Baseball Preview: Burroughs looks for another Pacific League title
After winning the Pacific League championship in 2015, Burroughs High baseball graduated many of its starters and went into the 2016 campaign with a relatively inexperienced squad.
But the Indians enjoyed another successful league run, sharing the league title with Crescenta Valley.
Once again, Burroughs has to regroup after losing a large group of impact players to graduation.
“It seems like every year we lose a good group of guys and then somehow we have another group that comes up and meets the expectations again,” Burroughs Coach Craig Sherwood said. “Two years ago, we lost every starter and we bounced right back and had a real good year last season.
“Hopefully we can do the same thing this season. I think we have a great group of kids. We are younger than we have been, but it’s still a good group.”
Like Burroughs, Burbank and Providence lost their share of starters to graduation after making the playoffs in 2016.
Bellarmine-Jefferson again will not play on the varsity level, but will field a freshman-sophomore squad that will play a limited schedule.
Here is a closer look at how the teams are shaping up.
BURROUGHS
The Indians are coming off a season in which they went 19-7 and shared the league crown with a 12-2 record.
Burroughs lost in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs to Rancho Cucamonga, 6-3.
Since the end of the season, the Indians have kept busy, competing in a slew of games in the summer as well as the winter and the fall.
“We have already played 30 or 35 games in the winter and fall and we had a 20-odd-game summer schedule,” Sherwood said. “We wanted to play that many games to give our guys the experience and the only way you get better is by experience.
“This is kind of a strange team and I really don’t know how we’re going to do this year. They have either played above expectations or below expectations. I kind of scratch my head a little, because I never seem to know what I’m going to get with them. Hopefully they will be able to step up and exceed expectations.”
Returning to key the Indians is all-league and All-Area senior shortstop Justin Palafox. Last season, Palafox batted .432 with 35 hits, 22 runs batted in, 24 runs scored and a .516 on-base percentage. Returning to complete the double play combination is senior second baseman Brandon Martinez.
At first base will be senior Reily Hooper, who will also be one of the Indians’ starting pitchers, along with junior Nathan Palafox. Patrolling third base will be a freshman Richardo Perez, while juniors Matthew Diaz and Steven Gonzalez will see time at catcher.
In the outfield will be sophomore Niccolo Chuidian, junior Revin Diego and junior Andrew Jacob Barrera, a transfer from Alemany who will be eligible on April 3.
Chuidian will also see time on the mound, as well as senior Matthew Rudas.
In the battle for the league championship, Sherwood said he thinks Crescenta Valley should have the edge.
“I think CV with [Trevor] Beer as their main pitcher that they are going to be very tough,” Sherwood said. “He is by far the No. 1 guy in the league. They always seem to be up there at the end of league.”
BURBANK
Placing fourth in the Pacific League last season, Burbank (9-13, 8-6) fell in the wild-card round of the Division II playoffs to Mayfair, 3-2.
Along with losing their share of players to graduation, the Bulldogs will also be missing players who were expected to contribute this season.
Gone is senior all-league and All-Area outfielder Andy Reyes because of grade issues. Lost to an arm injury is senior left-handed pitcher Colby Vosgian. Another starting outfielder, Forest Fajardo — an All-CIF football player — has decided not to play.
Another key player, senior pitcher/first baseman Danny Porras, is hobbled with a foot injury he suffered during the football season.
“If we can stay healthy, we will be able to compete,” Burbank Coach Bob Hart said. “But if we can’t, I think we will be fortunate to be a .500 ball club. We are going to be up against it, to be honest. But I think if we can stay healthy, we can compete for a league title. We just need some guys to get healthy pretty quickly.
“The big problem for us is we just don’t have a lot of arms. Pitching is everything. I don’t really have a No. 1 pitcher and I’m probably going to have to do it by piecemeal, maybe pitch one guy three innings and another guy three innings. I just don’t have anybody who can go out there and pitch seven innings.”
Slated to see time on the mound are seniors Matt Lungaro and Henry Leake. Other players looking to earn playing time are senior outfielder Javier Reyes and junior outfielders John Ennis and Eric Higgins.
At shortstop will be junior Max Meltzer, at second will be senior Jonathan Casteneda, sophomore Chris Porras will patrol third base and junior Matt Shaugabay, a three-year varsity player, will do the catching. Sophomore Davis Mieliwocki and senior Chris Guerra will see time at first base. In the outfield will be junior Abizier Delgado, senior Chris Minnick, sophomore Maddy Porras, junior Matt Marino and senior Brandon Phillips, who will hit in the No. 1 spot.
“If we can put things together, I think we can do well in league,” Hart said. “I know CV’s tough, I know Burroughs is going to be tough and Arcadia is always well-coached. But if things come together for us, we will definitely be able to compete.”
PROVIDENCE
The Pioneers are coming off a season in which they went 15-10 and finished with an 8-2 record in the Liberty League, placing second behind Buckley.
Providence lost a hefty chunk of its offense with the graduation of perennial all-league players Thomas Keller (.410 average, 34 hits, 31 runs, 4-1 on the mound), Sean Holt (.373 average, 30 RBI, 22 runs) and Dante Cano (.377 average, 21 RBI, 15 runs).
“We lost three all-league players, but we have three seniors who can replace those guys; I just need them to step up and fill the shoes of the guys from last year,” Providence Coach Steven Knez said. “That is going to be a real big key for us. We have some talented players, they just have to want it and they have to rise to the occasion.”
Returning to help fill those roles are senior Sage Del Castillo, who will pitch and play third base, senior shortstop/catcher Alec Saavedra and senior center fielder/catcher Stephen Knezevich.
“Those are three very versatile guys and they will be asked to contribute, not only at the plate but on defense as well,” Knez said. “Sage is going to be our No. 1 pitcher and, although Stephen isn’t a pitcher by nature, he throws hard and he will be our No. 2. I think they are very capable and will be as good as any 1-2 pitchers that we’ll face this year. We just have to be a little creative about how we’re going to close those games.”
Senior Michael Bin is also expected to see time on the mound.
At first base will be senior Adrian Ramirez, who will start the season batting in the cleanup spot. While the starting second base spot is still up in the air, senior Matthew Meza is the leading candidate after joining the team following the basketball season. Returning junior Nicholas Knezevich will play one outfield spot.
New to the team is junior Kobe Siy, a transfer from West Ranch, who will play shortstop and do some catching.
After finishing second to Buckley in the Liberty League the last two season, Knez is hoping this is the year the Pioneers will break through and win the title.
“Obviously, Buckley is our rival and they will always be tough,” Knez said. “But I know they lost a lot like we did, so I think we should be fairly competitive against them again. But maybe this will be the year that we can get them.”
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Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports
