Touted Transfer Boosts Talent-Rich El Segundo : Baseball: The Eagles, who return 10 of 16 varsity players from last year’s Southern Section 2-A champions, are the overwhelming pick as the South Bay’s top team.

Talk about the rich getting richer.

If it isn’t enough that El Segundo High returns 10 of 16 varsity players from last season’s Southern Section 2-A championship baseball team, consider the addition of Tate Seefried to the Eagles’ 1990 roster.

As a junior last year at Central Valley High in Spokane, Wash., Seefried drew raves as that area’s best major league prospect since Ryne Sandberg by leading his team to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. The highlight of the pitcher-first baseman’s season came when he pitched a 3-1 victory in the regionals over Eisenhower High of Yakima, the top-ranked team in Washington.

Coaches in the South Bay already are aware of Seefried’s reputation.

“I was talking to a coach who saw Tate at a baseball camp last summer,” St. Bernard Coach Bob Yarnall said. “He thought he was a Division I college player. That’s not good.”

Not good for St. Bernard, that is. Yarnall considers his team a talented one. But competing in the Camino Real League with El Segundo, he realizes the Vikings might be headed for their second straight runner-up season.

“No matter how good we are,” he said, “El Segundo is going to be the team to beat.”

And not just in the Camino Real League. El Segundo is the overwhelming choice as The Times’ No. 1 team in the South Bay.

Aside from the 6-foot-3 Seefried, who will bat either third or cleanup, the Eagles boast a lineup that returns an All-CIF catcher, perhaps the area’s finest shortstop and a deep pitching staff. And all the players in the lineup can hit, from leadoff to the No. 9 spot.

Sitting on this wealth of talent is Coach John Stevenson, who has mined his share of golden moments during a 31-year career. The most recent one occurred last June when El Segundo beat San Marino, 7-4, at Dodger Stadium for the 2-A title. It was Stevenson’s sixth CIF crown, improving his career record to 632-243, the best in California.

Are the Eagles destined to repeat? Stevenson doesn’t care to look that far ahead. His primary goal is for the team to develop.

“You can’t really measure success in terms of winning CIF championships because you’re down to single-game eliminations where one small breakdown can cause you to lose,” he said. “What you try to do is reach your potential as a team and hope everything works out in the end.

“You have to be lucky to win a CIF championship once. You have to be even luckier to win it twice in a row.”

The season gets under way Friday with many area teams competing in the El Segundo and Westside tournaments.

A look at the South Bay’s top 10 teams:

1. EL SEGUNDO (26-5)--The Eagles return four starters, headed by All-CIF catcher Garret Quaintance. He led the team last season with a .460 batting average, 46 hits and 16 doubles, and he ranked second with 34 runs batted in. Statistics, however, don’t tell the whole story with Quaintance, playing his third sport after starring in football and soccer. “He’s a special athlete,” Stevenson said. “He has this aura about him as far as being able to control a game. He has the charisma of leadership that other players just accept.” The senior will also play the outfield in some games, allowing Stevenson to start Jeff Poor, a promising sophomore, behind the plate.

Shortstop Mark Lewis anchors the infield. “If there’s a better shortstop around, I haven’t seen him,” Stevenson said. “I’m not so sure that he couldn’t start at a major college right now.” A capable hitter, Lewis (.337 last year) will bat either leadoff or second. The other returning starters are outfielder Kenny Talanoa (.350, nine doubles) and junior Danny Manjarrez (five home runs, 29 RBIs), who moves from first base to left field. It didn’t take long for Seefried to make his presence felt, slamming a three-run homer Saturday in a scrimmage against Edison. He will play first base when he’s not pitching.

Even with his credentials, though, Seefried figures to be no better than the Eagles’ No. 3 pitcher, Stevenson said. The staff is headed by returning seniors Rob Croxall and Jason Wayt, who are a study in contrasts. Croxall, a 6-foot, 200-pound right-hander, is the more consistent of the two. He has a good repertoire of pitches and proved himself with a 7-4 record last year, including two victories in the playoffs. Wayt, a 6-4, 200-pound left-hander, missed most of the last season with a shoulder injury. A hard thrower, he is considered the Eagles’ most gifted pitcher. El Segundo’s weaknesses are an overall lack of speed and the void left by the graduation of center fielder and leading base stealer Erik Evans.

2. BISHOP MONTGOMERY (13-10-1)--Whereas many coaches worry about a lack of pitching, Knight Coach Bob Anderson enjoys the luxury of having one of the South Bay’s deepest staffs. Bishop Montgomery returns four of its top five pitchers from last season, when it finished third and qualified for the CIF playoffs for the first time from the competitive Angelus League. Heading the arms race is junior right-hander Armando Cervantes, an all-league choice who was 7-1 and team MVP as a sophomore. His supporting cast is headed by junior left-handers Jon Woods and Mario Juarez, sophomore right-hander Tim Newville and senior lefty Brian Papia, who led the area with seven saves in 1989.

Bishop Montgomery returns four starters in the field, headed by shortstop Curtis Bowman and junior center fielder Mike Hall, both second-team all-league picks last year. Bowman, considered a Division I college prospect by Anderson, is a fine defensive player who has improved his hitting in the off-season. The 6-4, 220-pound Hall combines strength and speed and will bat cleanup. Last season, making the playoffs was the Knights’ goal. This year, Anderson says they are aiming for the Angelus title. Bishop Montgomery opens the season at 6:30 p.m. Friday against Gardena at Torrance Park.

3. HAWTHORNE (17-13)--Once again, the Cougars should have one of the South Bay’s most explosive teams. Leading a parade of heavy hitters is junior left fielder Armando Fernandez, an All-South Bay pick last season when he hit .413 with five home runs, 24 RBIs and 19 stolen bases to help Hawthorne finish in a four-way tie for the Bay League title. Also back are all-league first baseman Ted Golden (.418, eight doubles, four home runs, 30 RBIs) and catcher Randy Davidson (.333, 22 RBIs). Center fielder Alex Figeuroa, a transfer from Puerto Rico, gives the Cougars another big bat in the lineup.

Pitching was a weakness last season, but Coach Lester Sakurai expects an improvement in 1990. Right-hander Angel Fierro, ruled ineligible late last season, returns to his role as the Cougars’ ace. “Our success really depends on Angel’s eligibility,” Sakurai said. Junior right-hander Kevin Hand, a transfer from Antelope Valley High, strengthens the staff. Hawthorne has good team speed, but Sakurai says it will be tough to replace leadoff hitter Kenny Alexander. Still, he’s confident. “I think we will finish at least second (in the Bay League),” he said.

4. ST. BERNARD (20-6)--After producing three straight CIF Players of the Year--pitcher-outfielder Tim Williams in 1987, shortstop Royce Clayton in ’88 and pitcher-first baseman Dan Melendez last year--the Vikings don’t have a superstar this season. But Yarnall isn’t worried. “I think we’re going to be better overall,” he said, “even though we’re going to miss Danny.” Melendez, now starting as a freshman at Pepperdine, carried St. Bernard to the Southern Section 2-A quarterfinals in 1989. This season, it will be up to several players to continue the school’s winning ways.

Although just a sophomore, shortstop-pitcher Grant Hohman will be asked to shoulder much of the responsibility. He ranked second on the team last season with a .420 batting average and is regarded as a fine defensive player. The other returning starters are third baseman Jeff Richardson (.407, 22 RBIs), center fielder John Coleman (.347, 20 stolen bases), second baseman Sean Dunbar (.364), outfielder Bob Waller and sophomore first baseman Phil Ruhl. The pitching staff is inexperienced, but Yarnall has high hopes for senior right-hander Terry Sullivan, a football and basketball star playing varsity baseball for the first time.

5. MIRALESTE (18-9)--The Marauders appear to have their best team in years. They return six starters, including their top three pitchers, and have several players from last year’s junior varsity team that won 17 games. “If we work hard and continue to improve,” Coach Ken Russell said, “we’ve got a chance to have a very good year.” Right-hander Jason Mavar (8-3 last year) heads an experienced pitching staff. “When we have Mavar going, we have a chance to beat anybody,” Russell said. Left-hander Chris Hubbard (7-1) and right-hander Mike Bronaugh round out the staff.

Miraleste should be solid up the middle with the return of junior shortstop Mike Ryan (.370, five home runs, 18 RBIs), second baseman Paul Lemire (.387, three home runs, 17 RBIs) and catcher Mike Cooper, who played impressively the latter half of 1989. Newcomers expected to make an impact include sophomore outfielder Jason Brown and first baseman Alan Brock. The addition of assistant coach Bill Ryan, Mike’s father and a former All-American at USC, strengthens the team, Russell said. The Marauders open the season Tuesday at home against Serra.

6. PALOS VERDES (17-11)--Veteran Coach Gil Eberhard expects the Sea Kings to get off to a slow start because five starters are playing on the Palos Verdes soccer team, which competes in the Southern Section 4-A final Friday night. “We’re not even close to being ready right now,” he said. “Hopefully, by the time league starts, we should be all right.” Included among the soccer players are three returning starters: catcher Blake Anderson and outfielders Doug Kay and Mark Antrobius. The Sea Kings, one of four teams to share the Bay League title last season, will probably rely on pitching in early games.

Right-hander Steve Hoye was an all-league choice last year, finishing with a 7-3 record and pitching a five-hitter in a 4-3 playoff loss to highly touted Millikan. He will be joined in the rotation by left-hander Pat O’Hara, a 6-4, 220-pound junior, whose early workouts have been restricted because of a sore arm, Eberhard said. When they’re not pitching, Hoye plays shortstop and O’Hara starts at first base. Palos Verdes will also benefit from the versatility of Jason Goldberg, who can also pitch and play first base.

7. MIRA COSTA (12-9)--Coach Jim Beaumont begins his second year with high expectations for the Mustangs, who came within one win of qualifying for the CIF playoffs last season. “If we don’t make the playoffs, I’ll be surprised and disappointed,” he said. With the Ocean League in transition--Culver City, South Torrance, West Torrance and North Torrance have new coaches--Beaumont says the time is ripe for Mira Costa to make its move. The Mustangs return eight varsity players, experienced pitchers and are coming off a productive summer in which they were 17-4.

Leading the way are three versatile returning starters. Bobby Dominguez, who was 3-5 with a 3.13 ERA last year, will pitch and play catcher. Junior Jason Garner (6-3, 3.79) will pitch and play shortstop. And Andy Owens, who enjoyed a fine summer, pitches and plays shortstop and third base. Sophomore designated hitter Cody Beason (.368) also returns. One of the promising new players is third baseman-outfielder Jason Boseant. If Beaumont has a concern, it’s defense. “If we can play good defense, we’ll be tough,” he said. “We gave away a lot of outs last year.”

8. SAN PEDRO (16-10)--”We’ve got to find some pitching,” laments Jerry Lovarov, returning for his 29th season as head coach. The Pirates may be in need of pitchers, but there is no shortage of hitters. Three players return who hit better than .400 last season. Catcher Dale Johnson, a fine defensive player, earned All-South Bay, All-L.A. City and co-MVP honors in the Pacific League last season after hitting .432 with five home runs, three triples and 33 RBIs. His supporting cast is headed by outfielder Arnie Madrid (.408) and Moises Valle (.485), who moves from the outfield to third base.

San Pedro captured the 15th league title of the Lovarov era last year, but the veteran coach says the Pirates must improve in two areas to have a chance of repeating. “Our pitching hasn’t looked good at all,” he said. “Plus, we have a completely new infield.” Right-hander Eric Boysen, who was 2-3 a year ago, heads an inexperienced staff. Valle and varsity newcomer Steve Vincent, a promising designated hitter, also will pitch.

9. BANNING (16-9)--Of Banning’s 18 varsity players, 13 are juniors and one is a sophomore. Obviously, Coach Syl Saavedra does not consider experience a strength. But there is hope. The Pilots have a good nucleus of four returning players to go along with several promising newcomers. “We had a good summer league with these kids,” Saavedra said. “They’ve been together since June.” Third baseman Julian Pardo, who hit .337 last year, and outfielder Sal Aryan (.318) will provide senior leadership. Junior second baseman Raul Diaz (.313) also has varsity experience.

The key to Banning’s season could rest on the right arm of pitcher Mike Busby. The 6-4, 190-pound junior throws heat, but inconsistency led to a 4-5 record and 2.68 ERA last season. “He’s going to have a fill a big void for us,” Saavedra said. The coach also likes the progress of pitcher-shortstop Mark Chavez, a junior. “He has a lot of potential,” Saavedra said. If the young players come around, look for Banning to again challenge San Pedro in the Pacific League.

10. TORRANCE (11-15)--The Tartars have one of the area’s outstanding talents in junior third baseman Antone Williamson. He earned All-South Bay and All-CIF 5-A honors last season as a sophomore after hitting .463 with four home runs, seven doubles and 37 RBIs. Williamson picked up where he left off Saturday in a scrimmage against South Torrance, hitting a three-run homer and making two impressive defensive plays. “He looked super,” said second-year Coach Jeff Phillips. Williamson is joined on the left side of the infield by shortstop Bryan Mullings, who hit .326 with seven doubles in 1989.

Torrance has the ingredients for a solid pitching staff with the return of right-hander Mike Kendall and junior left-hander Kris Radcliffe. Kendall, son of former major leaguer Fred Kendall, came back from an arm injury to finish strongly last season and posted a 4-3 record. Radcliffe, son of former Torrance coach and current Athletic Director John Radcliffe, struggled as a sophomore but looked good in Saturday’s scrimmage, striking out five of seven batters.

Best of the rest:

Defending Santa Fe League champion Mary Star (19-7) incurred major losses to graduation. The Stars return four starters, led by catcher Miguel Galaz.

Several coaches expect Redondo (15-13) to challenge for the Ocean League title with a team headed by all-league second baseman Brian Davison.

North Torrance (16-10-1) has a new coach, Roger Rosenthal, who replaces longtime mentor Mike Neily. The Saxons are led by All-Ocean League catcher Tony Pruett.