EAST HAS SECRET WEAPON : MVP SANCHEZ HAMMERS WEST IN MILLIGAN GAME EAST 5, WEST 2.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

The Foothill League baseball coaches knew something the rest of the area had yet to discover.

Their revelation was exposed to all Saturday at the 20th annual Bernie Milligan All-Star Baseball Game at Cal State Northridge.

Before, Freddy Sanchez was known just as a shortstop from Burbank High. But in the end, after three sparkling plays saved the game, Sanchez - the Foothill League MVP even though his club didn't make the playoffs - could also be tabbed the Milligan Game's MVP in a 5-2 East win over the West.

Sanchez was simply outstanding at shortstop, stabbing a ball and throwing out the eventual tying run at home in the seventh. Later, Sanchez grabbed a Matt Riordan grounder in the ninth and threw a bullet to first baseman Charlie Cooke to end the game with two runners on.

East coach Gary Donatella of Sylmar, who chose to start Saugus' Nate Wright instead of Sanchez, was impressed with his exploits.

``Maybe that was a little inspiration, not starting (in the game),'' Donatella said. ``He was a little erratic in the practices, but he's got a cannon of an arm.''

Sanchez's performance highlighted an otherwise strange game. The West squad, with some of the area's best hitters, managed just six hits and equaled that with errors. The East team scored four unearned runs and the game featured just one extra base hit - a double by Poly's Steve Guerrero, who was caught trying to stretch it to a triple.

The key for the East was quality pitching. Starter Paul Diaz - trying to decide between UCLA and UC Santa Barbara, with both coaches in attendance - hurled three scoreless innings.

The East opened the scoring in the third on two singles and a bad throw to second by catcher Brian Luderer of Crespi, scoring Providence's Dustin Wride.

Kennedy pitcher and West starter Derek Morse was effective and was relieved by Camarillo's Mike Corral in the fourth.

``The pitching was strong,'' Donatella said. ``Everybody seemed to make the right pitches.''

After the West tied the game at 1 on a Devin Grace error in the fifth inning, the West's defense made those good pitches go to waste.

The East got two runs in the eighth on two errors - one that scored Glendale's Bryan Chan, plus an RBI single by Sanchez. Royal's Adrian Mendoza, who allowed four hits in three innings, was the victim of the bad defense and the 3-1 deficit.

``They made the plays and we didn't,'' Reseda's Brian Menkin said. ``That was the key.''

The West responded in the bottom of the eighth after Chan walked the first two batters. Menkin's single loaded the bases and Aldo Pinto's sacrifice fly scored Crespi's Chris Crawley to make it 3-2. After Riordan moved to third on Pinto's fly, Royal's Brent Egan hit a smash to Sanchez, who first dove for it, then threw the ball to catcher Travis McGivern for the out at home.

If the crowd was looking for someone to support, after that play, Sanchez was the choice. Somewhat overshadowed by more successful teams in the Foothill League, Sanchez wanted badly to showcase the skills that made him a 30th-round draft choice of the Atlanta Braves.

``I felt this was my opportunity because I haven't had much publicity,'' said Sanchez, who said he won't sign and will play at Valley College. ``When you play in something like this, you want to prove you were worthy of getting here.''

McGivern and Glendale's Phil Onsaga scored two insurance runs in the ninth on three walks by Calabasas' Tanner Trosper, a hit and - of course - an error for a 5-2 lead.

And if his fellow all-stars weren't convinced by Sanchez's eighth-inning play, then the game-ending grounder was the clincher. Riordan hit a sharp bouncer to Sanchez, who seemed to have an easier play at second base to get Rodell Desamparo. However, he jumped up, then fired to first, barely getting the motoring Riordan.

``I didn't think a high school kid could make that throw,'' Donat`ella said. ``I thought he had an easier play at second. I was shocked.''

As he walked off with the MVP trophy, Sanchez sported a satisfying smile.

``This makes my year, especially since we didn't make the playoffs,'' Sanchez said. ``I'm going to takethis onto the summer and just work harder. I've got a lot more to prove.''

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PHOTO (color) Burbank High shortstop Freddy Sanchez had anRBI single and made outstanding defensive plays for the East.

Phil McCarten / Daily News