Ortega leads Frankford to win over GW

WHILE TAKING hacks in the on-deck circle, preparing for his fifth at-bat, Augusto "June" Ortega was handed a three-leaf clover by teammate Kevin Montero, who was sitting on the grass nearby.

"Here, take this for good luck," Montero said, in Spanish. (We'll assume no four-leafers were available.)

"I don't need any," Ortega cracked in that same language, though he did tuck the clover into his right back pocket.

Ortega rapped a grounder toward first base and, oh, the ball was misplayed for an error. Just that once, the hint of luck was necessary.

Otherwise . . .

Ortega is a 5-9, 145-pound senior centerfielder for Frankford High's baseball team and Monday, in an 11-6 Public A triumph over host George Washington, he offered numerous looks at pure skill.

In the leadoff slot, the speedster went 3-for-5 (two hard-hit singles, another on a bunt), stole four bases (17-for-17 for the season) and scored three runs. Also, the righthander pitched two innings of what was mostly no-muss, no-fuss relief - the only baserunner reached on an error - while following senior lefty Hector Cerda.

Ortega also provided multipronged entertainment.

After reaching on the error, he thieved second and quipped to base ump Jim Scott, "We meet again, Scotty."

Ortega said Scott told him while smiling, "Oh, my God. Four times today I have to see you?"

In the fourth, showing great instincts/timing, Ortega broke for home on a wild pitch and scored easily.

A Washington fan, standing near the backstop, hollered to catcher Dean Grande, "Tag him! He never touched the plate!"

Ortega heard that and did step on the plate again. Had he missed it?

"Nah, I did touch it," he said. "But the plate ump, since he got here late [delaying the start for 17 minutes], who knows where his mind was? Might as well be sure."

Ortega is in his third season of leading off for the Pioneers. And to say he loves his role is to put it mildly.

"I used to hit third on Little League teams," he said. "But that was because I was the best hitter, aside from being fast. Once I got here, coach [Juan Namnun] saw my speed and put me right in the top spot. He knows, any ball put on the ground, I can pull through a hit.

"The leadoff guy, he's the motor for the team. He puts pressure on people. I love getting things started."

Something he doesn't love? At least not too much? Pitching.

"Centerfield. That's my position. I always want to be out there," Ortega said. "But when I'm needed to pitch, you know I'll give my best.

"I didn't expect to throw today. I just go in there relying on my curve. Plus, I know I have good fielders and that they're going to make the plays."

The Pioneers scored one in the first, three in the third and seven in the fourth. Cerda and Ricky Alvarez bagged RBI on infield singles in the third while a two-run double by Brandon Gonzalez highlighted the mostly unsightly fourth (four errors).

Grande switched to the mound for the fifth and wound up allowing no hits.

Corey Sharp was the lone Eagle with two hits while Sharp, Michael Honick and Aaron Goldberg posted RBI single. Losing pitcher Jake Wright hit bolts in three of his four at-bats, but reaped only a double.

Ortega, who lives on East Bristol near M, claims he has been "playing baseball" since age 2. (Anyone have video?)

To prove that he's really into it, each summer he returns to his family's original homeland, Dominican Republic, to work out with baseball fanatics and even participate in a league.

He described the competition over there as "heavy."

"Every pitcher throws so hard, you don't have time to think about anything at the plate," said Ortega, who is being eyed by Penn State Abington and Salem and wants to major in sports management. "And there's no way you can think of yourself as the best player on the team because that guy standing right next to you, he's better.

"Going there every year really helps me, though."

And he considers himself lucky to have the opportunity. Clovers or not.

King, Mansion forfeits

Note to Public League baseball fans: Scrap any plans you might have had to attend today's games involving Martin Luther King or Strawberry Mansion. They've been scrapped.

Dave Connolly, the PL's diamond chairman, said those teams fought after their game last Thursday and are being charged with forfeits today (King to University City, Mansion to West Philadelphia). They'll get back to action Thursday.