SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A Preview : Servite’s Home Advantage May Be a Disadvantage

The Servite High School baseball team won a share of the Angelus League baseball championship this season and the home-field advantage for today’s 3:15 p.m. game against Loara in the first round of the CIF Southern Section 4-A playoffs.

Still, Friar Coach Mike McNary is not pleased.

He’s afraid that that the cozy confines of Servite’s field (304 feet to center field and 315 feet down the lines) will benefit the Saxons, third-place finishers in the Empire League, more than the Friars. He also wasn’t happy with Servite’s draw, which matches the Friars against what he feels is the best third-place team in the 4-A division.

“I had charted all the third-place teams, looking at their records and the leagues they played in, and Loara was the last one I wanted to play,” McNary said.

Despite McNary’s pessimism, however, the Friars have a good chance of defeating the Saxons and advancing to the second round.

Servite (15-7) has strong hitting attack, led by catcher Jason Rolish, who is batting .500 with three homers and 24 RBIs. Center fielder Jay Speidel leads the team in homers with four, and first baseman Chris Ulmer is hitting .393.

Sophomore right-hander Craig Barkley (5-3) will start for the Friars, and McNary will probably use James Ferguson in relief. Loara Coach Ray Moore will start either Mike Golia (8-2) or Jeff Patterson (5-4).

Loara (17-9-1) is led offensively by Brian Roberts (.423, 6 homers, 11 doubles, 25 RBIs, 23 runs), Curtis Henson (.397, 23 runs) and Wade Clester (6 homers, 26 RBIs).

In other 4-A first-round games:

Huntington Beach (13-11) at Esperanza (20-3-1)--The Aztecs, with a team batting average of .364 and five starters hitting better than .400, are clearly the better offensive team. The Oilers’ top hitter has a .260 average.

But Esperanza will face one of the county’s best pitchers in Jeff Haack, a senior left-hander who is 10-2 with an 0.82 earned-run average and 106 strikeouts. Haack, who will play for UC Irvine next year, threw an eight-hitter Saturday to lead Huntington Beach past Fountain Valley, 2-0, in a game that decided who would be the Sunset League’s third-place representative.

Esperanza also has an outstanding left-hander in Steve Halweg (11-2, 1.14 ERA, 61 strikeouts). The Aztecs’ top hitters are Kevin Clancy (.472, 16 stolen bases), Andy Escobar (.455), Tom Redington (.423, 7 homers, 34 RBIs, 29 runs), Emmitt Cohick (.411, 22 RBIs), Dave Moralez (.409) and Eric Cox (5 homers, 32 RBIs).

Clancy, however, chipped a bone in his foot two weeks ago and may not play. Oiler shortstop Rick Eusey injured his knee Saturday and will either be moved to second base or not play.

North Torrance (18-9) at El Dorado (19-6)--The Golden Hawks, who have won six straight, have a strong pitching staff, led by left-hander Scott Holcomb (10-0, 1.74 ERA, 93 strikeouts) and right-hander Jeff Petredes (5-2). Second baseman Bret Boone (.382) leads the team in hitting, and Petredes has five homers and 29 RBIs.

The Saxons, who are not known for their pitching, have good speed. Leadoff batter James Yogi (a .420 average in Ocean League play, 11 RBIs, 11 stolen bases) and Dustin MacGillivary (12 stolen bases in 15 league games) spark the North Torrance attack.

North Torrance’s top power hitter is Casey O’Brien (2 homers and 14 RBIs in league). The Saxons have won 10 of their last 11 games.

Westminster (15-8) at St. Paul (18-5)--The Swordsmen, who shared the Angelus League title with Servite, are making their 12th consecutive postseason appearance. They have won or shared the league championship six times in the past 12 years.

St. Paul is led offensively by David Carney (.368, 3 homers, 12 RBIs), Matt Bevacqua (.349, 15 RBIs), Joel Willis (4 homers, 23 RBIs) and Ed Zosky (3 homers, 16 RBIs). The Swordsmen have two strong pitchers in Art Salas (9-2, 0.96 ERA, 72 strikeouts) and Mike Moore (7-1, 1.81 ERA, 40 strikeouts).

Westminster shortstop Al Rodriguez led the county in stolen bases with 20 and hit .400 with 17 runs and 18 RBIs. Freshman designated hitter-pitcher Ryan Klesko hit .440 and was 5-1 as a pitcher, 3-0 in the Sunset League. The Lions will probably start John Gonzalez and use Klesko in relief.

Los Altos (12-9-1) at Ocean View (18-4-1)--The Seahawks won their second straight Sunset League title and enter the playoffs with a six-game win streak. Junior right-hander David Holdridge (7-0) heads a four-man staff that includes Craig Anderson (4-2), Brett Johnson (3-0) and Brent Knackert (3-1). Ocean View’s top hitter is Billy Daymude (.382).

The Conquerors, who finished third in the Sierra League, are led by Jim Jastrab (.463, 3 homers, 18 RBIs) and Darren DeSpain (.453, 4 homers, 14 RBIs).