Press Box Prattle

The Marmonte League baseball schedule reached its midway point last week, so, like I've done in past seasons, now seems like the appropriate time to name a first-half All-Star squad.

Here are the players who've made the greatest impact for their respective teams thus far:

First base: Dewey Grattan,

Moorpark

Through his team's first 19 games, Grattan led the resurgent Musketeers in batting average (.460), hits (29), RBI (24), doubles (seven), home runs (three), on-base percentage (.534) and slugging percentage (.746).

The senior slugger has bounced back from a disappointing junior campaign to post some of the league's most impressive offensive numbers, and in the process, Grattan has helped Moorpark stay in the thick of the playoff chase.

Honorable mention: Christian Yelich, Westlake; Eric Bernstein, Simi Valley; Jordan Brower, Newbury Park; Kenneth McCroskery, Agoura.

Second base: Jack Marder,

Newbury Park

A three-year varsity player, Marder long ago established himself as one of the premier clutch performers in the area.

As a junior, Marder leads the league with a .582 batting average and has shown plate discipline that's second to none- he struck out four times in his first 60 atbats. The University of Oregon commit works tirelessly on his defense, too, and entered the week with only one error.

Honorable mention: Brian Rivera, Calabasas; Matt Orloff, Simi Valley.

Shortstop:

Jonathan Meyer, Simi Valley

Talk about a young player who can really swing the stick. Meyer has been unbelievable at the dish for the firstplace Pioneers. The junior shortstop entered the week with a .435 batting average, 29 RBI and 24 runs scored. He's also clubbed a league-leading six home runs.

If Meyer can tighten up his defense just a bit- he's made seven errors- the sky's the limit for this talented Pioneer power player.

Honorable mention: Brad Greve, Newbury Park; Tyler Smith, Thousand Oaks; Adam Landecker, Calabasas; Michael Moris, Moorpark.

Third base: Shane Kroker,

Westlake

Kroker recently went from playing third base to shortstop when Cutter Dykstra was moved to center field, which says plenty about Kroker's versatility. To maximize the talent on this team, however, the Wake Forest commit will patrol the hot corner.

If I had to hand out a league MVP award right now, Kroker would be the man. Through his first 68 at-bats of the season, the senior had 34 hits, including a pair of round-trippers. Kroker entered Wednesday's showdown at Royal with 24 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

Honorable mention: Trevor Nathanson, Calabasas; Michael Dennis, Newbury Park.

Catcher: Jett Bandy,

Thousand Oaks

Why does catcher always have to be the most difficult decision in the Marmonte? I could have easily gone with Royal's Mike Vinyard (.436 BA, nine doubles), Newbury Park's JoJo Sharrar (.350 BA, 17 RBI) or Simi Valley's Drew Sandler (.345 BA, four HRs, 20 runs), but Bandy is too much of an offensive stud to pass up here.

The 6foot4, 215pound University of Arizona-bound backstop was swinging the stick at a .389 clip with five home runs and 19 RBI as of Wednesday. He is, without a doubt, the premier offensive player in the Lancers' lineup.

Honorable mention: See above.

Outfielders:

Bryan Berglund, Royal; Cutter Dykstra, Westlake;

Brent Keys, Simi Valley

Berglund gets the nod over a slew of other talented outfielders because of his versatility- he can play all over the field as well as pitch. The Highlander junior has posted a .370 batting average and has a 1.05 ERA in 26.2 innings of work on the bump.

Dykstra struggled at shortstop before his move to the outfield, but with a .444 batting average, four home runs and 10 stolen bases, he's on board.

Keys is an excellent leadoff man with an outstanding glove. He's hitting .413 with 19 runs and 11 RBI. Keys is basically a center fielder playing in right for Simi Valley.

Honorable mention: Alex Birgel, Ryan Donahoe and Kyle Thomas, Thousand Oaks; Stephen Hagy and Casey Rhoades, Westlake; Landon Hunt, Moorpark; Brett Hale, Simi Valley.

Designated hitter:

Christian Yelich, Westlake

Like I was going to field an All-Star team without Yelich in the lineup. Yeah, right. The Warriors' super sophomore, who recently made a verbal commitment to UCLA, came into the week with a .404 batting average, five home runs and 18 RBI.

The kid is so special that Newbury Park head coach Scott Drootin recently said Yelich compares favorably to Andrew Lambo at the plate- both are left-handed sluggers with pop. Lambo was a two-time Ventura County Player of the Year at NPHS who's now excelling in the Dodgers' organization.

Honorable mention: Ben Conlin and Josh Gray, Westlake; Derek Taylor, Newbury Park; Cody Buckel, Royal; Steven Keller and Richard Stock, Agoura.

Starting pitcher:

Greg Selarz, Calabasas

Selarz has been downright nasty this year. In fact, he's been completely unhittable at times. In his first 37 innings, the senior righthander gave up a grand total of two earned runs. He entered the week with a 5-1 record and a .378 ERA with 34 strikeouts and six walks. Those are softball numbers, folks.

And it's not like Selarz is ducking anyone, either, having already beaten Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks. Honestly, there are a lot of great arms in the Marmonte League, but this decision wasn't even close.

In the bullpen: Matt Magill and Tanner Peters, Royal; Jeff Johnson and Chad Smith, Thousand Oaks; Alex Gillingham and Graham Johnson, Westlake; Ryan Watt, Wes Wright and Justen Gorski, Moorpark; Connor Detko, Newbury Park; Drew Sandler and Nick Russo, Simi Valley.

Head coach: Matt La Belle, Simi Valley

La Belle's team won seven of its first eight league games to take control of first place. Plus, he's been coaching third base with a busted-up foot, which is never an easy task.

Honorable mention: Zach Miller, Westlake.