HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEWS : DELPHIC LEAGUE BASEBALL : Miller Plans to Win Title at Providence

To the casual observer, John Miller landed a great job this spring.

A baseball coach in New York seven years ago, Miller moved to the Valley and left his coaching aspirations on the East Coast. But when Providence offered a job, Miller said yes.

Considering Providence won the Southern Section Small Schools Large Division title two years ago and has a 42-22-1 record over the past two years, the job seemed inviting.

There was only one problem--most of Providence’s top players graduated last year.

Among the missing are:

Jeff Cirillo, the two-time Southern Section Small Schools Large Division Player of the Year who batted .553 with 8 home runs and 56 runs batted in. He also was the Pioneers’ top pitcher with a 10-3 record and a 1.75 earned-run average. He now plays at USC.

Steve Ross, who batted .482 with 47 runs scored and 41 stolen bases and was named All-Southern Section.

Adam Grant, who batted .364 with 33 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Grant also had three saves.

So, his first year on the job looks like a rebuilding year to everybody. Everybody, that is, except Miller.

“That’s the last thing they would ever consider saying around me,” Miller said.

Miller is helping the players realize that. A tough disciplinarian, Miller and the Pioneers had a rough first week while the team adjusted to his style of play and his expectations.

Part of the problem was Providence’s lack of experienced players. “We had such a strong team the last couple of years that none of these guys got any air time,” Miller said. “They didn’t get any training.”

Faith Baptist

COACH: Les Estrada, 7th season

LAST SEASON: 3rd in league at 7-3; 11-10

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Estrada hopes this is the payoff year for senior pitchers Shaik Nabi and Richard Leon, who are four-year starters. Nabi was 4-4 with a 3.09 ERA but has been dominating this season, striking out 33 in his first 19 innings. “All he needs now is to put on some weight and he’s a college prospect,” Estrada said. Nabi is 6-1, 150 pounds. Leon was 3-2 with a 2.58 ERA last season. Senior Lenny Boen hit .365 last year and made only one error at second base and has been moved to shortstop. Contesting for the third base job are senior Mike Anderson, a converted outfielder, and sophomore Wes Doll, who played errorless ball on the junior varsity with a .600 batting average last year.

OUTLOOK:

Crossroads is the team to beat, according to Estrada, who also puts Faith Baptist in that category. “It’s pretty wide open but we have a great chance,” he said.

Providence

COACH: John Miller, 1st season

LAST SEASON: Tied for 1st in league at 8-2; 19-8

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Not only is Providence starting the season with a new coach in a new league, but the Pioneers are trying to reload after five starters who batted .338 or better graduated. This year, Providence will count on a strong pitching staff and hope its offense can mature before the league season starts. “The pitching staff is going to get us out of some innings that inexperience is going to put us into,” Miller said. Victor Salazar, a left-handed senior who was 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA last season, will be the Pioneers’ ace. Behind Salazar will be Brian Littleton and Peter Mirkovich, two right-handed seniors. When not pitching, Mirkovich will play center field. Three of Providence’s four infielders are seniors, but only one, shortstop Mark Miyamoto, started last year. Senior Paul Garcia, a second-team all-league catcher last year, also returns after batting .338 last season.

OUTLOOK: An inexperienced Providence team might have trouble winning in this highly competitive league. A Delphic League team has won a Southern Section title in each of the past three seasons.

Buckley

COACH: Chris Schultz, 5th season

LAST SEASON: Tied for 5th in league at 2-8; 8-12

THIS SEASON:

Only four lettermen return from last season and two of those have not been playing. Rory Cypers is suffering from an extended illness and junior center fielder Luka Pecel, a two-time all-league player who hit .300 with a team-high six home runs last year, has not played because of academic problems, although Schultz said he could be back this week. “The key to us is going to be Luka,” Schultz said. Senior shortstop Jason Brown returns for his third year, two years after making the all-league team. Buckley also will need strong pitching from Jon Molina and Robbie Burdette. Schultz is counting on Ponti Lambros, a third baseman who hit .500 on the junior varsity last year, and Brett Walete, a freshman outfielder.

OUTLOOK:

Schultz is optimistic: “I’m Mr. Tommy Lasorda. I’m a firm believer that we’ll be good. You’ll never hear me say we aren’t,” Schultz said.