Mid-Valley League Baseball : San Fernando

COACH: Steve Marden, 11th season

LAST SEASON: 1st in league at 11-4; 13-8 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: For the first time in Marden’s tenure, San Fernando won the league title outright last year. The Tigers appear to have the personnel to duplicate the feat. San Fernando has 6 of 8 regulars back from last season, including Times’ All-Valley right-hander Frank Serna (8-1, 1.43 earned-run average). Also returning are No. 2 starter Rudy Vargas (3-2, 2.85 ERA) and relief ace Vince Ortega (1-0, 2.95 ERA, 3 saves). Vargas, a left-hander, might be the team’s best pitcher by the end of the season. “When he has all of his stuff, he is the best on the team,” Marden said. If three starters are not enough, the Tigers have a sophomore left-hander, Hector De La Cruz, who also should see plenty of action. “He’s one of the best pitching prospects I’ve seen for a 10th-grader,” Marden said. “He is Serna’s class.” Among the regulars, the Tigers have as much experience as any team in the league. Third baseman Alfred Nevarez (.389 in league play), left fielder Robert Chavez (.353, 18 runs batted in) and shortstop Albert Torrez (.340, 12 RBIs) are all returning seniors. Others back from last year’s team are outfielder Josh Bergara (.220, 11 RBIs, 7 stolen bases), second baseman Richard Ortiz (.238) and catcher Rudy Sanchez (.240).

OUTLOOK: San Fernando’s weakness is that there is only one left-handed batter in the lineup. “We’ve looked very good in general,” Marden said. If scrimmages are any indication, San Fernando is for real after beating one of the best pitchers in the Valley, Poly left-hander Greg Nealon, who lost only one game last season. “If everything comes together,” Marden said, “we should be able to play with anybody.”

Granada Hills

COACH: Darryl Stroh, 19th season

LAST SEASON: Tied for 2nd in league at 9-6; 12-8 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Granada Hills has perhaps the most successful baseball program in the City Section. In Stroh’s 19 seasons, the Highlanders have reached the championship game six times, winning five. Last season, Granada Hills lost to eventual champion Canoga Park in the semifinals. In 1986, Granada Hills lost in the final to Grant. The playoffs are familiar territory, but that is not all that’s familiar for Stroh: Six players--five regulars--from Stroh’s City 4-A championship football team are on his baseball team. Quarterback Jeremy Leach is in right field, rifle-armed tight end Sean Brown is in center and defensive back Kevin Carmichael is in left. Sure-handed wide receiver Darryl Stephenson occupies first base and punter Charlie Fowlks starts at shortstop. The team’s best returning pitcher is senior right-hander Jeff Adams (5-4, 3.31), who was Leach’s backup on the football team. Also returning is third baseman Steve Kovacic (.400), who also saw action as a pitcher last year. “He is one of the best third basemen in the City,” Stroh said. Rob Schultz, a transfer from Texas, will handle catching duties. Eric Harris, another right-hander, is the team’s No. 2 starter.

OUTLOOK: Deja vu : If it sounds like this has been said before, it has. Stroh said the same thing before the football season, which ended with a 27-14 upset win over Carson in the championship game. Exactly the same thing: “Our main strength is that we have no real glaring weaknesses,” he said last week. If the pitching is consistent, the Highlanders might find themselves back at Dodger Stadium. “I think we’re pretty good offensively and I know we’re good defensively,” Stroh said. “If we get the job done, we’ll be OK.” Everyone knows what OK means as a standard at Granada Hills.

Kennedy

COACH: Dick Whitney, 4th season

LAST SEASON: 4th in league at 8-7; 14-10-1 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: In keeping with the trend, Kennedy also has a many talented players returning from last season, including an infield that Whitney says will be his best ever. In Kennedy’s past three scrimmages, including wins over highly regarded El Camino Real and Sylmar, the offense has come together as expected. Times All-Valley selection Gino Tagliaferri, who will start at shortstop, hit .439 with 4 triples, 5 home runs and 23 RBIs last year as a sophomore. Vladimir Pajcin, the designated-hitter, hit .416 with a team-high 25 RBIs. Pat DeBoer, who will start at second, hit .306 with 16 RBIs. Shawn Madden, an outfielder, hit .316. Third baseman Arnie Aguinaga and outfielder Craig Fleck also saw action last year. Twins Brian and Scott Roth, who also return, will play third base and catcher, respectively. A key, however, will be pitching. The Cougars have the experience with senior left-hander Colin Hines and senior right-hander Jason Farrell, both of whom started last year. Hines was 5-4 with a 2.17 ERA. Aguinaga and Brian Roth will relieve.

OUTLOOK: Whitney is happy with Kennedy’s preseason play. Live action may be another matter, he admits. “We’ve been playing real well so far, but it’s preseason” he said. “When we go up against San Fernando, Granada Hills or Birmingham, who knows what will happen?” A strength is definitely the infield. A question mark is the pitching. Hines and Farrell are set as starters, but the bullpen is sketchy. “It’s kind of hard to bring in a guy from another position,” Whitney lamented. If Pajcin and Tagliaferri improve on last season’s numbers, Kennedy should make the playoffs--pitching or not.

Monroe

COACH: Kevin Campbell, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 5th in league at 7-8; 9-10 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Last year, when a win might have sent them to the playoffs, the Vikings lost to Granada Hills in the bottom of the seventh inning in the season finale. Instead of tying for fourth, Monroe finished a game out of the playoffs. “That was hard to take,” Campbell said. “Especially after we’d beaten Granada the first two times we played.” There may be a measure of consolation--Monroe has nine returning lettermen and seven were starters in 1987. The best of the group are junior pitcher-first baseman Tim Costic (4-2, 4.10 ERA, .327) and senior pitcher-outfielder Ronald Robart (0-3, 8.07 ERA, .432 ). The pair will have a profound effect on their own won-loss record, since they probably will bat fourth and fifth in the batting order. Costic, a left-hander, was second on the team in RBIs last year with 15. Shortstop Brian Eldridge, an all-league selection, hit .312 and will likely bat third. Eldridge led Monroe in stolen bases last year with four and should improve in that department, according to Campbell. Second baseman Alex Chahinian gives the Vikings good speed in the leadoff position and helps anchor an infield that has returning players at all four spots.

OUTLOOK: Campbell says the team will live and die by the success of its pitching staff. “Pitching is always the first thing you look at,” he said. “If that holds up, we’ll do fine. If not, well, I’m not sure.” If Robart or Costic falter, junior right-hander Enrique Gonzalez, who pitched briefly for the varsity last year, may become a spot starter. Even in the early stages, it appears defense may be a team strength--in two scrimmages last week, Monroe committed only one error. Solid defense will help an unproven pitching staff.

Birmingham

COACH: Wayne Sink, 10th season

LAST SEASON: Tied for 2nd in league at 9-6; 11-8 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Last year, Birmingham’s season was perhaps best typified in a midseason game against Kennedy. The Braves sent 17 batters to the plate in the first inning yet won, 20-14, in a 3 1/2-hour pitcher’s nightmare that saw Kennedy close to within 14-12. It is no surprise that Sink believes the Braves’ hopes depend on whether returning right-hander Alan Sedacca (3-5, 6.80) improves. Sedacca pitched 29 innings of American Legion ball over the summer, striking out 26. His ERA, however, was 5.50. “That’s respectable,” Sink said optimistically. “We’re hoping he keeps heading in the right direction.” But Sink has other concerns. Gone are middle infielders Damon Buford and Ernie Perez, both Times All-Valley selections. “Sometimes I see all the guys that are gone and it gets a little depressing,” Sink said. Only three regulars return, and Birmingham’s offensive load will be carried primarily by two of them. Third baseman Dean Kline (.410) and Mike Shelofsky (.325, 17 RBIs) are the top guns. Chuck Fiore, who transferred from Florida over the summer, will start at shortstop. “He’s great defensively and his offense is coming around,” Sink said. Junior right-hander David Grisar, a control specialist, is the No. 2 starter.

OUTLOOK: Sink’s team is well-schooled in the basics, now it has to execute. “Our strong point is fundamentals,” he said. “We’re a sound team, and our pitching has been decent. We’re just aiming at a top-four finish so we can make the playoffs.” If the offense comes around, Birmingham could pose a threat. Last year, the Braves leaned on San Fernando ace Frank Serna for 10 hits, but lost, 5-4. Replacing a starting catcher, second baseman, shortstop and all three outfield positions may be too much to ask, however.

Van Nuys

COACH: Kenji Mochizuki, 4th season

LAST SEASON: 6th in league at 1-14; 4-15 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: It may get worse before it gets better at Van Nuys, but if the situation does improve, brothers Jeff and Mike Engler will lead the way. Jeff, a senior outfielder, will bat third or fourth. Mike, a junior, will start at second base. Both return from last season. The team’s most solid returnee is shortstop Keith Quigley, who batted .351 as a junior and led the team in doubles (4) and RBIs (12). First baseman Raul Luna, a 5-11, 240-pound junior, will be expected to supply power. The team is young--only three projected starters are seniors. Richard Hanna, Hank Grisson and Mel Batrice will fill the outfield positions--only Grisson is a senior. Pitching is also a concern. Batrice, a left-hander, will see time on the mound along with junior right-hander Alton Teng and senior left-hander Jeff Bernard.

OUTLOOK: Mochizuki is candid in his assessment of the Wolves’ chances. “We don’t expect to set the league on fire,” he said. “This league is as tough as any in the City.” In a league where hitting is a hallmark, Van Nuys’ pitchers only figure to fan the flames--none is overpowering. “We don’t have anybody throwing very hard right now,” Mochizuki said. “They’re all control-type pitchers. We’re concentrating on having them keep the ball down so we don’t have too much going over our heads.”