AREA NEARLY IGNORED JUST FOUR LOCAL PLAYERS DRAFTED ON SECOND DAY.

Byline: Chris Branam Daily News Staff Writer

The list reads like a virtual who's who of local standout high school baseball players: Kurt Birkins, Andy Campanella, Jack Cassel, Woody Cliffords, Andy Davidson, Tom Morefield.

All weren't drafted.

The area was virtually ignored in Major League Baseball's first-year player draft, which was completed Wednesday. Following the lead of the first day when only four high school players were selected, just four more were taken on the second day.

Last year, eight local prep players were taken in the first 20 rounds, including Kennedy's Jon Garland, who was a first-round selection of the Chicago Cubs.

Crespi's Campanella, the Mission League player of the year, batted .527 this season with 40 RBI. He said he is ready to fulfill his commitment to play for UC Santa Barbara.

``My expectations weren't really met with the draft,'' he said. ``I can't help but be a little disappointed.''

Campanella wasn't the only polished senior who sat idly by the phone. Cliffords, a left-handed hitting outfielder at El Camino Real, who committed to Pepperdine, entered the week with a .500 average and seven home runs. Hart's Davidson, a left-hander, was 10-2 with a 1.81 ERA.

Birkins, another left-hander, was 9-1 with a 2.63 ERA before he gave up seven runs in 2-1/3 innings on Tuesday against Carson. Cassel, a right-hander who is 8-3 entering today's City 4-A playoff game against Chatsworth, was one of the surprises of the Area Code Games last summer. He has signed with Loyola Marymount.

And Morefield, the Cal State Northridge-bound outfielder who leads Chatsworth in home runs (11) and batting average (.459 before Tuesday) was not among the 1,445 players taken in the draft.

Of course, stats do not concern the scouts who recommend players to their clubs for the draft.

Perhaps it was fitting that the area's only first-round draft choice, Jeff Weaver, pitched sparingly at Simi Valley High and was a walk-on at Fresno State.

There was a surprise in the 26th round. Highland's J.P. Schmidt, who was not even named on the All-Golden League first team, was taken by the Oakland A's. The Bulldogs' Traviss Hodge, a much more regarded prospect, went in the 34th round to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Camarillo catcher Joe Yingling, who has not committed to a college, was taken in the 35th round by the Detroit Tigers, and Burroughs shortstop Tommy Perez, who is committed to Loyola Marymount, wasn't picked until the 45th round by the Montreal Expos.

Perez, an excellent student, said he was not disappointed by going late.

``I told (teams) that I wanted to go to school,'' Perez said. ``I'm going to Loyola.''

Long Beach State's Terrmel Sledge (Granada Hills, Cal State Northridge) was taken in the 45th round by the Cincinnati Reds. San Jose State third baseman Casey Cheshier, formerly of Highland, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 39th round.

David Hawk, a left-hander from Bakersfield who pitched in just one game for Chatsworth this season before abruptly moving back home, was taken in the 24th round by the Pirates.

LOCALS IN THE DRAFT

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

Player Pos. Rd.-Pick Team School

Casey Cheshier 3B 39-1181 Braves Highland HS/San Jose St.

Casey Cloud C 27-808 Pirates UCLA 

Jeff Depippo C 27-813 Indians USC 

Ruben Escobar RHP 29-873 Indians The Master's

Chris MacMillan 3B 26-783 Indians CSUN 

Correy Parrot CF 28-846 Dodgers Burbank HS/Pasadena CC

Wes Rachels 2B 33-974 Phillies USC

Terrmel Sledge CF 45-1329 Reds Granada Hills HS/CSUN/LB State

Nick Theodorou 2B 27-816 Dodgers UCLA

Bryn Wade 2B 49-1420 Angels Newbury Park HS/Biola

HIGH SCHOOL

J.P. Schmidt SS 26-765 A's Highland

Traviss Hodge P-OF 34-1018 Pirates Highland

Joe Yingling C 35-1047 Tigers Camarillo

Tommy Perez SS 45-1332 Expos Burroughs

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BOX: LOCALS IN THE DRAFT (see text)