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Grossmont Baseball Preview : Some Coaches Aren’t Happy With Split

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The Grossmont Conference may have a new format after splitting into 2-A and 3-A divisions, but the same baseball teams are favored to be the best this season.

Helix last year became the first team to go undefeated in the conference, which is traditionally strong in baseball. The Highlanders finished 16-0 in the final season the conference had all nine teams competing at 3-A, then won its first section 3-A title with a 1-0 victory over league rival Santana in the championship game.

Helix Coach Jerry Schniepp, for one, isn’t happy with the new format for baseball.

“I don’t like it at all,” Schniepp said. “There are eight games to decide the league champion; I think that’s ridiculous in baseball.

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“Before you had to have two pitchers to win--now you can win with one. And I think it takes away from the natural rivalry.”

One thing for certain--Helix might not necessarily be the team to beat if the conference kept all nine schools under one division, but it is considered the favorite in the five-team 3-A league.

Santana Coach Jim Saska, whose team could be challenged by Grossmont in the 2-A division, agrees with Schniepp about the split.

“If you get yourself a top pitcher and a couple top hitters, you’re going to contend at any level, 2-A or 3-A,” Saska said.

3-A TEAMS

EL CAPITAN

Last season’s record: 10-15, 5-11 league (sixth, tie).

Coach: Steve Vickery.

Top returners: Zak Salmon (senior, IF); Robert Guerrero (senior, C); Jeremy McGarity (senior, P/1B).

Top newcomer: Mike Farrell (junior, P/2B); Jim Marchesi (junior, P).

Outlook: The Vaqueros (6-4) finished second in the Sun Devil tournament in Las Vegas this week. Their only loss was to Las Vegas Valley, which is the No. 22 team in the nation according to USA Today, averaging 16.8 runs. Marchesi (0-3, 2.13 ERA) allowed just one earned run in the 4-0 loss.

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“Our strength has been and is going to be our pitching this year,” Vickery said.

McGarity, 3-0 pitching and .350 batting, is off to a good start. Junior left-hander David Rios is 2-1. Jason Phipps, last year’s top pitcher, is 1-0 after pitching a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts. Salmon was fourth in the conference last year with a .429 average, a school record 39 hits and 11 doubles.

GRANITE HILLS

Last season’s record: 15-10, 9-7 league (fourth).

Coach: Gordy Thompson.

Top returners: John Fenn (senior, 2B); Jeff Waymire (senior, SS); Brian Giles (senior, CF); Pete Stacey (senior, C).

Top newcomer: Ryan O’Coyne (junior, P).

Outlook: The Eagles might have the strongest hitting in the league, with several experienced players returning. Fenn, an all-section 3-A second baseman, hit .416 last season, and Waymire returns at shortstop after hitting .361 with 19 RBIs and five home runs. Giles, an all-section running back in football, hit .321 last season and .323 as a sophomore and returns to the outfield. Pitching will be key. The top returner is Brandt Glasener, 2-1 with a 2.94 ERA last year. O’Coyne was 6-3 on the junior varsity.

HELIX

Last season’s record: 23-2, 16-0 league (first).

Coach: Jerry Schniepp.

Top returners: Rich Haar (senior, SS); Jason Ledford (senior, 1B); Tory Winrow (senior, 3B); Damon Chase (senior, 2B).

Top newcomer: Rob Ippolito (junior, P).

Outlook: The infield is made up of three-year starters, but the Highlanders will miss all-section pitcher Rick Navarro (now at San Diego State) and catcher Ricky Page (U.S. International). Navarro led the section with a 14-0 record and a 1.30 ERA; Page led the conference in hitting at .470 last season.

Haar averaged .400 last season and Chase .366. The question for the Highlanders is pitching; they also lost Damon Luban, who was 10-1 last season. Rob Ippolito has won his first two starts.

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MONTE VISTA

Last season’s record: 12-15, 5-11 league (sixth, tie).

Coach: Rob Phillips.

Top returners: Vern Mullis (junior, OF/P); Bryan Paul (senior, C).

Top newcomer: None.

Outlook: The Monarchs were 5-21 two years ago, and last season Phillips guided them to a 12-16 record in his first year. Things are looking up. Monte Vista is playing on a new field and started the season 6-2-2. Monte Vista returns its infield but will have to find some offense; the Monarchs were one of the lightest hitting teams in the conference last year. Vern Mullis was a one-man show as a sophomore, hitting .342 and compiling a 6-4 record with a 4.35 ERA.

MT. MIGUEL

Last season’s record: 8-17, 7-9 league (fifth).

Coach: Mike Trigs.

Top returners: Doug Kemp (senior, C); Dave Simms (senior, P).

Top newcomer: Gene Ethridge (senior, OF).

Outlook: The Matadors finished a respectable fifth among nine teams last season after a rocky start. Mt. Miguel again got off slowly this season, committing 27 errors leading to 38 unearned runs in losing six of its first seven. Ethridge, who was ineligible last season, was an all-conference running back who is headed to Weber State on a football scholarship. Trigs will be relying on several football players. Keith Baldwin, a speedy wide receiver, will be in the outfield, and lineman Doug Kemp will catch. Kemp hit .292 last season, and Simms was 2-1 with a save and a 3.67 ERA.

2-A TEAMS

EL CAJON VALLEY

Last season’s record: 7-19, 3-13 league (ninth).

Coach: Doug Hartung.

Top returners: Chris Holder (senior, 2B); Jack Kaewpalug (senior, P); Kevin Davis (senior, 3B).

Top newcomers: Jason Firsich (junior, P); Fred Ernst (senior CF).

Outlook: The Braves had a solid pitching staff last year but no offense to back it up. But they have gained in experience, losing just one senior, and could climb out of the league cellar. A senior infield could be the key. Hartung hopes Kaewpalug will be joined by Firsich in the rotation by midseason. The transfer from Northern California injured his pitching elbow in a tournament game and is out for three weeks.

GROSSMONT

Last season’s record: 17-9, 12-4 league (second).

Coach: Jeff Meredith.

Top returners: Mark Gapski (senior, P); Todd Cadi (sophomore, C).

Top newcomers: Jim Early (junior, DH); John Tatum (junior, 3B).

Outlook: Meredith said he has made so many changes as Grossmont’s new coach that the only thing staying the same is the uniforms. He inherited a team with great talent, especially in Gapski, who began the season 3-0, and Cadi, who made the all-league team as a freshman. The Foothillers have hit 12 home runs in five games. Grossmont is still shaky on defense but should again contend for the title.

SANTANA

Last season’s record: 23-8, 11-5 league (third).

Coach: Jim Saska.

Top returners: Darren Forester (senior, 3B); Kyle Sebach (senior, SS); Paul Newark (senior P/1B).

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Top newcomers: Tom Weimbrecht (junior, 2B); Matt Hill (senior, P).

Outlook: The talent returns, but Saska says the fundamentals are still a little rusty. He is impressed with Newark’s pitching and hitting but is waiting for Sebach to break out of a slump. Santana’s other two solid starting pitchers are newcomers Hill and Ferdie Hollis. Both are 2-0.

VALHALLA

Last season’s record: 8-19, 4-12 (eighth).

Coach: Terry Love.

Top returners: Mark Iveson (senior, P), Dave Angotti (senior, C), John Scurlock (senior, P).

Top newcomer: Tony Clark (junior, P).

Outlook: Love, the new coach, says Valhalla’s biggest problem last year was attitude. His philosophy of playing more as a team has already proven successful with a 6-5-1 start. Clark, who hasn’t played baseball for two years, returns as one of Valhalla’s top pitchers. An outstanding switch-hitter, he will help Valhalla at the plate as well.

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