The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 237

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SPORTS 1 2 Thursday. May 12, 1988 SCiV CoflAnflelce Slimes Nogales Slugger Has a Dream Majors Big Outfielder Boo Moore Hits Often and Long; Scouts Are Watching 4 5 i. By MITCH POLIN, Times Staff Writer After being listed among the top 25. high school pro prospects in the nation by Baseball America magazine recently, outfielder Boo Moore of Nogales High in La Puente soon discovered the price of his new-found notoriety. Almost immediately, the 18-year-old senior said, opponents began pitching to him differently- "A lot of pitchers have pitched around me instead of trying to face me," Moore says.

"They never challenge me with a fastball or anything. I have to adjust to hitting the curve." Maybe that also explains how Moore's batting average has dipped from .489 to .377, since he was named to the list. He says on occasion he has swung at bad pitches out of frustration. "I'm a pretty good fastball hitter," he says. "I can adjust, but sometimes you get fed up at swinging at curves and swing at pitches that aren't in the strike zone." But despite Moore's recent difficulty, pro scouts are still bullish about his potential.

That is evident by the number of scouts who watch Nogales games. Nogales Coach John Romano is also convinced that the 6-4, 205-pounder has a bright future as a pro. "Boo has had a difficult time after the article came out because they started to pitch around him more and umpires started to call it closer," Romano said. "He's had a difficult time, but I still think he's going to be a great pro. "These scouting directors look at Boo's size and that's the thing they like.

He's the highest ranked player we've ever had. He's got the tools, no question about it." Romano is in a good position to know about pro potential. Two of his players from the early 1980s, Cecil Fielder and Mark Salas, are playing for major league teams. Fielder is with the Toronto Blue Jays and Salas with the Chicago White Sox. Another former standout, second baseman Mate Borgogno, is starring as a freshman (.375 average) for Nebraska.

Nogales also has another outfielder, senior Richard Witherspoon, who is batting .469 and considered a pro prospect. The coach is not afraid to rank Moore among the best players ever for the Nobles. "I would say Boo and Richard are the best two players I've ever coached, and that's a hard last season, Moore averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds and was named to the All-Sierra League team. But Moore said the thought of playing basketball has never meant as much as baseball. "I'm pretty tall and everyone always told me to go out for the basketball team," he said.

"I listened to other people a lot, but if I had done my own thing, baseball would have been my only choice." Romano said the steady stream of attention Moore has received from scout3 may be a result of a strong winter season. It also didn't hurt Moore to get seven hits in his first 11 at bats during the regular season. Moore, who has outstanding strength, also built his reputation with a couple of mammoth home runs early in the season. "He hit one over the 390 sign at Nogales and one over the fence at Pasadena that they said was the longest ever hit there," Romano said. Moore has four home runs for the season.

While the hits have not been coming as fast for Moore recently, Romano said the ingredients for success are there. "He's coachable and sound fundamentally, and he's only going to get better," Romano said. "You have to realize that he hasn't played a full summer of baseball because he was playing basketball." What also makes Moore a strong draft candidate for major league scouts is that he is one of the few top prospects who has not signed a national letter of intent to play college baseball. Moore acknowledges that his college plans are secondary to playing pro baseball. "I've thought about going to college, but I haven't passed the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) yet," he said.

"If I don't, I'll probably go pro." He will not have another chance to pass the test until June 4, three days after the major league baseball free agent draft. Moore is looking to the draft. He would like to be drafted by Atlanta, considering that it is close to his hometown and he has been a longtime Braves fan. "But it doesn't really matter," he sajd. "I just want to go somewhere." For now, Moore is more concerned about helping the Nobles reach the CIF 5-A Division Please see MOORE, Page IS 7 r.

i 1 I WX 1 Lit ill I 1MMMWWMtmm.in. i LI Moore doesn't see too many fastballs. thing to say because I'm so close to Borgogno and Fielder," Romano said. For as long as he can remember, Moore says he has dreamed of playing in the major leagues. "It's on my mind a lot," he said.

"That's the one thing I promised my grandmother before she died, and now I want to fulfill that." Born in Augusta, Moore started playing at age 6. His early interest may have been because his father, Johnny, and older brother, Franklin, were good baseball players. Although his first name is Meredith, he says he has been known as Boo since childhood. "It was kind of given to me when I was born," he said. "My great uncle couldn't pronounce my real name, and the first name that came to mind was Boo, so he started calling me that.

It's a name I've grown up with." After moving with his family to La Puente at age 12, Moore also developed into an outstanding basketball player. A starter for the Nobles RAY MARRERO Los Angeles Times Nogales High's Boo Moore is a nationally rated pro prospect eople Who Buy Thi Sports Calendar Jdr Condition er uam. uooi Collecting, Rehabilitation Run Runners of all ages will participate in the Queen of the Valley Hospital Rehab for the Long Run, a 2-K, 5-K and 10-K run and walk through West Covina at 8 a.m. June 18. The fee is $12 for registration forms postmarked by June 8 and $15 after that.

Forms are available through the hospital's community relations department at (818) 814-2423. Race-day registration is at 6:30 a.m. Over-Line Softball Registration has started for the fourth annual Spring Classic Grass Over-the-Line Softball Tournament for men and women at 9 a.m. Saturday at Cal Poly Pomona. The fee for the one-day tournament is $30 a team.

Registration is with the Southern California Over-the-Line Softball office at (213) 866-8685. Pasadena Run, Walk The Pasadena City College Community Skills Center will hold its fifth annual 5-K run and walk at 8 a.m. May 21 at the Rose Bowl. The fee is $10. Entry forms are with the center at (818) 792-2124.

Registration is also at 6 a.m. at the event. Proceeds go to education programs at the center. starts at 9 a.m. May 21 at Citrus College.

The one-day tournament, sponsored by Southern California Over-the-Line Softball of Bell-flower, costs $30 a team. Registration forms are available by calling (213) 866-8685. Tennis Clinics Registration is under way for ongoing tennis clinics and round-robin play for adults at Whittier Narrows Tennis Center in South El Monte. The cost is $8 a' session for clinics and $4.50 a session for round-robin play. Registration is with Horacio Tamborini or Keith Passow at (818) 575-4737.

T-Ball Registration-Children aged 5 to 8 are eligible for T-ball leagues that start in June in Covina. The program, sponsored by the Covina Recreation Services Division, has a fee of $33 including T-shirt and cap. Registration is weekdays through June 10 at the division office, 1250 N. Hollenbeck Ave. There is an additional $2 fee to register after June 10.

Golf Tournament The 14th annual Rosemead Golf Tournament will be played at 11 a.m. June 2 at San Dimas Canyon Golf Course in San Dimas. The tournament, sponsored by the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce, costs $65 including dinner. Registration is with the chamber at (818) 288-0811. nii liii i sgi nil I i ii ii ii iiiiiiiiiiii iH hi ii in nil in iii i v.n Call your Payne air conditioners are not only extremely dependable Payne today and find out 3 can make cooling home easy on you Softball in Azusa Men and women will compete in an over-the-line Softball tournament that aeaier how wi yP your quiet ana enicient, but also come with a $200 Rebate from Payne Combine this rebate with the low installation cost and the money you'll I0 and your budget.

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