enough in the three-game set at San Jose's PAL Stadium to be named the most valuable player of the series.
Seniors Brian Laatsch of Monta Vista and Chad Ziemendorf of The King's Academy wrapped up the year in impressive fashion.
Laatsch, an outfielder who drove in 26 runs and scored 36 while hitting .424 for the Matadors in league play, was a first-team selection on the All-CCS list after winning a place on the all-league team in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL.
Ziemendorf, another member of the North 'Stars, was selected as the most valuable player in the Christian-Private Schools League and was named to the All-CCS honorable mention list after a solid senior season.
All-Stars
The following local players were among the 55 high school seniors to participate in the three-game County All-Star Series: North-- Matt Cannon of Monta Vista; Bernard, Mike Drew, Brady Moran, Brett Miller and Robin Gill of Saratoga; Brandon Fenemma and Jeff Ouellet of Los Gatos; Darrell Jacks and Brett Marrs of Prospect; Duran of Fremont; and Nick Mitchell, Kyle Viau and David San Filippo of Del Mar; and South-- Justin Abreu, Nick Bonacorsi and Jason Pera of Bellarmine; Todd Argent, Francisco Castaneda, Nick Langone and Brandon Crockett of Leland; Danny Cisneros and Matt Gagliardi of Valley Christian; and Ziemendorf of The King's Academy.
Five Mats, three Cats
Five Monta Vista baseball players and three players from Los Gatos earned spots on the all-league first team in the tough De Anza Division of the SCVAL.
Junior Jessen Grant joined seniors Cannon, Laatsch, Brandon Douglas and Ryan Mitchell on the all-league first team for Monta Vista.
Grant posted a low 2.05 earned run average and notched a solid 7-3 mound record to earn his place on the all-league squad. Cannon finished with a 5-1 record and a 3.34 era.
Douglas hit .372 and drove in 27 runs to claim a spot on the first-team infield, and Laatsch won a place in the outfield with his .424 batting mark. Mitchell was a first-team catcher after hitting a solid .378 with four homers and 21 RBIs.
Freshman Dustin Realini and junior Ajay Nagdev were Matadors tabbed for the all-league second team. Realini hit .397 and drove in 12 runs for the Mats, and Nagdev hit .421 and knocked in 12 runs. Realini was the only freshman selected for the all-league list.
Senior Marty Zankich and junior Casey Wilms were named on the league's honorable-mention list.
Ouellet and Fenemma joined junior Mike Cook on the all-league first team for Los Gatos. Senior Andy Housley was a second-team selection.
Cupertino senior Dan Barczi won a place on the all-league first team in the division after hitting .371 and driving in 15 runs.
Sophomore pitcher Brandon Clark (1-3 record, 1.60 earned run average), junior infielder Josh Lockard (.309 batting average) and junior outfielder Mike Runfola (.324 batting average, .506 on-base average) were Pioneers named on the second team. Senior Bryan Dillon was an honorable mention pick.
Duran and Jose Carrillo represented Fremont on the all-league first team in the De Anza Division.
Duran led the Firebirds with his .468 batting average and Carrillo hit .400 with three homers and 19 RBIs.
Juniors David Quinonez, Pete Hernandez and Jason Placencia were Fremont players winning honorable-mention plaudits.
Aaron Hall of Homestead was selected for the all-league first team after hitting .333 with a couple of homers and 19 RBIs for the Mustangs. The senior infielder was joined on the all-league squad by second-teamer Adam Milliken, a junior outfielder who hit .327 with a pair of home runs, and honorable mention picks junior Brandon Schroder and senior Chris Dreyer.
Ziemendorf stars
The King's Ziemendorf was the MVP in the Christian Private Schools League and was joined on the all-league squad by teammates C.T. Hoes and James Rodriguez.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
