VHS players honored by baseball coaches
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

The California Baseball Coaches Association named its 2007 All-Amateur Athletic Foundation teams recently, and many local athletes were recognized.

Making the Division I first team was Thousand Oaks High pitcher Matt Bywater, Simi Valley outfielder Brett Hale and Newbury Park pitcher/first baseman Andrew Lambo.

Lambo recently signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being picked in the fourth round of the MLB draft. He batted .453 with nine home runs and 30 RBI for the Panthers this season.

The Pepperdine-bound Bywater won 12 games for the Lancers while striking out 62 and posting an ERA of 1.12.

Making the second team was Simi Valley pitcher Nick Barnese.

Barnese recently signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after being drafted in the third round.

Kyle Jones of Thousand Oaks, Jake Reed of Simi Valley and Mike Vinyard of Royal also made the second team.

On the heels of pitching 10 scoreless innings in the CIFSouthern Section Division II final at Dodger Stadium, Camarillo pitcher Garrett Rau was named the Division II Co-Player of the Year.

Rau went 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA on the mound. He swung the bat well, too, hitting .515 with five home runs and 36 RBI.

Rau's teammate, Jacob Mahan, made the Division II first team, along with Rio Mesa pitcher Jordan Lindebaum.

Camarillo pitcher Jonathan Erb made the second team.

Making the Division VII first team was Viewpoint's Spencer Brown. Brown hit .392 while cranking out three home runs and 22 RBI.

Brown's Patriot teammates Michael Cameron and William Blackman made the second team. Cameron batted .491 on the year with 33 RBI, while Blackman hit .431 while driving in 26 runs.