Metro Conference baseball coaches step up to plate for Perfect Game All-American event at Petco Park

Metro Conference baseball coaches have stepped up to the plate in a big way in support of the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

This year’s 15th annual event took place Aug. 13 at Petco Park with the West team dealing the East team a 6-1 setback in front of 6,104 fans.

Eastlake High School coach David Gallegos served as the head coach of the victorious West team while Montgomery High School coaching legend Manny Hermosillo, his son Manny Hermosillo Jr., Mater Dei Catholic High School head coach Eddie Johnson and Luis Lorenzana served as assistant coaches for both teams.

Gallegos, whose EHS team earned accolades this past spring as San Diego Section Open Division champions en route to claiming a final No. 1 state and No. 4 national ranking, was obviously elated to have the opportunity to coach some of the top high school talent in the country.

“It was a phenomenal experience being involved with the Perfect Game from day one right up to game night,” he said. “All four days were something special for the kids. The kids were excited. They had a lot of energy.”

Among the activities players and coaches took part in was the annual visit to Rady Children’s Hospital. Gallegos called it the most emotional event during the week.

“It was a sad experience to see all those sick children, childen who have cancer, but a good experience as well,” he said. “The kids saw a different world from baseball. It’s a great experience for them.”

This marked the 10th year that the elder Hermosillo has been involved with the event that annually attracts top high school underclassmen from around the country, many of whom will command top dollar at next June’s Major League Baseball amateur draft.

“There is such great playing talent here,” explained Hermosillo, who has collected more than 600 career coaching wins with the Aztecs. “Every year I look at this as my Christmas present.”

Tournament staffer Tyson Kimm said the service by the local high school baseball coaches is appreciated.

The West team took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a two-run home run by Nolan Gorman (Glendale, Ariz.). The West squad added a run in the top of the seventh inning for a three-run lead and scored three insurance runs in the eighth inning after the East team had narrowed the score to 3-1 with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Jordan Groshans (Magnolia, Texas) hit a solo home run in the seventh for the West.

Gorman went 2-for-3 and drove in four runs to earn MVP honors. He delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning an also drew a walk to reach base three times in the game.

West pitcher Seth Halvorsen (Plymouth, Minn.) struck out the side in his one inning of work on the mound to close out this year’s game — and the second win in as many years for the West team.

East pitcher Kumar Rocker (Watkinsville, Ga.) had his fastball clocked at 98 mph in the first inning. At an awards banquet the previous evening, he was honored with the Perfect Game Jackie Robinson Player of the Year award.

Newport Coast’s Preston Hartzell won the pre-game home run challenge. He out-slugged West teammate Nick Northcut (Mason, Ohio) 9-8 in the finals.