FELDMAN MVP FOR U.S. IN CHILE.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

Ian Feldman, the former Hart High of Newhall baseball standout, sparked the USA to a gold medal last week at the 10th annual World Pan Am Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile.

The Maccabi Games, featuring more than 6,000 Jewish athletes from across the world, is among the largest international sporting events.

Feldman was named Most Valuable Player after batting .414 with four doubles and six RBI in 19 at-bats as the USA team finished 4-0, including a 14-4 victory over Chile in the championship game.

``It was an amazing couple of weeks together. Baseball was just part of the whole cultural experience,'' said Feldman, a freshman at Claremont- McKenna. ``It was definitely a life-changing experience. Our team had players from New Jersey, Maryland, all over the USA, and over the 13 days we were together, it's the closest I've ever been to my teammates. It was a very special team with some great guys. I'm just so glad I did this.''

Feldman's family accompanied him, and he said everyone had a great time.

``The people were extremely nice,'' said his father, Stu. ``I think I might have butchered up the language a little bit, but nobody cared. The food was great - steak, chicken, seafood, fruit, lots of tomatoes - the scenery was nice. We took a drive about 60 miles up the coast and it was just a really nice time.''

The most difficult victory was 15-12 over Cuba, as Feldman's RBI double sparked a late rally. Feldman, who played catcher, third base and first base, was named Maccabi MVP for the third time in five years.

--The debate is over about whether Nate Longshore will play basketball for Canyon High this season. Despite recurring speculation Longshore would forgo his senior year after committing to Cal on a football scholarship, the 6-foot-5 postman returned Monday, scoring six points in a 68-43 nonleague victory over Quartz Hill.

``He decided to give it another whirl,'' said his father, Todd.

--The All-Southern Section football selections in every division are to be released Jan. 20. A group of coaches and sports writers is scheduled to vote on the All-Southern Section team (which combines the best players from all divisions) on Jan. 16 at the section offices in Los Alamitos.

--First-year coach Paul Kim must feel like he's starting from scratch after taking over the girls' basketball team at Foothill League contender Burbank High. Not a single starter returns, including last year's star senior, Christine Kepenekian (now at Cal State Bakersfield), and only three players - juniors Lindsay Talamantes, Alisha Brown and Lestee Singleton - have varsity experience.

The team's only senior, Liz Topalian, is a reserve transfer from Hoover High of Glendale.

``We're kind of all at the same level. None of the girls really stand out,'' Kim said.

Yet the team isn't doing badly, winning three of its past four - including a 68-49 victory over Ribet Academy of L.A. on Monday - to improve to 5-7 with Foothill League competition beginning Friday.

The Burbank boys' team also has a new coach in Jose Hernandez, a former Simi Valley assistant. The team is 3-9 but that's an improvement after last year's 0-26 mark.

--Speaking of Kepenekian, she's yet to make an appearance for Cal State Bakersfield because she's recovering from a stress fracture to her leg.

--Hart High boys' basketball standout Adam Rich is averaging 22 points per game, which means he's on pace to become the first 20-point scorer during coach Tom Kelly's four-year tenure. The previous high scorer was Cody Kase, who averaged 16 points in 2001-2002.

--A couple of familiar names are emerging in Santa Clarita Christian High basketball circles. On the boys' team, senior Matt Dixon, cousin of former All-Southern Section performer Andrew Duncan, is among the team's leading scorers. On the girls' team, junior Micaela Sulham, sister of former boys' standout Caleb Sulham, scored 31 points in a tournament game in Santa Maria last week.