Grossmont Baseball Preview : Helix, Santana the Favorites, but Several Others Must Be Watched, Too

Three baseball coaches have left the Grossmont League since last season. So for a prognosis based on experience, here’s Gordy Thompson, Granite Hills coach and league elder:

“I suppose this is the time of year to point your finger at somebody. I think it’ll boil down to Helix--they have excellent pitching, fine athletes, and they are now well-seasoned. And Santana is another one because of their pitching and their tradition. And finally Grossmont, which could be tough if (first-year coach Ed Patterson) blends the players from last year’s successful season.”

Helix, followed closely by Santana, was the pick by the six returning coaches. But El Capitan’s Steve Vickery said Thompson’s team must be watched, too.

Patterson, Helix’s Jerry Schniepp, who played for Helix six years ago, and Monte Vista’s Rob Phillips will be head coaches for the first time.

With several excellent pitchers--four left-handers--scouts should again flock to games. Last year, four league teams took turns at the No. 1 spot in San Diego County.

The teams:

GRANITE HILLS

Last season: 22-8, 13-3 league (tie for first).

Coach: Gordy Thompson.

Top returners: Mike Raskind (senior, P/OF), Brian Giles (junior, OF).

Top newcomer: Todd Halverson (senior, P, transfer from Texas)

Outlook: Two years ago, Thompson observed introductions of Granite Hills seniors at a football game. “ ‘Uh oh,’ I said,” Thompson recalled. “That’s when it hit me that we had so many seniors.” Before leaving, they helped Granite Hills win a share of its second league title. But the exodus left Granite Hills with just two returning starters. Thompson said he has more new faces than in any of his 12 years as coach, but one old face looks awfully good: Raskind, a right-hander who is 14-3 the last two years. “They’re better than everybody thinks,” Vickery said.

GROSSMONT

Last year: 22-8, 13-3 league (tied, first).

Coach: Ed Patterson.

Top returners: Mike Rendina (senior, P/1B), Dave Entriken (senior, P/3B), Mike Ramsay (senior, P/OF), Don O’Brien (senior, SS).

Top newcomer: Mark Gapski (junior, P).

Outlook: Gone is one excellent pitcher, Lance Dixon, now at Arizona. But another, Rendina, remains. A 6-foot 4-inch left-hander, he has thrown a no-hitter and a one-hitter already. “Everybody under the moon is looking at him,” said Patterson, a former assistant at Point Loma Nazarene. He replaces Bill Gray, whose 13th Grossmont team lost to Santana in the section semifinals. Grossmont’s repeat hopes suffered a blow Monday when Entriken injured his knee against Mt. Miguel. He’ll be out at least three weeks.

SANTANA

Last season: 21-8, 11-5 league (third).

Coach: Jim Saska.

Top returners: Tim Barry (senior, P/1B), Bruce Moutaw (senior, 2B), Jason Cabral (senior, 3B/DH), Barry O’Gorman (senior, SS).

Top newcomer: Jeff Wagner (sophomore, CF).

Outlook: Six starters return, but Wagner may be the key. Wagner, the fleet lead-off man, is hitting more than .500. “Nobody knows about him,” Saska said. “I had heard about him for years. He was a phenom in the Little Leagues in Santee.” Barry went 3-1 and hit .308 last year. He’s attracting pro scouts. Moutaw has drawn Stanford’s interest, and Arizona State is looking at O’Gorman. Despite the loss of pitchers Bill Reed and Mark Sherman, Saska said he’ll have trouble finding work for 10 pitchers. Saska is seeking his third consecutive trip to the section championship since he became coach. Last year, Santana, an at-large pick, lost to Mt. Carmel in the title game.

EL CAPITAN

Last season: 14-11, 9-7 league (tied for fourth).

Coach: Steve Vickery.

Top returners: Matt Smith (senior, C), Carlos Gutierrez (senior, OF), Jason Escoto (senior, 2B).

Top newcomer: Zak Salmon (junior, SS).

Outlook: Catching will be a strong spot. “Matt Smith is the best catcher in the county,” Vickery said. Smith, a 6-foot 3-inch, 195-pound senior, has already thrown out five runners. Escoto, a senior who hit .380 last year, has moved from third base to second. Jason Phipps and Brad Smith head the starting rotation. Reliever Nino DiMaio pitched in 19 games last year. “I think we’ll be in contention for a playoff spot,” Vickery said.

VALHALLA

Last season: 13-12, 8-8 league (fifth).

Coach: John Marlow.

Top returners: Bob Runeborg (senior, P), Mark Iveson (junior, P/1B/OF), Brandon Sargent (senior, 2B).

Top newcomer: David Angotti (junior, C, transfer from Grossmont).

Outlook: Valhalla prides itself on comeback victories. Marlow’s first year, 1985, it had 13 of them, then 15 the next year and 10 last year. Now Valhalla will need to come back from what Marlow called a “freak injury” to Tom Nielsen, a senior pitcher who suffered a cracked vertebra and hasn’t pitched since his four-hit victory against Sweetwater. Marlow says this is the fastest and most versatile team he has coached. Success begins with Runeborg and Iveson, who can dominate, according to Marlow. Runeborg missed three games because of a clerical error regarding his eligibility. Iveson has a strained shoulder-blade muscle.

HELIX

Last season: 12-12, 9-7 league (tied, fourth).

Coach: Jerry Schniepp.

Top returners: Rick Page (senior, C), Dan Tiumalu (senior, 3B), Rich Pedrin (senior, CF), Rick Navarro (senior, P), Damon Luban (senior, P).

Outlook: Schniepp, a former assistant and player at Helix, succeeds Jeff Boutelle, who will be coaching the new program at Santee West Hills. Five seniors have started the past three years. The infield, which hit above .300 collectively, returns. Schniepp’s regime features two changes: black uniform trim and “Bustin’ Loose” T-shirts, designed by the players. “That’s our theme,” he said. “Helix baseball has been kind of down the last two years . . . We’re ready to win.” Navarro, a left-hander, is ready. He won his first three starts. His numbers: 19 innings, 1.10 ERA, 35 strikeouts, 0 walks. He heads a staff that could go eight deep.

EL CAJON

Last season: 6-17, 3-13 league (eighth).

Coach: Doug Hartung.

Top returners: Kevin Davis (junior, P), Scott Boyd (senior, 1B), Gene Ferguson (junior, OF), Chris Holder (junior, 2B).

Top newcomer: Dana Jones (freshman, C).

Outlook: Hartung enters his second year and says his new assistant, Mark Noble, has already improved the team’s infield and hitting. One of the smaller schools in the league, El Cajon is “looking to finish somewhere in the middle,” Hartung said.

MONTE VISTA

Last year: 4-20, 1-15 league (ninth).

Coach: Rob Phillips.

Top returners: Steve Dietz (junior, 2B), Ryan Paul (junior, C), Eric Wilson (senior, 1B).

Top newcomer: Chris Cone (junior, OF/SS).

Outlook: Phillips, who succeeds Chuck Downing, is taking the walk-before-you-can-run approach. “Our goal is to shoot for .500; we’ve got to be realistic,” he said. Still, sophomore pitchers Ernie Reyes and Vern Mullis have combined for three victories to support senior right-hander Halifu Johnson.

MT. MIGUEL

Last season’s record: 13-9, 7-9 league (seventh).

Coach: Mike Trigs.

Top returners: Ed Cervantes (senior, SS), Joe Castillo (senior, 3B).

Top newcomers: David Simms (junior, P), Ulysis Nunez (junior, P).

Outlook: When Trigs became the Mt. Miguel coach three years ago, he took on a program that was in disarray. Trigs has brought some much-needed discipline, and the Matadors have responded with improved seasons. Mt. Miguel has one of the fastest teams in the league, led by Ed Cervantes, who led the league with 17 stolen bases last season. Cervantes also hit .329 with 19 runs batted in. The Matadors also return power hitter Joe Castillo, who hit .349 with 5 home runs. The Matadors’ biggest problem in the past has been pitching, but Trigs has three lettermen returning from last season.