California makes presence felt in World Series

The Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers may have been eliminated from the playoffs during the league championship series, but the state of California is still well represented in the World Series matchup between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Nine graduates from California high schools are on the playoff rosters with Philadelphia sporting six Golden Staters on its roster. Phillie pitcher Cole Hamels was an all-state pitcher at Rancho Bernardo while pitcher Ryan Madson twice earned all-state honors while at Valley View in Moreno Valley. Infielder Chase Utley was an all-state selection while at Long Beach Poly and Jimmy Rollins was a two-time all-state player at Encinal in Alameda. Other Californians on the Philadelphia roster include Greg Dobbs, an infielder from Canyon Springs, and Ben Francisco, an outfielder from Servite of Anaheim.

The Yankees have just three Californians in CC Sabathia (Vallejo), Phil Coke (Sonora) and Phil Hughes (Foothill, Santa Ana). Sabathia was an all-state pick by Cal-Hi Sports in 1998, the same year as Madson of the Phillies. Hughes was an all-state pick in 2004 and a second-team selection in 2003.

The Yankees have the most decorated high school players in their lineup with Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeria, Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon all winning state player of the year awards from Gatorade. Rodriguez was also recognized as the national player of the year by Gatorade as a senior in 1993.

The Dominican Republic is also a popular birth place among the World Series participants. Seventeen of the participants are from a foreign country, including seven from the Dominican Republic, two each from Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Japan and one each from Mexico, Korea, Japan, and Canada.

Following are the high schools for each player on the active roster for the Phillies and the Yankees. For some of the foreign countries, only the hometown and country is listed.

Philadelphia Phillies
Pitchers
Antonio Bastardo – Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic
Joe Blanton – Franklin Simpson, Ky.
Chad Durbin – Woodlawn, La.
Scott Eyre – Cyprus, Mont.
Cole Hamels – Rancho Bernardo, Calif.
J.A. Happ – St. Bede Academy, Peru, Ill.
Cliff Lee – Benton, Ark.
Brad Lidge – Cherry Creek, Colo.
Ryan Madson – Valley View, Calif.
Pedro Martinez – Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic
Chan Ho Park – Kong Ju, Kong Ju City, Korea

Catchers
Paul Bako – Lafayette, La.
Carlos Ruiz – David Chiriqui, Panama

Infield
Eric Bruntlett – Harrison, Ind.
Miguel Cairo – Escuela Anaco, Anaco, Venezuela
Greg Dobbs – Canyon Springs, Calif.
Pedro Feliz – Azua, Dominican Republic
Ryan Howard – Lafayette, Mo.
Jimmy Rollins – Encinal, Alameda, Calif.
Chase Utley – Poly, Long Beach, Calif.

Outfield
Ben Francisco – Servite, Anaheim, Calif.
Raul Ibanez – Miami Sunset, Miami, Fla.
Matt Stairs – Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Shane Victorino – St. Anthony’s, Hawaii
Jayson Werth – Glenwood, Ill.

New York Yankees
Pitchers
Alfredo Aceves – San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico
A.J. Burnett – Central Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark.
Joba Chamberlain – Lincoln Northeast, Neb.
Phil Coke – Sonora, Calif.
Chad Gaudin – Crescent City, Metairie, La.
Phil Hughes – Foothill, Santa Ana, Calif.
Damaso Marte – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Andy Pettitte – Deer Park, Texas
Mariano Rivera – Panama City, Panama
David Robertson – Paul W. Bryant, Birmingham, Ala.
CC Sabathia – Vallejo, Calif.

Catchers
Francisco Cervelli – Valencia, Venezuela
Jose Molina – Maestro Ladi, Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
Jorge Posada – Colegio Alejandrino, Puerto Rico

Infielders
Robinson Cano – San Pedro Apostol, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Jerry Hairston – Naperville North, Naperville, Ill
Derek Jeter – Kalamazoo Central, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Alex Rodriguez – Westminster Christian, Miami, Fla.
Mark Teixeira – Mt. St. Joseph, Baltimore, Md.

Outfielders
Melky Cabrera – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Johnny Damon – Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla.
Brett Gardner – Holly Hill, S.C.
Freddy Guzman – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Nick Swisher – Parkersburg, W.V.

Designated Hitter
Hideki Matsui – Seiryo, Nagoya, Japan