KLIPP SNIPS TRIP TO PLAY IN REGIONAL.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Justin Klipp was told to pack a baseball for his trip to Costa Rica. Baseball wasn't a part of the agenda when the pitcher planned the vacation, but a change of plans was welcomed.

Klipp left early from his trip to join the San Fernando Rockies, who are competing in the Stan Musial West Regional this weekend in Fairfield for a berth in next week's World Series in Battle Creek, Mich. San Fernando is the top-seeded team in the tournament, which runs through Sunday.

The Rockies, a wooden bat team primarily made up of college players from the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas, earned their spot in the regional by winning the state title for the third consecutive year. No team from Southern California has qualified for the World Series in nearly two decades.

Klipp, a Calabasas High graduate who is entering his sophomore year at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, exemplifies the players' commitment to a team that has played on weekends since the beginning of summer.

``He cut his vacation short to go with us,'' Rockies coach Brad Gunches said. ``I told him he didn't have to do that, he's had this planned for a long time. But these guys are dedicated, and he wanted to be there with the team.''

He is part of a staff that features several quality arms. Former El Camino Real of Woodland Hills ace Greg Acheatel (4-1), who was the winning pitcher in the state final, was undefeated until allowing seven unearned runs in an 8-4 loss in Friday's opening game.

--World Series bound: The North San Gabriel Valley 16- to 19-year-old Babe Ruth team is headed to the World Series, which begins Aug. 14 in Newark, Ohio. After being eliminated in the regional final last year, the team clinched its World Series berth with a 13-1 victory over Castro Valley of Northern California in the Pacific Southwest Regional final Wednesday in Watsonville.

El Camino Real graduate Blake Gailen was named the Regional MVP. The left-hander, who is entering his sophomore year at Glendale College, was the winning pitcher in the final.

Other standouts included fellow Glendale College pitcher Billy Spottiswood, a Cleveland of Reseda product, who allowed two hits and struck out eight in nine innings of Sunday's 11-inning ,4-1 victory over Modesto. As the left fielder Wednesday, he threw out a runner at the plate.

--Busy Bell: Crescenta Valley's Trevor Bell, who was the Pacific League MVP this spring as a junior, was one of North San Gabriel Valley's leading hitters as the team qualified for the regionals.

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com