TIMES ALL STARS: WESTSIDE : University Pitcher Mejia’s Star Shines the Brightest : All Stars: Right-hander, who had three-year record of 27-3 and was 11-1 as a senior, is area’s player of the year.

In three years as a University High pitcher, Javier Mejia proved nearly unbeatable.

The right-hander had a 27-3 record and an earned-run average under 1.50 as the ace of the Warrior staff, including an 11-1 record and a 1.26 ERA his senior season. He had 82 strikeouts and 24 walks in 72 innings as a senior.

While Mejia played for them, the Warriors won three Western League championships and were 63-19 overall, including a 24-4 record this season.

The exception to the rule came in the semifinals of the City Section 4-A Division playoffs when Mejia failed to protect a 6-4 lead in the sixth inning against eventual champion San Pedro. Mejia gave up 14 singles and six runs in six innings. The Pirates eventually won, 7-6, in eight innings, but Mejia was not involved in the decision.

Mejia was voted City 4-A player of the year recently by the First Interstate Bank/Amateur Athletic Foundation Board of Supervisors. Today, he is the first recipient of The Times’ Westside Player of the Year award.

“My coach, Frank Cruz, has been one of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” Mejia said. “Being on his team, he prepared me fundamentally and physically to play baseball. I guess when I first started as a 10th-grader, I worried about giving up hits and runs.

“He taught me how to concentrate on the mound and how to think like a pitcher.”

Although he is the first to say that his players make him a better coach, Cruz was responsible for developing Mejia into the most sought-after player on the Westside. Cruz also has guided the Warriors to the Western League championship four of the past five seasons, and his team won the City 3-A title in 1988.

For his efforts, Cruz has been selected The Times’ Westside Coach of the Year.

Santa Monica’s Mike Miller, who compiled a 10-1 record and a 2.03 ERA, is The Times’ Westside Pitcher of the Year.

Cruz was not only an outstanding coach, but a counselor, offering his players guidance for problems on and off the field. Mejia was his top student.

Watching Mejia perform in a Westside all-star game Saturday at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium, Cruz contemplated playing a season without his standout player. Mejia played the entire game, pitching three scoreless innings and playing left field.

“It was the first time I could actually sit back and watch him play and appreciate his work ethic,” Cruz said. “He was hustling on and off the field, backing up plays in the outfield.

“It was a pretty proud moment for me. I will be sad not to see him on the campus or team.”

Here is a look first at the player of the year and pitcher of the year and the rest of 1992 team in alphabetical order.

Javier Mejia, University

In addition to being an outstanding pitcher, Mejia also played center field and had a .321 batting average with 24 stolen bases. He was drafted in the 39th round by the Detroit Tigers in the major league amateur draft, but hopes to continue his baseball career at USC.

Mike Miller, Santa Monica

Miller, who also plays first base, was one of the best fielding pitchers in the Westside. He was one of the few pitchers who could throw inside and had impressive control, striking out 55 and walking 14. He also helped himself at the plate, batting .439 with 29 hits, three home runs, four doubles and 14 runs scored. He walked 22 times and had a .580 on-base average. There was only one thing he couldn’t do particularly well.

“Don’t ask him to run,” Santa Monica Coach Jose Lopez said. “He’s slow.”

John Beradino, Beverly Hills

The senior center fielder was one of the top defensive players in the Ocean League and the best all-around offensive player for the Normans. Beradino, a first-team all-Ocean League selection, batted .400 with three home runs and 17 RBIs. An all-league defensive back, Beradino almost missed the baseball season with a nerve injury to his right leg. He will try to walk on at Loyola Marymount.

Paul Casillas, Santa Monica

The senior shortstop had a .516 batting average, the highest among starters from Westside schools, and an impressive .771 slugging percentage. He had 33 hits, including three home runs, four triples and 13 doubles. He struck out only twice. As a pitcher, Casillas had a 1-1 record with a 1.30 ERA.

Marvin Cobos, Hollywood

The junior shortstop anchored the infield and batted .448 as the Sheiks’ cleanup hitter. Cobos had 26 hits, 11 RBIs, 13 runs and struck out three times. He never went more than two games without a hit and was selected to the All-Northern Conference first team. The Sheiks, who tied Marshall for the Northeast League title, were 8-9 in league play, 10-10 overall, and qualified for the City 3-A playoffs for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Richard Condon, Crossroads

A junior shortstop-pitcher, Condon was selected to the All-Southern Section 1-A Division first team for two consecutive years. Condon batted .446 and had a 7-2 record. He led the team with 25 stolen bases, was caught only once and struck out three times. He was selected most valuable player in the Delphic League during his freshman and junior seasons.

Sheldon Philip-Guide, Santa Monica

Philip-Guide has catlike reflexes, a strong arm and compiled a .427 batting average as the Viking senior third baseman. He had 35 hits, including four home runs, eight triples and nine doubles. Voted MVP of the Bay League, Philip-Guide will attend Penn in the fall.

Randal Harris, University

A three-year starter in the outfield, Harris was the most consistent hitter for University and was voted to the City 4-A team. Harris batted .397 with three home runs, 20 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

Doug Jarvis, University

The junior split time as the Warriors’ designated hitter and outfielder. He led the team with five home runs, nine doubles and 22 RBIs. Jarvis will be back for another season as the Warriors’ top power hitter.

Michael Kern, Culver City

An eighth-round pick of the Kansas City Royals, Kern was voted MVP in the Ocean League despite Culver City’s fourth-place finish. Kern, an outfielder, batted .408 with five home runs, four triples, nine stolen bases and 23 RBIs. He never went more than two games without a hit.

Ruben Mercado, Venice

Venice Coach Kirk Alexander needed a catcher and Mercado was the first person to volunteer. Mercado earned All-Western League honors as a catcher after being selected the previous year as an outfielder. He batted a team-leading .465 with two home runs, six doubles and 15 RBIs. Mercado will attend a community college in the fall.

Jesus Padilla, St. Monica

In his first year as catcher, Padilla, the team’s only senior, earned team MVP honors and was on the All-Camino Real League first team. Padilla batted .397 and had four home runs and 27 RBIs. He threw out 12 of 33 baserunners. St. Monica (16-6, 11-4) finished second in league play and went to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Temecula Valley eliminated the Mariners in the first round of Southern Section 2-A playoffs on a no-hitter.

Dan Pena, Venice

Aside from Mejia, Pena was probably the hardest-throwing pitcher on the Westside. The senior right-hander was 7-4 with a 2.07 ERA. He batted .438 and was voted the top City 4-A utility player. Pena will attend a community college in the fall.

Dan Ripoll, Crossroads

The senior outfielder-pitcher batted .346 with three home runs, 28 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. He set a school record with six RBIs in an inning and tied a school record with eight in a game against Buckley. As a pitcher, he struggled with a 2-3 record and will likely play in the outfield when he attends Stanford as a walk-on in the fall.

Dean Styne, Beverly Hills

The senior pitcher followed in his brother David’s footsteps as the ace of the Norman staff. Styne had a 7-2 record, 3.14 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 65 innings. Styne was selected to the All-Ocean League first team for the second consecutive year and will play for Miami of Ohio.

Robbie Vasquez, Hamilton

The senior second baseman led the Yankees in batting with a .429 average and was selected to the All-City Section 3-A first team. Vasquez stood his ground at second base and once suffered a concussion when he was knocked down by a runner in a game against Marshall. He missed two games but bounced back to play flawlessly in the infield. Vasquez wasn’t flashy at the plate but had enough power to get the ball past the infield. Hamilton (9-14, 9-8) won the Metro League title for the first time in 26 years but was knocked out by eventual champion Fremont in the first round of the 3-A playoffs.

TIMES ALL STARS - WESTSIDE

Frank Cruz, Coach of the Year, University, 8th season, 24-4 record

Player Pos. School Yr. Mike Miller Santa Monica Senior 10-1; 2.03 ERA Pitcher of the Year Javier Mejia University Senior 11-1; 1.26 ERA Player of the Year Michael Kern Culver City Senior Outfielder Doug Jarvis University Junior Designated hitter Paul Casillas Santa Monica Senior Infield Dan Pena Venice Senior Pitcher John Beradino Beverly Hills Senior Outfielder Richard Condon Crossroads Junior Infield Robbie Vasquez Hamilton Senior Infield Dean Styne Beverly Hills Senior Pitcher Sheldon Philip-Guide Santa Monica Senior Infield Ruben Mercado Venice Senior Catcher Dan Ripoll Crossroads Senior Outfield Jesus Padilla St. Monica Senior Catcher Randal Harris University Senior Outfield Marvin Cobos Hollywood Junior Infield

Player ERA/Avg. Mike Miller Pitcher of the Year Javier Mejia Player of the Year Michael Kern .408 Doug Jarvis .379 Paul Casillas .516 Dan Pena .438; 2.07 ERA John Beradino .400 Richard Condon .446 Robbie Vasquez .429 Dean Styne 3.10 ERA Sheldon Philip-Guide .427 Ruben Mercado .465 Dan Ripoll .346 Jesus Padilla .397 Randal Harris .397 Marvin Cobos .448

Second Team

Player Pos. School Yr. ERA/Avg. Jason Orman Pitcher Murphy Sr. 2.94 Richie Rivera Pitcher University Jr. 1.21 Brian Cappell Catcher Culver City Sr. .361 Joey Gandara Catcher University Sr. .313 Carlos Casillas Infielder St. Monica Fresh. .434 David Forst Infielder Brentwood Soph. .440 Jeff Hom Infielder Fairfax Sr. .310 David Schlessinger Infielder Palisades Sr. .426 Doron Barness Outfielder Beverly Hills Sr. .395 Seth Cooper Outfielder Hamilton Sr. .415 Mike Morales Outfielder Venice Jr. .397 Joel Padilla Outfielder Santa Monica Sr. .390 Chris Brennan Utility Culver City Sr. 1.14/.317