HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PREVIEW : MARMONTE LEAGUE : Westlake Sets Sights on Title That Slipped Away Last Year

Westlake High is nearly one year removed from its most successful and, perhaps, most frustrating season.

On the last day of the 1987 season, only Camarillo stood between the Warriors and their first Marmonte League title. And nothing stood between the Scorpions and their last-place finish. Not even a win over Westlake would open the cellar door.

Westlake lost anyway, 2-1, handing Simi Valley its second consecutive league championship.

Westlake Coach Dennis Judd remembers. He hopes his team does, too.

“We came so close last year and really felt we were the best team in the league,,” Judd said. “I believe that we have the potential to do it again this year.

“We had it and we lost it.”

What the Warriors have lost are the bats of Matt Franco and Jim Henderson, who hit .518 and .455, respectively. But what they have back are senior pitchers John Chiaramonte (7-2, 2.35 ERA) and Bob Grandpre, a starter and reliever last season.

Shortstop Mike Suarez batted .429 and, among others, has the ability to pick up any offensive slack left by Henderson and Franco.

“He looks stronger than ever with the bat,” Judd said.

The league favorite, however, is still Simi Valley, which is seeking its fifth title in the 1980s and its third in a row.

Scott Sharts returns on a pace to break the Southern Section record for career home runs. He had 11 last season, along with 9 doubles, 33 RBIs and a .469 batting average. Also an overpowering right-handed pitcher, Sharts was 9-4 with a 3.58 ERA and 7 complete games.

Shortstop Greg Gerber, who hit .489 and cracked 9 doubles, is also back.

At Royal, Coach Mike McCurdy compared his team favorably to Westlake’s near-title team.

“I look at our team like Westlake’s last year,” he said. “We have two proven players and then a lot of other guys who can play.”

The two--shortstop Sean Sullivan and catcher Travis Kinyoun--are the only returning starters, but the Highlanders will field a team of eight seniors with some varsity experience.

Sullivan, a four-year varsity starter, batted .389 last season and will pitch this season. A three-year starter, Kinyoun batted .320 as a junior and is quick for his position. “His legs haven’t turned to cement yet,” McCurdy said.

Senior John Ward is slated as Royal’s No. 2 starter and cleanup hitter. Jason Jones will play center field and bat leadoff. Brother James Jones will play left field and bat second.

Camarillo has only one returning full-time starter, but has several others with varsity experience.

Senior Gil Valencia batted .323 and is being moved from first base to center field to take advantage of his speed.

“I think he’s one of the top players in the county,” Camarillo Coach Ken Wagner said. “At least he looks like one now.”

Valencia, third baseman-turned-left fielder John Barroso and right fielder Nathan Avery will be counted on to support a youthful pitching staff.

Pitchers Steve Biggs and Vaughn Wechsberg, both juniors, and Matt Tackett, a sophomore, form the core of a team that carries just six seniors, along with 13 juniors and a sophomore.

The Scorpions can only improve on last season, when they lost their first 10 games and then won 7 of their final 14.

Newbury Park, which finished just ahead of Camarillo last season, might have one of the best 1-2 pitching punches in the league.

Right-hander Jeff Berman was the pitcher of record in all four Panther wins in league play and was a first-team all-league selection. He was 4-4 overall.

Rob Teasdale, also a right-hander, suffered from lack of support both on offense and defense. His ERA (2.43) was more than two runs better than Berman’s, but his record was a deceptive 2-4.

That might change with the hitting of brothers Don and Dan Smith. Both have shown the ability to swing with power.

“We’ll be very disappointed if we don’t make the playoffs,” Newbury Park Coach Gary Fabricius said. “I think, deep down, our kids think we can win it.”

As always, Channel Islands can hit the ball. All-Southern Section selection John Sunia returns, as do three other promising hitters, Andy Beltowski, Chris Mason and Jacob Cruz.

The pitching staff is also anchored by right-hander Beltowski, as well as Julio Gonzales, Brian Courtney and Richard Ortiz.

Although Thousand Oaks is coming off a disappointing season, the Lancers may have enough pitching to challenge for a playoff berth. Hard-throwing senior Dan Chergey and junior Anthony Gonzalez give Coach Jim Hansen two reliable starters from the right side, and junior John Bushart and sophomore Scott Barkman give him two left-handers. Senior Jason Sanders is a fine relief pitcher.

The Lancers should not be short of leadership. Shortstop Steve Sisco, who directed the football team to the Coastal Conference title last fall, and catcher-second baseman Mark Skeels are hard-working returning starters. Catcher Russell Kellogg, third baseman Blake Evans and the versatile Tom Brozowski are also senior returnees.

Top underclassmen include junior first baseman Scott Haffner and sophomore outfielder Lance Martin. The designated-hitter should be senior David DeSoto.