HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PREVIEW : West Valley League

Chatsworth

COACH: Bob Lofrano, 8th season

LAST SEASON: Tied for 1st in league at 11-4; 19-7 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: With last year’s defense virtually intact, Lofrano doesn’t anticipate his team committing many errors. The offense, however, is the team’s greatest strength. Rex McMackin (.520, 10 doubles last season) and Joel Wolfe (.467, 4 home runs) are the catalysts. They combined last year for 24 extra-base hits and 53 runs batted in. McMackin also had a 20-game hitting streak. Wolfe, who stole 19 bases last season, will bat leadoff. Left-hand hitting first baseman Art Lowe (.322) will bat second with McMackin third. David Waco (.358), who Lofrano calls the team’s clutch hitter, will bat cleanup and also will move from shortstop to second base. Senior Jason Chong is the new catcher. Pitchers Pierre Amado (6-3, 2.02 earned-run average) and Shawn Bowen (4-1, 2.51 ERA) both return. Bowen was ruled academically ineligible at midseason. Derek Wallace, whose brother Donovon started at second base last year, will play shortstop.

OUTLOOK: Solid from top to bottom. Lofrano insists that all the preseason plaudits have not gone to his team’s collective head. “They’re oblivious to it,” he said. “We don’t even bring it up in practice. But we know we’re capable.”

Canoga Park

COACH: Horace Consolo, 1st season

LAST SEASON: Tied for 1st in league at 11-4; 19-7 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Returning pitcher Mike Kerber, last season’s City Player of the Year, was 7-0 last season with a 1.51 ERA and a league-leading 65 strikeouts. The 6-4 senior, who has never been beaten in league play, also batted .400 with 5 home runs and 18 RBIs. This year, Kerber will play catcher, too. Adam Schulhofer, who was 9-2 last year with a 2.90 ERA, is the team’s other starter. Schulhofer defeated Poly, 5-4, in last season’s championship game with relief help from Mike Roberts, who also returns. Schulhofer batted .397 last season and led the league in home runs (7) and RBIs (33). He will move from third base to outfield. Moving up from the junior varsity are brothers Pete (of) and Del Marine (3b).

OUTLOOK: What was a pitching-and-power team last season will be more of a pitching-and-speed team this year. Whatever the Hunters’ style of play, pencil them in for the playoffs. Kerber and Schulhofer are probably the best pitching combination in the league and they should supply enough offensive fireworks to carry the team. “It’s going to be very difficult,” Consolo said. “I just hope there are no sore arms or injuries.”

El Camino Real

COACH: Mike Maio, 5th season

LAST SEASON: 3rd in league at 10-5; 12-8 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: With a quartet of sizable pitchers, the Conquistadores, who were eliminated by Poly in the quarterfinals of the playoffs last season, should be in the race for a playoff berth again. Returning seniors Denny Vigo (6-2, 195), who was 3-5 with a 3.54 ERA, and Lance Gibson (6-3, 200), who was 2-1 with a 1.48 ERA, will alternate as starters. They should be supported well by relievers Steve Smith (6-3, 190) and Patrick Treend (6-3, 200), both newcomers. Smith is a junior, Treend a sophomore. Third baseman Bryce Welch, who batted .378 with 2 home runs and 13 RBIs, is the team’s top power hitter. Also returning is senior outfielder Carl McFadden, who batted .305 last season.

OUTLOOK: “Chatsworth and Canoga Park,” Maio said, prognosticating the league favorites. “Looks like us and Cleveland right behind.” If pitching is what it takes to contend in this league, El Camino Real might surprise some opponents. “If our pitching and defense come through, we won’t have to score a lot of runs,” he said.

Cleveland

COACH: Ray Todd, 5th season

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Cleveland Coach Ray Todd says that Pat Bryant, Sean Burwell and Tom Gibson may be the fastest outfield trio in the league. Todd, however, has been shuffling his infield. Senior second baseman Eric Buss will share duty with Mario Valencia, who moved from center field. Buss also will play catcher. Shortstop Terry Jenkins did not play last year because of academic ineligibility. First baseman Mike Bergren was a second-team all-league selection last season. He also will be used as the team’s No. 2 starting pitcher. Third baseman Lance Mandel batted .365 last season and drove in a team-leading 20 runs. Senior right-hander Kirk Surabian (5-11, 165), who was 6-3 with a 3.40 ERA last season, returns as the team’s top pitcher.

OUTLOOK: Surabian is among the top pitchers in the league, but he will have to throw a gem every outing for the Cavaliers to keep pace. Cleveland hit only two home runs last season and with the league’s good pitching this season, they are not likely to improve that statistic by much.

Reseda

COACH: Mike Stone, 9th season

LAST SEASON: 5th in league at 5-10, 11-11 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Regent infield is comprised of four juniors--Tony Coronodo (3b), Eric Perry (2b) and brothers Ron (1b) and Rod Strickland (ss). Senior right-hander Steve Brody returns for a third varsity season as the team’s top pitcher. Senior Kevin Ogle, who batted .384 with 18 RBIs and a team-leading 3 home runs, returns in left field. Senior Mike Shwartzer moved from outfield to catcher and also will be used as a pitcher.

OUTLOOK: “Balance,” is the word Stone repeatedly emphasizes. It may take more. The Regents’ coach is correct, however, about one thing: It is going to be tough.

Taft

COACH: Rich McKeon, 1st season

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH: A long list of juniors will attempt to lead the Toreadors out of the league cellar. Only two players return from last year’s squad--second baseman Jason Shapiro and pitcher Travis Arsenault. One impressive newcomer is first baseman Adam Zutler, (6-2, 215) who displayed some power with a home run against Monroe in preseason play. The infield will be rounded out by shortstop Mike Kimelman and third baseman Richard Cosentino. Outfielder Dax Tobin, a transfer from Highland Hall, and catcher Mike Borzello, who did not play last season, are the only other seniors expected to start.

OUTLOOK: “We’re not looking to win it all this year, that’s for sure,” McKeon said. “But I’d like us to be competitive.”