BASEBALL BEAT.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer

Big-time catcher: Jesse Daggett is his name, and playing catcher is his game. The Crescenta Valley High School senior performs like a real pro prospect. He's 6-foot-3, weighs 218 pounds and shows power at the plate and with his arm.

"From a skill point of view, he's one of the finest catchers in the area," Falcons coach Tony Zarrillo said. "You would think a kid his size with his age and his power, he would have a significant number of strikeouts. But he is a good contact hitter."

Daggett improved his swing during the winter playing for the Cleveland Indians scout team. He had three home runs last season and promises, "I'm going for more this year."

Pro scouts have been in constant touch. He has a good shot at being drafted in June. "I'm trying to show everyone what I can do," he said.

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A blow for the little guy: When Chaminade center fielder Jason Giovannettone hit his game-winning home run in the ninth inning last week against Westlake, it was his first home run in four years of varsity competition.

"I didn't lift weights, I didn't eat spinach," the 5-8 Giovannettone said.

But coach Denny Barrett said Giovannettone's sudden power shouldn't be a surprise. As the Eagles' leadoff hitter, his job is to get on base, but Barrett believes Giovannettone has some punch in his bat, too.

"I need to treat him as a player who's 6-4, 270 pounds," Barrett said.

Another HR hitter: Simi Valley junior catcher Brett Scott has hit three home runs in two games.

Agoura pups: Agoura coach Bryan Maloney is going with six sophomores and a freshman on his varsity. Two sophomores to watch are first baseman Ryan McCann, the Chargers' 6-3 starting quarterback in football, and outfielder Chris Poling.

"(McCann) has got a lot of potential," Maloney said. "(Poling) is a rabbit. He can run with the best."

Impressive debut: Justin Gentile became the first member of Northridge Little League's 1994 U.S. national championship team to play at the varsity level last week. Gentile, a 14-year-old freshman pitcher at L.A. Baptist, struck out four in 1-2/3 innings against La Canada.

Scary scores: El Camino Real has beaten Van Nuys 17-0 and Thousand Oaks 15-0. Those are football-like scores. But no school has enjoyed greater baseball success in recent years than the Mike Maio-coached Conquistadores. They won back-to-back City 4-A titles in 1993 and 1994, then made it to the 4-A semifinals last season with a young club.

Now Maio once again has combined youth with experience. He has added top young players in Woody Cliffords (sophomore) and Danny Williams (freshman) to a veteran group that just might be able to challenge top-ranked Kennedy in the Northwest Valley Conference. The two schools face each other March 18 at Kennedy and March 20 at El Camino Real.

Marmonte disappointment: Everybody in Ventura County seemed to think that the Marmonte League was loaded with quality players and teams this season. But after the first week of action, Marmonte teams had a combined record of 8-7-1.

City rules!: Local City Section teams held their own against the Southern Section, going 7-5. In big-time matchups, El Camino Real beat Thousand Oaks, Chatsworth topped Camarillo, Kennedy defeated Calabasas and Sylmar beat Saugus. Westlake gets its chance to uphold Southern Section and Marmonte League honor when it plays El Camino Real today and Kennedy on Saturday.

Beware of Cleveland: With a top shortstop in Junior Brignac, a top catcher in Casey Roth, top pitchers in Mike Schultz and Jared Mills, and good young talent, Cleveland (2-0) just might cause trouble in the City Section.

The Cavaliers have an easy early season schedule and don't figure to be challenged until the middle of March. By then, the 6-6 Schultz, a 16-year-old junior, should be in top form, making it difficult for Kennedy, El Camino Real and Chatsworth.

"If Mike can get the curveball over, he's real hard to hit," Cleveland coach Steve Landress said.

Landress jokes about how hard it is to speak face-to-face with the tall Schultz. "I used to get on a chair," he said. "I have him sit down and I stand."

Hot start: Birmingham junior center fielder Henry Salas is 5 for 7 with four stolen bases after two games.

Moonlighting: Montclair Prep basketball player Scott Stark took a quick break from the sport to collect two hits for the baseball team on Saturday.

Rise of Burroughs: Suprising Burroughs of Burbank (2-0-1) has advanced to the semifinals of the El Segundo tournament. J.K. Scott, Burroughs' three-sport star, is emerging as a relief ace. Sophmore John Moreno has come up with big bats. Senior Tom Crowther, batting ninth in the order.

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Photo DAGGETT Chart CITY 4-A CHAMPS IN THE '90s