BYER IS PERFECT EN ROUTE TO MVP; ROYAL PITCHER USES ARM AND BAT : WEST 12, EAST 7.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

Imagine the anxiety Mike Byer felt when he learned he'd be the starting pitcher for the 22nd annual Daily News Bernie Milligan All-Star Baseball Game Saturday at Cal State Northridge.

For most of the season, the Royal High left-hander had trouble in the first two innings of his starts before settling down later in the game.

Unfortunately, Byer didn't have the advantage of time to work through any problems as the West starter Saturday. He was slated to work two innings and then hand the ball to someone else.

Now imagine Byer's surprise a few hours later when he accepted the Most Valuable Player trophy after leading the West, before a near-capacity crowd, to a wild 12-7 win over the East. His two hits and three RBI helped sway the vote his way, but Byer also enhanced his chances by working two scoreless, hitless innings to start the game.

``I'd been getting off to shaky starts all year,'' Byer said. ``So it was nice to do as well as I did today.''

Byer was one of a number of West standouts. Kennedy's Tim Arroyo hit a towering two-run home run to spark a four-run fifth inning, and Westlake's Ryan Cope hit a solo shot in the eighth. The West also got strong pitching from Kennedy's Jack Cassel and Matt Jackson of Calabasas.

But Byer got it all started, retiring the first six batters while striking out two. The key was striking out leadoff hitter Chris Wright of Hart on a full-count fastball.

``That was big because I didn't want to walk him right there,'' Byer said. ``After I got him out I settled down.''

Byer found out Thursday he'd be the West starter, so he had some time to prepare mentally and physically. On Saturday he worked a little longer than usual in the bullpen before taking the mound.

``I knew all I'd get was two innings so I wanted to make the most of it,'' Byer said. ``I'm just glad I got off to a good start.''

Byer's day went from good to better when he returned as a pinch-hitter in the fifth and stroked an RBI-single to make the score 6-0. After the East climbed back with one run in the seventh and four in the eighth to make it 7-5, Byer broke it open again with his two-run single in the eighth. Considering he is known mostly for his pitching, Byer took extra delight in the hits.

``It's nice to come out here and prove you can hit with all these great players,'' said Byer, who will play next year at St. Mary's.

West co-coach Rick Nathanson was impressed with Byer, although he felt a handful of players could have won the MVP.

``The best thing is that this team just wanted to relax and have fun,'' Nathanson said. ``Sometimes in these all-star games, guys press a little because they want to do so well. But not these guys.''

The East was led by North Hollywood's Ismael Rangsiyawong, who had an RBI-single, and Traviss Hodge, who had a two-run single.

The East was hurt by three fielding errors.

``We certainly didn't put on a defensive clinic,'' said East co-coach Chuck Schwal. ``But I really enjoyed this - not just coaching, but talking with kids during the game. There's a lot of talent out here, so it's a great honor.''

Interestingly, Cope and Arroyo did not take part in the pregame home-run hitting contest, yet they were the only two players to hit homers in the game.

Neither hit 10 or more during the season - the required number to get an automatic spot in the contest. And they both lost out on a lottery that decided the two remaining slots in the 12-player competition.

Arroyo didn't waste any time, blasting the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence.

``It was just fun being out here with all of these great players,'' Arroyo said. ``To hit a home run makes it even better.''

Cope's home run didn't soften the pain of Westlake's loss to South Hills last Saturday in the Southern Section Division III championship game, but it helped a little.

``I'm still not over (the South Hills) loss,'' Cope said. ``But I'm just looking at it like that was a great experience.''

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PHOTO (1--2) At left, El Camino Real's Woody Cliffords gets Hart's Chris Wright in a run down, while Danny Eisenberg of Chatsworth, right, tries to break up a double play in front of Palmdale's Jason Gorman.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News