The Dream Team

The 2006 edition of the Daily Pilot Youth Baseball Dream Team was not easy to assemble. Several local teams went further than many expected and the talent was undeniable on each roster.

Eventually, that talent was whittled down to 14 players from local Little League Majors All-Star squads and the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. Bronco All-Stars. All 14 of the players are from the same 11- and 12-year-old age grouping.

Selections include Martin Myszynski, Tyler Sheffner and J.T. McLuckey of the Costa Mesa American Little League All-Stars; Gramm Sedano and Stephen Hildebrand of the Costa Mesa National All-Stars; J.D. Dawn, Andrew McCormack and Chase Favreau of the Newport Beach American All-Stars; Jedd Thayer and Brett Thompson of the Newport Beach National All-Stars; and A.J. Swies, Nick McCann, Brett Parker and Matt Carpenter of the NHBA Bronco All-Stars.

With his 6-foot frame, Myszynski towered over most other Little League players. He also did it with his stats for the Costa Mesa American Devil Rays, clubbing nine home runs while primarily playing pitcher and catcher. On the all-star team, he led Costa Mesa American to a win in the third and deciding game of the Mayor's Cup with a complete-game pitching performance.

"Martin was the leader for the Devil Rays," Costa Mesa American Manager John McLuckey said. "As part of the starting rotation, he led them to win the first half of the season and force a one-game playoff between my Angels and his Devil Rays."

Sheffner, who played for the Angels, led Costa Mesa American Little League with 12 home runs while batting .576 with only seven strikeouts. Defensively, he was solid at third base, and went 6-1 at pitcher.

J.T. McLuckey led Costa Mesa American Little League with 28 RBIs and batted .610 with seven home runs. He was the defensive captain at shortstop for the Angels and also went 5-1 at pitcher. Along with Myszynski and Sheffner, McLuckey helped lead the Costa Mesa American All-Stars into the District 62 Tournament semifinals.

Costa Mesa National Manager Greg Pearce called Sedano, the only 11-year-old on the Majors All-Stars, the best offensive player in the league. Pearce should know, considering Sedano helped lead Pearce's regular-season Nationals team win the league Majors title. Sedano batted .500 during the regular season and .400 during the postseason, also contributing as a solid pitcher.