June 27, 2007
Porcello leads the way on 2007 All-USA baseball team
How the team was picked: The 2007 All-USA baseball team was selected by reporter Christopher Lawlor in conjunction with a national network of analysts, professional scouts and prep writers. All players are seniors.
The squad: First team | Coach of the Year | Second team
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ALL-USA FIRST TEAM
Player of the Year
RICK PORCELLO, pitcher
School: Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, N.J.
Height: 6-5. Weight: 200.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Major league draft/college: Detroit Tigers (first round)/North Carolina.
By the numbers: Went 10-0 in 71 innings, struck out 112 and walked 15 with a 1.18 ERA. Batted .478 with 11 home runs and 48 RBI. Gatorade's national player of the year. In three seasons was 20-1 with a 0.88 ERA. Grandfather, Sam Dente, played in majors. Seton Hall Prep finished No. 1 in USA TODAY's Super 25 rankings.
Favorite major leaguer: Roger Clemens. "He's all business. I also admire his longevity."
Why do you wear No. 21? "Have worn it since it was assigned to me in Little League."
Most memorable no-hitter: "I threw a perfect game against Newark Academy in this year's county tournament semifinals (Great Newark Tournament). In the seventh, I thought it was gone, but (left fielder) Joe DeMarzo made a great catch to preserve it."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "I don't know all the facts, but I do know he's one of the greatest hitters."
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JARROD PARKER, pitcher
School: Norwell, Ossian, Ind.
Height: 6-2. Weight: 180.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Major league draft/college: Arizona Diamondbacks (first round)/Georgia Tech.
By the numbers: Went 12-0 with two saves and 0.10 ERA, helping No. 23 Norwell (35-0) win the Class 3A state title. In 70 innings, struck out 116 with 11 walks and one earned run. Hit .530 with five homers and 52 RBI and scored 43 runs. Played on U.S. junior national team in 2006. Twice Area (Fort Wayne) player of the year. Gatorade's Indiana player of the year.
Favorite major leaguer: Pedro Martinez. "He's always focused and intense."
First no-hitter: "I was 14 years old, pitching in the regional tournament for the Summit City Sluggers (travel team). Since then I've thrown one last year and two this season."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "All the pressure must be getting to him, but he hasn't shown it."
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DEVIN MESORACO, catcher
School: Punxsutawney, Pa.
Height: 6-1. Weight: 200.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Major league draft: Signed with Cincinnati Reds (first round).
By the numbers: Helped Punxsutawney win Class 3A state title. Batted .429 with five homers, 17 RBI and scored 32 runs. Had a .629 on-base average and slugged .857. Pennsylvania's state player of the year.
Favorite major leaguer: Jason Kendall. "I grew up rooting for the Pirates, and Jason was the catcher. He was a hard worker."
Why do you wear No. 37? "In Little League, the 12-year-old kids picked their uniforms first. And since I was one of the younger players on the team, this was one of the last numbers."
Wooden or metal bat? "I like the sound off wood. Plus there's a smaller sweet spot, meaning you need to spend more time in the cage to hone your swing."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "All those home runs don't come by luck. He works at it and deserves (to break) the (all-time) home run record."
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JOSH VITTERS, infielder
School: Cypress, Anaheim, Calif.
Height: 6-3. Weight: 195.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Major league draft/college: Chicago Cubs (first round)/Arizona State.
By the numbers: Hit .390 with 30 runs, nine home runs and 29 RBI. Slugged .870. Played for USA Baseball's youth national team. Two-time All-CIF selection.
Favorite major leaguer: Mickey Mantle. "He possessed the rare combination of speed and strength."
Why do you wear No. 9? "My older brother (Christian) wore it. I always wanted to be like him. He's doing pretty good playing for Kane County (Oakland Athletics organization)."
Wooden or metal bat? "I can hit with wood just as far as metal. Besides, wood just feels better and is more balanced."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "I'm not a Barry-basher. He's handled the boos and media scrutiny quite well."
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MIKE MOUSTAKAS, infielder
School: Chatsworth, Calif.
Height: 6-3. Weight: 195.
Bats: Left. Throws: Right.
Major league draft/college: Kansas City Royals (first round)/Southern California.
By the numbers: Batted .577 with a California state-record 24 home runs and 59 RBI. He had a 1.474 slugging average and finished with a state-record 52 career homers. Twice named Los Angeles City Section player of the year. First high school player drafted in 2007 at No. 2 overall.
Favorite major leaguer: Chipper Jones. "You never expect so much power from his swing. I love watching him play."
Why do you wear No. 11? "I was born on Sept. 11th, my father wore it playing football at UCLA and when I was younger I had 11 stitches in my chin. Since that accident, it's been good luck."
Wooden or metal bat? Wooden. "It makes me feel more authentic, like a major leaguer."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "The best pure hitter in baseball. He hits the ball square up."
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KEVIN AHRENS, infielder
School: Memorial, Houston
Height: 6-2. Weight: 185.
Bats: Switch. Throws: Right.
Major league draft/college: Toronto Blue Jays (first round)/Texas A&M.
By the numbers: Batted .426 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI and 47 runs scored. Had a .952 fielding average, named Greater Houston Player of the Year. Twice selected all-state and three times all-district.
Favorite major leaguer: Alex Rodriguez. "He's a great all-around player, but I really like watching him hit."
Why do you wear No. 15? "I wanted No. 7 because my father and brother wore it, but it was taken. I decided to take 15 and make my own name with it."
Wooden or metal bat? "I never liked the ping (sound) of metal. Wood is the sound of a major leaguer."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "I don't pay close attention to him, but once he breaks the home run record, it'll (the national attention) end."
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MATT DOMINGUEZ, infielder
School: Chatsworth, Calif.
Height: 6-3. Weight: 190.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Major league draft/college: Florida Marlins (first round)/Cal State-Fullerton.
By the numbers: Batted .443 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI. Drove in 65 runs as a freshman, setting a state mark. Played for the U.S. junior national team in 2006. Four-time all-league and state selection.
Favorite major leaguer: "I really didn't have one growing up, but now I like watching (third basemen) Alex Rodriguez and David Wright."
Why do you wear No. 3? "I started wearing it as a kid."
Wooden or metal bat? "Metal bats are more forgiving, but I love the sound of the ball hitting a wooden bat."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "He's one of the greatest players, but lately he's chasing bad pitches and probably not seeing many good ones."
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JASON HEYWARD, outfielder
School: Henry County, McDonough, Ga.
Height: 6-5. Weight: 230.
Bats: Left. Throws: Left.
Major league draft/college: Atlanta Braves (first round)/UCLA.
By the numbers: Batted .520 with eight home runs and 32 RBI. Had a .750 on-base average fueled by 43 walks. East Team MVP at Aflac All-American Game in 2006. Three time all-state and district selection.
Favorite major leaguer: Derek Jeter. "I like the way he handles himself, and he's the captain of the Yankees, a team I grew up liking."
Why do you wear No. 24? "It was given to me when I was younger, but I came to realize players like Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr. have made it famous."
Wooden or metal bat? "Wood, of course. There's no better sound than the ball hitting the bat."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "I admire how he's produced with so many outside distractions."
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BEN REVERE, outfielder
School: Lexington (Ky.) Catholic
Height: 5-9. Weight: 170.
Bats: Left. Throws: Right.
Major league draft: Signed with Minnesota Twins (first round).
By the numbers: Batted .517 with 10 homers and 48 RBI and scored 57 runs. Possesses 6.28 speed in the 60-yard dash. Stole 27 of 28 bases. Had a .489 career batting average. Signed with Georgia before opting for the pros.
Favorite major leaguers: Ken Griffey Jr. and Kirby Puckett. "Kirby was short (like me) but powerful."
Why do you wear No. 21? "It's the same as my Dad's favorite player, Roberto Clemente."
Wooden or metal bat? "Wood brings out the best in a hitter."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "He's taken so much heat from the fans, but amazingly he's remained focused."
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WENDELL FAIRLEY, outfielder
School: George County, Lucedale, Miss.
Height: 6-2. Weight: 190.
Bats: Left. Throws: Right.
Major league draft/college: San Francisco Giants (first round)/Southern Mississippi.
By the numbers: Batted .538 with nine home runs and 36 RBI. Also went 9-2 with a 1.89 ERA, striking out 109. Played in High School All-American Game in Albuquerque. All-state in baseball, football.
Favorite major leaguer: Barry Bonds. "He can hit it out of the park. I like watching the ball get up there."
Why do you wear No. 18? "As a freshman, I inherited it from a close friend who graduated a year earlier."
Wooden or metal bat? Wooden. "It's more of a challenge. You have to work harder (at the plate)."
What's your take on Barry Bonds? "He's chasing baseball's most coveted record. I hope to meet him one day."
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JERRY BOATNER, coach
School: West Lauderdale, Collinsville, Miss.
By the numbers: 923-286 (39 years), including 873-256 at West Lauderdale. Won Class 4A state championship best-of-three series, finishing No. 2 in USA TODAY's Super 25 baseball rankings. Has won 11 state and 25 district titles and has four state runner-up finishes. Also named Mississippi's coach of the year this season. Pitched for Delta State, graduating in 1968.
Why I wear No. 30: "It's the same number I wore at Delta State as a player."
Coach I admire: Dave "Boo" Ferriss. "Boo is the main one. He was my college coach and had a love for the game and really cared about his players."
In 10 years I want to be …: "Coaching baseball. I look forward to every season and still have the fire and energy it takes."
How difficult was it to coach after the death of your wife, Marsha Jo, in March? "Baseball got me through a tough time. I don't know what I'd have (done) if we weren't so successful. It … helped me begin to move forward."
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