MIKE TROUT is the American League MVP for the third time (Flickr/Keith Allison).

For the third time in nine years, the Angels’ Mike Trout has been named Most Valuable Player for the American League.

The announcement on Thursday was matched by the selection of the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger as MVP of the National League.

Trout, who also won the top honor in 2014 and 2016, batted .291 in the 2019 season with 45 home runs, 104 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .438.  His on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.083 was the best in the league.

The Angels’ centerfielder won the award despite missing the last three weeks of the season due to injury.

“It’s pretty incredible,” said Trout. “I can’t do this without my teams, my wife, my family. It means a lot to me.”

Oilers, Mariners fall in semifinals

Both local high school boys water polo teams were knocked out of the CIF-SS semifinals on Wednesday.

In Division 1, Huntington Beach fell 10-7 to Harvard-Westlake. The Oilers finished the season with a 28-2 mark.

In Division 4 action, Pacifica lost 13-8 to Jserra. The Mariners completed the 2019 season with a record of 28-2.