Thursday, Sept. 9, 1999 | 3:29 a.m.
Spencer Patterson's covers high school sports for the Sun. Reach him at 259-4085 or [email protected]
Walking to his car after participating in last month's Area Code Games in Southern California, Las Vegas High senior Anthony Pluta received a very unusual offer.
"I was in the parking lot, and this tall, older guy asked me if I'd like to go to war against the Japanese," recalled Pluta, a right-handed pitcher/outfielder.
As it turns out, Pluta was being asked to participate in last weekend's Goodwill Series in Long Beach, Calif. -- an event pitting a team of U.S. high schoolers against squads from Japan and Latin America.
"I was very honored just to be on the team," said Pluta, the only Nevadan on the roster.
That proved to be only the beginning, as Pluta was named the starting pitcher for Game 1 against the Japanese club -- a selection based largely on mid-90 mph readings on scouts' radar guns during his Area Code Games performance.
Although admittedly nervous when Saturday's game rolled around, Pluta pitched relatively well against the most disciplined group of hitters he had ever faced.
"It was pretty intimidating to see how hard these guys work," said Pluta, who gave up three earned runs in four innings of work. "When you get those guys with two strikes, they get into a mode where they're going to put the ball in play no matter what."
And though his team wound up losing the game, 9-6, Pluta returned to Las Vegas with some great memories, along with a new respect for the Japanese work ethic.
"The game was at 12:30, so we got there at 10:30 and it looked like they'd been practicing for a few hours," Pluta said. "Just to see that kind of work ethic and how hard they work -- that's something I will definitely carry with me."
* MILESTONES: Although the 1999 football season has been rather unkind thus far to new high schools Centennial, Desert Pines and Foothill, the newcomers have met with some success already this fall.
Centennial got things started with a victory over Desert Pines on Aug. 26 in girls golf, and has since picked up three more varsity wins: volleyball victories over Vo-Tech and Rancho and a triumph over Eldorado in boys tennis.
Desert Pines wasn't far behind, stunning Cheyenne 8-1 on Aug. 31 in men's soccer to post the school's first-ever varsity win.
As of Wednesday, Foothill was still searching for its first notch in the varsity victory column.
* ON THE AIR: KNEWS 970-AM will broadcast tonight's Valley at Green Valley football game live at 7 p.m., while Friday's night's Pineview (Utah) at Bishop Gorman game will air live on KSHP 1400-AM. Cox Cable Channel 48 will show tonight's Las Vegas at Eldorado game next Wednesday at 7 p.m.
archive
