BERNIE MILLIGAN ALL-STAR GAME: MILLIGAN MEMORIES STARS RELISH FACING AREA'S BEST.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

Garret Anderson, Kevin Appier, Todd Zeile and Bret Saberhagen each played in the Daily News Bernie Milligan All-Star Game and then moved on to play major-league baseball.

And if you were a baseball fan in attendance Saturday at the 26th annual all-star event at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa, you just might have seen the next local athlete heading to the big leagues.

``It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,'' said Valencia's Jimmy Rohan of the East team, which had plenty of players taken in last week's MLB draft - Canyon's Jake Coash (Detroit, 17th round), Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks' Steve Moss (Milwaukee, 29th round), Poly of Sun Valley's Eddie Baeza (Dodgers, 33rd round) and Crescenta Valley's Kris Krise (Arizona, 43rd round).

Even with all that talent, the East, which held a one-run lead for most of the game, lost 6-3 to an equally loaded West team in nine innings.

The game afforded the athletes an opportunity to play alongside league rivals and old friends. And for most, the day's events capped brilliant high school careers.

``You hear about all these guys and read about them winning championships, so it's great just to play with them and against them,'' Palmdale's Greg Warren said. ``It was an honor and a great experience.''

--Canyon contingent: Coash was one of five Cowboys on the East and the left-hander started the game, induced two groundball outs and struck out Chatsworth's Ryan Barba before leaving after the bottom of the first.

Sergio Almanzar was just as impressive, entering in the bottom of the fifth and promptly striking out the side in order.

Shortstop Ryan Burke finished 2 for 2, third baseman Eric Ashbrook singled and scored a run and Ryan Pipho's RBI in the fourth tied the game at 2-2.

--Double duty:: Rohan was a busy ballplayer, participating in the home run contest before the all-star game itself. He managed just one homer in 10 at-bats as Ryan Braun of Granada Hills took home first place with seven round-trippers.

``I kind of choked. I thought I would do better,'' Rohan said. ``I was just shocked to be picked (for the contest).''

No one was shocked, however, when he made several tough outs in the field look routine. And at the plate, Rohan finished 2 for 2.

--Warren-ing track power, or lack thereof: Always a disruptive presence on the basepaths, Warren walked in his only plate appearance in the sixth and then attempted to steal second only to be thrown out by Birmigham's Jose Carrillo.

``I think I was safe. I got behind the bag with a hook slide and all three umpires missed the call,'' Warren said jokingly. ``I really wanted to swing the bat, but my job was to get on base. It was a fun day and I played more than I expected to.''

--Golden glove: Lancaster's Justin Zarley was effective in his two innings of work for the East, striking out two and making one of the best fielding plays of the day in the fifth.

With the count 2-2, Bobby Paschal of Chaminade of West Hills hit a liner up the middle and Zarley made a diving catch, coming off the mound to rob Paschal of a base hit.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) Valencia's Jimmy Rohan of the East team connects in the home run derby which preceded the Daily News Bernie Milligan All-Star Game.

(2 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) Canyon's Jake Coash, one of five Cowboys on the East, was taken in the 17th round of the major-league draft by Detroit.

(3 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) East all-star John Curtis of Hart swings away during the Bernie Milligan game, which the West won 6-3.

(4 -- ran in AV edition only) Lancaster's Justin Zarley was effective in two innings of work for the East, and made a memorable fielding play in the fifth.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer