Recently in Baseball Category

Hart infielder Cade Kreuter has signed with USC despite being relegated to the JV team as a junior last season because of transfer restrictions after arriving from Valencia. Hart is his third school after beginning at West Ranch.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Infielder Alex DeLeon of El Camino Real has committed to Kansas, picking the Jayhawks over Nevada.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Kyle Hooper, a returning senior right-hander at Saugus, committed Tuesday to UC Irvine.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Ryan Santhon, Taft's top returning baseball player, is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery Wednesday, so the left-hander probably will miss his senior season.

"He won't pitch. Maybe he can play designated," head coach Scott Osder said. "He's a great high school player, a great kid, good student and one of the hardest workers on the team."

Santon finished 6-7 with a 2.79 ERA last season, leading Taft to its first upper division playoff appearance in 10 years.

gerry,.gittelson@dailynews.com

Matt Dominguez, the former Chatsworth standout infielder drafted in the first round of the 2007 Major League draft, has undergone elbow surgery to remove bone chips from left (non-throwing) elbow. The rehab period is three to four weeks.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

After 11 years as a San Fernando assistant, Eddie Alcantar was due for a head coaching job, and he has one at Grant High, taking over for Devin Eillsion, who has been at Grant for five years and will remain on campus as a teacher.

"Eleven years? I definitely think I'm ready to be on my own. I'm ready to go," Alcantar said.

Grant's top returning players are Hugo Torres and Enrique Osuna.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

El Camino Real returning shortstop Alex Mejia has committed to an Arizona baseball scholarship.

"Arizona is getting a quality player -- in the classroom and on the field," El Camino Real coach Josh Lienhard said. "He's a well rounded kid."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Rojello "Rocky" Magdaleno, a longtime community baseball figure and the grandfather of 10-year Major League pitcher Russ Ortiz from Montclair Prep, died Tuesday. He was 84.

Magdaleno lettered in baseball and track at San Fernando High, served in WWII, and coached at various youth leagues in Van Nuys, North Hills and Encino. He also worked as a letter carrier.

"He had an influence on hundreds of kids," said grandson Shad Ortiz. "We did not have a dad in the picture, and he stepped up to be our father figure and male role model. I remember playing catch with him in our front yard in Van Nuys and going to Buddy's bataway on Van Nuys Boulevard, where it was seven pitches for a quarter."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Austin Walker, a top returning junior shortstop at Crespi, committed to a UC Irvine baseball scholarship a couple of weeks back. Not to be outdone, three days later Walker's brother, Adam, a Crespi senior, committed to play Lacrosse at Div. III Fontbonne University in St. Louis.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Ranny Lowe, a top returning shortstop for Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, has committed to Pepperdine, where he'll join fellow Knights' returning infielder Kelly Dugan.

As a junior, Lowe batted .289 with 21 runs to help Notre Dame to the Southern Section Div. III championship. Lowe transferred to Notre Dame from Montclair Prep.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com