Wonder Years Arrive for Trio

From the time they were old enough to chew bubble gum, Matt Fisher, Matt Cassel and Conor Jackson have been called baseball wonders.

Every step of the way, from T-ball through senior league, they’ve stood out as all-stars.

In youth drafts, they were certain No. 1 picks. If only they had agent Dennis Gilbert to negotiate their pizza deals.

Time has flown by. They’re now sophomores in high school, Fisher and Cassel at Chatsworth, Jackson at El Camino Real. They’re experiencing growth spurts and learning how to drive and survive socially. Life is great.

Their next challenge, providing an opportunity to prove themselves, will come in the City Section baseball season. Expectations are high because they are among the region’s best young high school players. Based on talent, work ethic and academic standing, they already are top college prospects.

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Fisher was the starting shortstop for the Northridge team that lost to Venezuela on national television in the championship game of the 1994 Little League World Series.

Afterward, of all the Northridge players at Williamsport, Pa., Fisher was the most visibly upset. Outside the player dorms, he kept wiping away tears as his mother consoled him with a warm embrace.

“It’s the way I am,” he recalled four years later. “I’m used to winning.”

Fisher has never found a batting cage he didn’t like or worn a uniform he didn’t get dirty.

“Fisher is the kind of guy who feels he can hit anybody and make any play,” said Larry Baca, his Little League coach.

Last season as a freshman at Chatsworth, Fisher started every varsity game except the opener at shortstop. He made only three errors, distinguishing himself defensively like few 15-year-olds.

He batted .324 but was considered the easiest out in Chatsworth’s lineup. By the end of last summer, as he gained strength and experience and grew to 5 feet 8, he became a dangerous hitter.

“He was mashing the ball,” said Matt LaCour, Fisher’s American Legion coach.

In the Region 7 American Legion playoffs in Boise, Idaho, some pitchers were three years older than Fisher and throwing 90-mph fastballs. He still hit three home runs, including two in the regional final.

“We really feel he’s solid defensively and we look for him to be one of our main contributors offensively,” Chatsworth Coach Tom Meusborn said.

Fisher, who has a 3.2 grade-point average, said his experience in Williamsport taught him important lessons.

“I lost one of the biggest games you could lose,” he said. “You have to deal with it. You can’t dwell on it.”

On the special moment involved, Fisher said, “To have the greatest time of your life when you’re so young . . . people don’t understand how much fun it was. When you see old teammates and talk about it, it’s like, ‘I wish I could be 12 again.’ Other players can see a crowd at a playoff game and think it’s big, but when you talk about a crowd of 40,000 to 45,000 people who came to watch 12-year-olds, it’s crazy.”

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Cassel has sprouted to a towering 6-3 and weighs 180 pounds. He’s only 15 and still growing.

He started several football games at quarterback for Chatsworth last fall. He played sparingly on the varsity baseball team last spring, then hit .359 in summer ball.

“He could play first, he could play third, he could play DH, he could pitch, he could move to the outfield,” Meusborn said. “He’s outstanding.”

Baca thinks Cassel could emerge as the best of an excellent group of ex-Northridge Little Leaguers.

“He’s got tools other guys might not possess,” Baca said. “He doesn’t let anything bother him.”

Cassel’s easy-going personality has caused a love/hate relationship with his coaches.

“He’s a great kid with a good heart,” Meusborn said.

It’s just that Cassel sometimes causes people to laugh at inopportune moments.

“He’s so hyper he’s unbelievable,” Fisher said.

Said Cassel: “I like having fun. I don’t think I should calm down just because people want me to act that way. Everything about the game gets me excited. Sometimes I’ll get [coaches] on the wrong day and they’ll go crazy because I’m messing around. Other times they like having fun.”

Cassel’s 3.6 grade-point average is evidence he knows exactly what he’s doing.

He is having a hard time growing up. In Williamsport, Cassel was one of Northridge’s most composed players on the field. Away from the diamond, he was having pillow fights and talking to his aluminum bat named Susan. Not much has changed.

“He’s just Cassel,” Fisher said.

Fisher and Cassel treat each other like brothers.

“We’re always ragging on each other,” Cassel said. “[Fisher] has an advantage--he can drive.”

Their experience at the Little League World Series built a long-lasting bond.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Cassel said. “I really can’t express the feeling of it because it was so amazing.”

Said Fisher: “I think everybody expects as much of me and Cassel as the seniors.”

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When Jackson’s father, John, moved from Austin, Texas, to West Hills 14 years ago to further his acting career, little did he know his family’s new home was in the hottest youth baseball community in the Valley.

Ryan McGuire, Derek Wallace, Jeff Suppan, Dan Cey, Randy Wolf, Woody Cliffords--they’ve all come out of the Westhills PONY baseball program.

Conor Jackson, who once hit three home runs in a playoff game, proudly proclaims, “I grew up a Westhills boy.”

Last season as a freshman at El Camino Real, he played on the junior varsity and batted .400. During the summer, in his first exposure to varsity pitching, he hit .394 as a third baseman. He also played varsity football as a 6-2, 175-pound linebacker.

His Legion coach, Rob Bumgarner, said, “He could be a beast in football and baseball. I see no reason, with work, the guy couldn’t lead the City in hitting.”

Jackson is a role model for his peers. He has a 3.5 grade-point average, officiates youth soccer games and seems to get along with everyone.

“Everybody wants to be like Conor,” said catcher Mike Leduc, who has known Jackson since they were 6. “He’s God’s experiment with perfection. He’s got good grades and is a great person.”

Jackson said he could play baseball day and night without getting bored.

“I love the atmosphere,” he said. “Most of the baseball players are my best friends, so it’s like playing with a group of guys I’ve known my whole life.”

John Jackson has coached his son at Westhills when he’s not acting. He plays the admiral on the CBS series, “JAG.” But Conor ended a brief acting stint just as it was beginning.

“I tried that out in seventh grade and got a little frustrated,” he said. “You would go to all these auditions.”

He was chosen as an extra for a commercial about Universal Studios’ Back to the Future ride. That was his first and last job.

“I rode that ride, I swear, 20 times,” he said.

He made $900 but immediately gave it to his mother to pay for acting classes and photos.

“I said, ‘Let’s stop it, we’re even,’ ” Jackson said. “Sports is a huge part of my life. I couldn’t picture myself without playing sports.”

El Camino Real has won three City Section 4-A Division baseball championships in the 1990s. Jackson was a reserve in the dugout at Dodger Stadium last May when the Conquistadores won it all.

If El Camino Real is to repeat, Jackson will need to play an important role. He’ll be facing his buddies from Chatsworth, Fisher and Cassel, at least three times in the regular season and perhaps a fourth time at Dodger Stadium.

“It takes a lot of hard work to reach your peak,” Jackson said. “I have a long ways to go.”

Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN ’98

PITCHERS

1. John Ennis Monroe Sr. Signed with UCLA; legit power pitcher

2. Mike Kunes Chatsworth Jr. Went 13-1 in Legion ball

3. Jack Cassel Kennedy Sr. Signed with Loyola Marymount

4. Bruce Greenwood Chaminade Sr. Was 9-1 with 2.18 ERA as a junior

5. Mike Byer Royal Sr. Crafty left-hander who gets people out

6. Michael Jackson Crespi Jr. Can be top pitcher in Mission League

7. Greg Ramirez Rio Mesa Jr. Was 8-2 with 2.17 ERA

8. Kevin Jerkens Notre Dame Sr. Leader of top pitching staff

9. Matt Rogers Thousand Oaks Jr. Can be surprise pitcher in Marmonte

10. Matt Jackson Calabasas Sr. Was 8-0 in ’97

11. Noah Lowry Nordhoff Sr. Led region with 1.27 ERA

12. Ivan Hernandez Sylmar Jr. Has velocity to dominate East Valley batters

13. Andy Davidson Hart Sr. Another in long line of top Indian pitchers

14. Josh Herman Crescenta Valley Sr. Returning Pacific League MVP

15. Tony Sandoval Burroughs Jr. Coming off excellent sophomore season

16. Shane Miranda Camarillo Jr. If he’s improved, beware

17. Wes Crown Kennedy Sr. Possesses one of the best curveballs

18. Matt Harrington Palmdale So. A star in the making

19. Tim Leveque Crespi Jr. Has lost weight and improved form

20. Phil Polanco Notre Dame Jr. Will be the best closer around

FIRST BASEMEN

1. Woody Cliffords El Camino Real Sr. Top candidate for City MVP

2. J.J. Rosati Palmdale Sr. Batted .506 as a junior

3. Ryan Stonerock Notre Dame Sr. Was mashing ball in winter league

4. Jon Bringuier Granada Hills Jr. Ready to break out as big-time hitter

5. Ryan West Quartz Hill Sr. Can hit with best in Golden League

6. Luke Worgan Crespi Sr. Has power and excellent skills

7 Jeff Spector Taft Jr. Hit .371 as sophomore

8. Nick Jastrow Burroughs Jr. Burbank transfer has been impressive

9. Matt Berkson Harvard-Westlake Sr. Versatile and dangerous hitter

10. Ernie Borjas Rio Mesa Jr. Part of top junior class

11. David Perry Thousand Oaks Sr. Scouts love his swing

SECOND BASEMEN

1. Chris Martinez Chaminade Sr. Can field, hit and lead

2. Ismael Rangsiyawong No. Hollywood Sr. Hit .466 with 13 HRs

3. Ryan Cope Westlake Sr. Showed power with seven HRs

4. Anthony Trejo Crespi Sr. Ex-shortstop ready to have big season

5. Salvador Trujillo Poly Sr. A likely All-City player

6. Mark McCauley Crescenta Valley So. Best infielder in Pacific League

THIRD BASEMEN

1. Kevin Howard Westlake Jr. Will be a top draft pick in ’99

2. Gaby Velazquez St. Francis Sr. Hits and fields with best

3. Danny Eisenberg Chatsworth Sr. Ready to have his best season

4. Mark Hull Hoover Sr. He’s 6-6 and can swing the bat

5. Conor Jackson El Camino Real So. Showed in summer he can play

6. Brian Jacobsen Agoura Jr. Will be heard from in Marmonte League

SHORTSTOPS

1. Scott Dragicevich Westlake Sr. Signed with Stanford

2. Matt Fisher Chatsworth So. He’s as good as advertised

3. Danny Greene Newbury Park Sr. Great fielder and streak hitter

4. Brett Wayne Royal Sr. Signed with St. Mary’s

5. Jay Caliguiri Camarillo Sr. Best hitter of the shortstops

6. Jerrit Redlich North Hollywood Sr. Has strong arm, good instincts

7. Tommy Perez Burroughs Sr. Capable of having MVP season

8. J.T. Stotts Hart Sr. Hits as well as he sinks three-pointers

9. John Puccinelli Notre Dame Jr. This is the year to prove himself

10. Chris Wurster Antelope Valley Sr. Steady and dependable

11. Nathaniel Dunlap Chaminade Jr. Has excellent skills

OUTFIELDERS

1. Traviss Hodge Highland Sr. Has become pro prospect

2. Andy Campanella Crespi Sr. Hit over .700 in winter ball

3. Chris Wright Hart Sr. Finished with .510 average in ’97

4. Barry Tolli Newbury Park Sr. Utah transfer has immense talent

5. Tom Morefield Chatsworth Sr. All-City player with power

6. Jake Farrel Newbury Park Sr. A certain .400 hitter

7. Bryan Gant Chatsworth Sr. Best leadoff hitter in City

8. Matt Blaney St. Francis Sr. Moves from second base

9. Aaron Minor Birmingham Sr. Led City with 25 steals

10. Michael Falco Agoura Jr. Right fielder with big-time bat

11. Justin Savitt Cleveland Sr. Can play the game when focused

12. Tyrone Kimbrough Royal Sr. Much improved during winter ball

13. Kurt Birkins El Camino Real Sr. Left-hander hits line drives

14. Andy Lopez St. Francis Sr. Batted .506 with 43 hits

15. Manny Flores Poly So. Can be .400 hitter in City play

16. Matt Thayer Harvard-Westlake So. This guy can hit

CATCHERS

1. Brady Burrill Valencia Sr. Batted .487 with 32 RBI

2. Jared Krehblel Channel Islands Sr. Hit .494 with 28 RBI

3. Joe Yingling Camarillo Sr. Best defensively in region

4. Jim Hemming St. Francis Sr. Big, tough and imposing

5. Ryan Noll Glendale Sr. Finished with 42 hits last season

6. Joey Hamer Newbury Park So. Young player keeps improving

7. Tim Mathews Crespi Sr. Pitchers love throwing to him

8. Luke Peterson Crescenta Valley Jr. Made impact as sophomore

9. Isaac Romero Rio Mesa Jr. Has excellent potential

10. Taylor Slimak Moorpark Jr. Can dominate Frontier pitching