LOCAL BASEBALL: NATIONAL TEAMS TAP LOCAL TALENT.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Whatever the reason, many of this year's best area high school baseball players were sophomores. Now some are being given a chance to show their mettle against the best in the country at this week's USA Youth National Team tryouts while another member of the class of 2007 spent last week competing for a spot on the USA Junior National team.

Chatsworth third baseman Matt Dominguez, Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta catcher Chad Nacapoy and Agoura pitcher/catcher Robert Stock are in Phoenix, Ariz., in hopes of making the 16-and-under Youth National Team, which Stock played for last summer. Meanwhile, Chatsworth shortstop Mike Moustakas, the state sophomore Player of the Year, was among those playing for a spot on the 18-and-under Junior National Team. Moustakas played on the Babe Ruth team at last week's Tournament of Stars in Joplin, Mo.

The Youth National Team will play in the IBAF Youth Championships in Monterey, Mexico, Aug. 19-28. Thirty-six players were selected from among 144 teams at last week's Junior Olympics in Arizona and Florida to attend the team trials that run through Friday, after which the roster will be cut to 18.

The Junior National Team trials continue through Thursday, but no locals were among the 32 finalists. Incoming seniors Henry Morquecho of Sylmar and Gabe Cohen from Harvard-Westlake of Studio City also participated in the Tournament of Stars.

--All-Star update: Vasquez of Acton graduate China McCarney went 5 for 6 with two doubles to lead the North to an 11-3 victory over the South in the Division I American Legion All-Star game Sunday at Clear Channel Stadium in Lancaster.

Palmdale's Tyreace House only played the first three innings of the Division II All-Star game before leaving for a football passing league tournament, but that was long enough for the outfielder to contribute to an 11-8 West victory with a single and RBI double.

--Leavitt goes soft: Curtis Leavitt is a good enough baseball player to be drafted in the 22nd round by the Minnesota Twins this year out of Vasquez of Acton, but he is spending this week playing among the softball elite. Leavitt is a member of the U.S. Junior Fastpitch Softball team that is competing in the World Softball Championships in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The 10-team tournament runs through Saturday.

Leavitt tried out as a catcher, but made the team as a third baseman, with his display of power hitting during recent practice games making it difficult for the team to keep him out of the lineup.

Leavitt batted .583 with 13 home runs and 64 RBI this year at Vasquez.

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com