Metro-Mesa Baseball Preview : Pitching Could Decide Race in Which Talent Is Even From Top to Bottom

Manny Hermosillo, the Montgomery High School baseball coach, can evaluate the forthcoming Metro-Mesa League season as well as any of the coaches in the league.

Hermosillo regards the league’s teams, which begin play Tuesday, as even from top to bottom.

“There’s not going to be an easy game anywhere,” he said. “Bonita Vista, Sweetwater, Chula Vista might be the favorites. Us and Southwest are going to give them a run.”

Montgomery is the true sleeper in this league, and that probably disappoints Sweetwater Coach Jim Mann, who had hoped that his squad could sneak up on a few teams.

Bonita Vista is another team with consistent talent throughout its lineup. The Barons are sparked by Teddy Ehrhardt, who has a shot at the San Diego Section career stolen base record.

But it is pitching that Hermosillo predicts will ultimately decide the league’s race.

“In a tight race like this, where you play two games a week, consistent pitching will be the key,” he said. “Pitching conquers hitting.”

The league has its share of quality pitchers, led by returning Mesa League player of the year Anthony Garcia of Chula Vista. Other top hurlers include seniors Randy Abshier of Bonita Vista, Jay Peralta of Montgomery, junior Fernando Ontiveros of Southwest and freshman Benjamin Gil at Sweetwater.

Bonita Vista

Last season: 9-15, 5-8 league (fourth).

Coach: Ron Pietla

Top returners: Randy Abshier (Sr., P/OF), Teddy Ehrhardt (Sr., CF), David Tappan (Sr., 1B), Jeff Narlock (Sr., C).

Top newcomers: Casey June (Soph., SS), Mike Maio (Sr., P)

Outlook: Pietla replaced John Gibbs as coach and has led Bonita Vista to an 8-4 nonleague record. Ehrhardt is the catalyst of the offense in his third varsity season. He has 68 career stolen bases, which is the third-highest total in San Diego Section history. He is three away from second place and is within reach of the record of 95, set by Frank Carey (Granite Hills, 1983-85). Ehrhardt is hitting .457, and Abshier and Tappan each are at .500. Sophomore Frank Castro is hitting .524 with a .654 on-base percentage, and junior Craig Catlin, the left fielder, is in his third varsity year. Abshier, the team’s top pitcher, is 4-0 with a 2.80 earned-run average. Maio, who was the team manager last year after he injured himself on junior varsity, is 2-0 with a save and a 1.87 ERA.

Chula Vista

Last season: 21-8, 10-3 league (first).

Coach: Dick Barcus

Top returners: Anthony Garcia (Sr., P), Eric Slinkard (Sr., C), Steve Trainor (Jr., SS/P), Joe Heinz (Sr., DH).

Top newcomers: none

Outlook: Garcia returns to lead last year’s top Mesa League team. Barcus’ club got off to a slow start (1-7) in March but expects to put it together for league play. Slinkard provides leadership and stability, and Trainor is consistent at shortstop. Heinz, a San Diego State football recruit as a 300--pound-plus lineman, is the designated hitter. Garcia is 1-2 but has faced some of the top teams in the county.

Montgomery

Last season: 15-12, 6-7 league (third).

Coach: Manny Hermosillo

Top returners: Chris Charfauros (Jr., CF), Emillo Camarena (Sr., 1B), Jay Peralta (Sr., P), Alberto Candelaria (Jr., 3B), David Schmidt (Sr., 2B)

Top newcomer: Arturo Golembiewski, (Sr., LF)

Outlook: Somehow, the Aztecs survived their nonleague schedule with a 6-3 record. It’s a mark that the rest of the league’s teams should take a second look at, considering that Hermosillo’s best four players were physically weakened by the flu throughout the first month of play. Charfauros, a switch-hitting center fielder, was one of those flu victims. He was a first-team all-league player last season as a sophomore and is the team leader this season. “He’s really dedicated to the sport,” Hermosillo said. “He’s given the kids more leadership than I’ve ever had before.” On the mound, Peralta (6-2 last year) is 2-1 this season despite the flu. Sophomore Omar Ramirez, who may be the biggest surprise in the league, is 2-0 with a good fastball and curve and has begun to find the plate after a wild beginning. He didn’t surrender a walk in Montgomery’s 8-1 victory over Point Loma in the Lions tournament. Junior Frank Millican has been successful as a relief pitcher. Candelaria has 19 hits and Golembiewski 16. Schmidt, a line-drive hitter, is considered a pro prospect.

Southwest

Last season’s record: 4-19, 2-11 league (fifth).

Coach: Rex Whitehead

Top returners: Fernando Ontiveros (Jr., P/OF), George Gurrola (Jr., IF), Ted Olsen (Sr., Inf.).

Top newcomers: Armando Magallanes (Jr., P/DH), Tony De la Torre (Soph., 2B/C/P), Carlos Sanchez (Soph., IF/OF)

Outlook: Despite a 1-9 start, the Raiders have been close in most games. Whitehead will have to rely a lot on the play of Ontiveros, who he says is his best player. Whitehead even used him behind the plate last season. So far, De la Torre has been the team’s top hitter with a .340 average, and Ontiveros is 1-1 in two starts with a 1.50 ERA. Whitehead’s team may improve as four starters, who missed the team’s first six games because of ineligibility, get into playing shape. Whitehead has only two seniors on the team.

Sweetwater

Last season: 7-16, 4-9 league (fifth).

Coach: Jim Mann

Top returners: Juan Price (Sr., C/OF), Oscar Baltazar (Sr., P/OF), Larry Mesa (Soph., SS), Raul Sanchez (Soph., 1B), Jesus Ortega (Jr., 3B/SS), Joe Picone, (Jr., P)

Top newcomers: Benjamin Gil (Freshman, P/3B), Walter Magallon (Jr., C/UTIL)

Outlook: Mann gives the impression that he isn’t too happy with his young but talented team, which went 6-7-1 through March. So maybe Mann acts like this every year? Or maybe he has something to hide? Price already has more home runs (5) than the entire team hit last year (3). Mesa was a second-team all-league player as a freshman, and Sanchez hit .325 in 8 games as a freshman. Picone, who in his first varsity start earlier this year pitched a no-hitter against Marian, has won three games. The team’s top pitcher may well be Gil, who has victories over Santana and Madison and has an ERA right around 1.00. Sweetwater scored only 25 runs in league play all last season but has already scored 23 in a nonleague game this year.