AREA CODE GAMES NOTEBOOK: ELITIST ATTITUDE DOES TRICK.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

LONG BEACH - An event featuring the country's top high school baseball prospects is not normally a place for someone coming off a high school season in which he hit .170. Yet, Richie Martin was at last week's Area Code Games and he didn't look out of place.

After a junior season at Valencia High that he described as ``very disappointing,'' Martin was out to prove he belonged among baseball's elite. An intensified work ethic helped him do the trick this summer and allowed him to be one of the most productive players for the Area Code team.

``It was very important for me to come out first of all just to show the scouts what I was really made of,'' said the pitcher-outfielder, who pitched a perfect inning Thursday. ``I wanted them to see I belonged here. I reflected on last year and I worked really hard to make sure that didn't happen again. You can't just tell people you're good, you have to show them you really are. I worked real hard this summer to let people know what I can do.''

His first hit at the showcase was an RBI double in Monday's victory over the 900/Mariners. He had two more hits and two RBI in Tuesday's win against the Pirates/Florida.

Martin's performance shouldn't be surprising considering he hit 13 home runs as a sophomore, but he managed just four home runs and a .170 average in the spring.

``The difference between high school and Area Code is huge,'' Martin said. ``Everyone in Area Code is an excellent player. I realized I belong with that caliber of players and it made me work as hard as I could to play at their level. That's what I want to do with my life, I want to play baseball for a living.''

--Promising Pioneer: Simi Valley's chances of being a Marmonte League contender appear to have improved with this summer's arrival of Colby Judd. The incoming 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior transferred from the Fresno area and should provide power hitting and pitching.

The Pioneers know little about Judd since he played just one game with Simi Valley's American Legion team. But he started at first base this week for the Texas Rangers at the Area Code Games. The left-hander was a starting pitcher for his high school team as a sophomore and calls the position his favorite. He's also excited about the prospect of hitting at Simi Valley's small home field.

``It should be fun,'' he said.

--Traveling man: Chaminade's Erik Johnson flew home from the American Legion state tournament in Yountville to play for the Area Code team Monday. After getting a game-winning hit, he tried to convince his family to let him fly back to Yountville for Tuesday's Legion final and fly back for the evening Area Code game.

Instead, Johnson remained in Southern California while West Hills Chaminade lost the championship game. He started in right field for the Area Code team that night and reached base twice on walks.

--Talk of the town: With Camarillo's Delmon Young missing this year's Area Code Games to play for the USA Youth National Team in the Pan-American Youth Baseball Championships in Mexico, John Peabody of San Diego's Rancho Bernardo High was left as the youngest player and only incoming sophomore at the showcase.

The 14-year-old quickly drew scouts' attention when he took the mound for the 900/Mariners team Monday against the Area Code team. His 6-4, 210-pound frame and ability to throw in the mid-80s had some asking if his birth date was a misprint. After Peabody retired the side in order in the sixth, a scout roamed the stands informing everyone that Peabody indeed is only 14.

He didn't surprise many batters the next inning, though. The first three batters he faced in the seventh got hits, then Johnson hit a one-out game-winning single.

--Short hops: The addition of Westlake catcher Mike Nickeas to the Texas Rangers roster gave Westlake the most representatives among local schools for a second year in a row. The Warriors had six players at last year's Games, including the three - Nickeas, Tyler Adamczyk and Ryan McCarthy - who were back this year. . . . Out of 28 players on the Area Code team, Granada Hills' Ryan Braun was one of only three players who was not an incoming senior. The junior-to-be started the first two games at designated hitter. Incoming junior pitchers Kris Krise of Crescenta Valley and Greg Acheatel of El Camino Real of Woodland Hills played for the 900/Mariners team.