SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PREVIEWS : San Fernando Valley League

Bell-Jeff

COACHES: Hal Krug, 11th year, and Mike Martinson, 2nd year

LAST SEASON: 5-14; 5th in league at 1-9

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Although it posted a dismal record last season, Bell-Jeff has a distinct advantage--seven starters return. Tony Chesta and Bob Machuca will alternate at catcher. Chesta, last season’s starter, has the edge because of experience, but Machuca, a sophomore, is valuable because he bats left-handed. Kurt Patino and Mike Dunn, both defensive standouts, return at first and second. Perhaps the team’s best all-around player is shortstop Jason Stanley (5-11, 150). Richard Silverio, Victor Nunez and Anthony Pawluc will platoon at third. Alfred Silva, who stole frequently and was never thrown out at the junior varsity level, will play left field. Steve Knezevich, in his third varsity season, will play center, and most valuable junior varsity player Nestor Villanea will start in right. The Guards’ pitching staff is led by left-hander Brett Lindsay, Nunez, a Notre Dame transfer, and Brian Dotson, a transfer from St. Francis

OUTLOOK: A new batting cage on campus could help cure Bell-Jeff’s traditional hitting woes. “We have never really been that good with hitting,” Martinson said. “Now we’re able to hit every day and our hitting will improve.” Experience could also help the team click on defense.

Chaminade

COACH: George Vranau, 1st year

LAST SEASON: 11-14; 3rd in league at 6-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Despite undergoing an infield overhaul, Chaminade retains an ironclad outfield that includes Jeff Burdick, who moved from third to right field after an ankle injury during football season, center fielder Colin Havert and left fielder Billy Blair. “Everyone in the outfield is extremely quick and has a great arm,” Vranau said. Havert batted .400 and scored 32 runs last year to lead the Eagles. Another strength is Justin Stark behind the plate. Stark, a senior who hit .350 last year, skipped wrestling season in order to train for baseball. The remainder of the infield has been shuffled. Left-handed pitchers Ted Corcoran and Greg Galloway with platoon at first base with Mike Powers, who might also be the designated-hitter. Corey Gresham, a returner used sparingly last season, will play second and Jeff Meyer and Kent Cote will battle for the shortstop job. Aaron Weiss moves from first to third to fill the gap left by Burdick. Vranau, who coached at Daniel Murphy last year, has four left-handers on his pitching staff. “In four years, I didn’t have one. Now I have one for every year I didn’t,” he quipped. Right-handed freshman Keith Evans might be a pleasant surprise.

OUTLOOK: Vranau feels secure with Chaminade’s outfield and catcher, but the infield is a point of concern. “I think we’re going to get our test early in the season,” he said, “and if the infield emerges, as I think it will, we can be very strong defensively. I see us in a lot of 4-2, 5-3-type games.”

Harvard

COACH: Jim Brink, 10th year

LAST SEASON: 10-14; tied for 4th in league at 4-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Brink is hoping the winning ways of Harvard’s 23-3 basketball team will extend to baseball season. “I’ve tried to point out to the players how much fun those guys were having,” Brink said. Returning first baseman Mike Wolf knows--he was the point guard on the basketball team. Wolf, a powerful pull hitter, is backed up by Chris Stone, who hit .384 last season and finished in a tie for the Valley-area lead with five triples. Stone, a 6-foot-3 senior, also will pitch, relying primarily on a knuckleball. Tony Choi, who played third last season, will spend some time on the mound and split time with sophomore Max Sank at second. Bobby Mason, a rangy junior, will play shortstop and Jono Pivo and Dan Friedland, both solid defensive players, will platoon at third. In the outfield, the Saracens will rely on the quick feet of Jimmy Jun, Robert Moffitt, Adam Braun, Eric Eisner and Adam Rowins. Sean Reynolds, another outfielder, will probably serve as designated-hitter.

OUTLOOK: To Brink’s delight, defensive specialist Doug Grant is his assistant. “The infield looks real sharp so far,” Brink said. “He’s very knowledgeable with the individual skills. It’s pretty much been a one-man show up to this point.” If their pitching works out as Brink anticipates, the Saracens should be tough.

Notre Dame

COACH: Bob Mandeville, 4th season

LAST SEASON: 25-6; 1st in league at 8-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Few teams can boast a pitching staff as formidable as that of the Knights. Last season’s ace, Cary Wichmann, a right-handed junior who went 12-2 and struck out 85, returns to protect his unblemished record against league foes. “He’s becoming more of a pitcher now,” Mandeville said. “He’s starting to realize that he’s not going to blow everything by everybody.” Steve Colella, a 6-5 junior, also returns and brings a mean fastball with him. Unlike Wichmann and Colella, both of whom throw over the top, Eric Vellozzi throws his pitches three-quarter-arm and should press Colella for the No. 2 slot. Louie Tapia and Anthony Fanara will battle for the catcher’s job. Kevin Milligan, a three-year starter and two-time all-league selection, is back at first after batting .424 with 28 RBIs and eight doubles last season. Vinnie Orlando, who had 13 consecutive hits in league games last season, will play second, Edgar Maldanado will play shortstop and Oscar Macias will start at third. Bruno Piniccia, Chris Prince, Greg Andrachick and Eric Martorano will vie for positions in the outfield.

OUTLOOK: Despite losing six starters to graduation, the Knights should be in line for another league title. “I think we’ll be solid defensively,” Mandeville said. “I think, with our pitching and defense, we’ll be in every game.”

St. Genevieve

COACH: Scott Smith, 1st year

LAST SEASON: 10-11; tied for 4th in league at 4-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: With a new coach comes a new home for the Valiants: North Valley field. The pitching mound and grass infield at the park are a refreshing change from last season, Smith says, but the short fence isn’t. “We’ve got a little bit of speed in the outfield,” he said. Bobby Kite (catcher), Tom Nichols (first base), Cary Iaccino (second base), Josh Smith (shortstop), and Fred Flores (third base) compose an all-junior infield. Smith and Nichols, the returning starters of the group, batted .241 and .243, respectively. Mike Hoffman (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) leads an outstanding outfield and should provide the lineup with some power. Henry Arrington and Tim Pera will play left and center. Junior right-handed pitcher Carlos Concha, perhaps the team’s best player, has good velocity and a big breaking ball. Flores, a right-hander with an over-the-top delivery, is the No. 2 pitcher. Carlos Vasquez and Pera will pitch short relief.

OUTLOOK: Much of the the Valiants’ success, Smith says, will depend on the pitching staff, which was hurt by the loss of junior Dave Levine, ruled academically ineligible. There are two constants: “I know we have good defense and hitting,” Smith said.