ROHAN LET'S PLAY DO TALKING.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Jimmy Rohan is a soft-spoken ballplayer. Instead of talking up a good game, he'd rather let his efforts on the baseball diamond speak for themselves.

And never was it more evident than in the past three months as the Valencia High senior set six single-season school records, leading the Vikings to the Foothill League title, the program's first since its inception in 1995.

``He's not a an exuberant kid by any stretch of the imagination, but when we needed a big play, he delivered,'' Valencia coach Jared Snyder said of Rohan, who rewrote the Valencia record book this season with 49 hits, 37 runs, 42 RBI and a .500 batting average in 98 at-bats with a .581 on-base percentage.

Rohan's offensive ability will be showcased in the June 8 Daily News Bernie Milligan All-Star game when he'll suit up for the East team in the 26th-annual edition at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa.

``Being a part of the game is a really big honor,'' Rohan said. ``I'm going to go out and do the same thing I've done all season and that's work hard. I'm looking forward to meeting some of the other players and having fun, but at the same time, I'm going to try my hardest.''

That's what he's done best this season.

In fact, Snyder is quick to point out the four-year varsity starter was like a coach on the field at times for Valencia. In addition, he was unselfish, willing to make sacrifices for the betterment of the team.

He moved to third base this season in order to make room in the lineup for shortstop Patrick Sullivan, a sophomore. Most seniors might think that such a move is a demotion in some way. Not Rohan, though. He thought of it as a challenge.

He worked tirelessly on his footwork and range and steadily improved at the hot corner and into a more well-rounded player. And if he's to play at the next level, it will be at third, so perhaps the move worked out for for the best.

``He made the rest of the lineup better by doing what he did,'' teammate and sophomore Matt Aidem said. ``He was our leader and without him it will be like we're missing a piece of the puzzle.''

At the plate, the 6-foot-1 185 pound Rohan has matured this year and attributes his success to one particular outing against Chaminade of West Hills in a preseason game.

An 0-for-4 effort was a wake-up call that day and plenty of extra batting practice sessions followed. He also worked with the Valencia coaching staff on several different hitting exercises, and the results were excellent.

``Jimmy came in this year knowing what we as a coaching staff wanted from him and he produced,'' Snyder said. ``He taught the younger players the aspect of team, not I, and that sure makes our jobs as coaches easier.

``He was a boy when he came in here as a freshman and has grown into a man. When you tell him to go and work on something, he does and any coach would be lucky to have a player like that. He's an amazing kid.''

Now, whether Rohan is playing at College of the Canyons or in the major leagues in the near future remains to be seen, but he's been contacted by scouts from the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Dodgers.

Rohan's dream is to play in the big leagues and he could take the first step toward realizing that goal in next week's MLB draft, where he could be selected in the late rounds.

But for now, he's focused on the task at hand.

``Playing in the (all-star game) will give me one more chance to show what I can do,'' Rohan said.

And if his play this season is an indication of how he'll do, expect him to turn heads.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Valencia's Jimmy Rohan has rewritten his school's record books.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer