PREP SOFTBALL PREVIEWZ : Host of Dominating Pitchers Lead List of County’s Best Players

As a rule, high-caliber pitching controls softball games. And as in previous years, Orange County is loaded with some of the best high school hurlers around.

This year’s crop of pitchers, including a couple of all-county performers, heads the list of The Times’ top players for 1991.

Here are some of the names that will be making news:

PITCHERS

Desi Abrego, Saddleback junior--The right-hander led the Roadrunners to the Sea View League title and was voted the league’s most valuable player last season. She also pitched them to the Southern Section Division 3-A semifinals, where she lost to eventual champion El Toro, 1-0. Abrego was 17-3 with a 0.16 earned-run average and 209 strikeouts. Said Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez about the Saddleback hurler: “She’s so tough she’s always going to keep them in the game.”

Jennifer Brundage, Irvine senior--Without a doubt, Brundage is one of the top three pitchers in the county. She’s the primary reason the Vaqueros are The Times’ top-ranked team in preseason. The right-hander was an all-county selection and the South Coast League’s MVP after posting a 21-3 record with a 0.24 ERA and 216 strikeouts. Brundage threw four no-hitters last year. She also led Irvine in hitting with a .424 average.

Jennifer Clark, Mater Dei sophomore--She will carry the pitching load for the Monarchs this season since Mater Dei’s other pitcher last year, Terri Kobata, will play the outfield exclusively this season. The all-Angelus League selection was 15-2 with 109 strikeouts and a 0.74 ERA last season.

Cheryl Longeway, Kennedy senior--The left-hander was 20-4-1 with a 0.18 ERA and 192 strikeouts last season for the Garden Grove League champions. Among the all-county pitcher’s 14 shutouts were four no-hitters and one perfect game.

Willa Parchen, Marina senior--Parchen, a right-hander, is coming off a tremendous season in which she pitched two no-hitters among her 10 shutouts. She finished 12-3 with a 0.33 ERA and 135 strikeouts. With pitcher Janet Miyahara academically ineligible this season, Parchen has an extra load to carry. But Coach Shelley Luth isn’t overly worried. “She’s (Parchen) throwing every bit as well, if not better, than last season.”

Rae Rice, Fountain Valley senior--Among Rice’s accomplishments last year were an 18-3 record, a 0.61 ERA and 246 strikeouts. A three-time all-Sunset League selection, the right-hander was the league’s most valuable pitcher last year.

Jennifer Surface, Pacifica junior--The right-hander was the backbone of the Mariner team that reached the Division 4-A semifinals last year, where it lost to Garden Grove, 1-0. Surface was 11-5 with a 0.59 ERA and 180 strikeouts in 118 innings. She pitched a perfect game against Loara in a nonleague contest.

POSITION PLAYERS

Michelle Cash, second baseman, Garden Grove senior--Cash is a coach’s dream--a solid offensive player who can also field. The all-Garden Grove League selection committed only nine errors last year, hit .330 and scored 22 runs.

Jennifer Cline, catcher, Mater Dei junior--She hit .272 with five doubles last year and, according to Monarch Coach Cathy Quesnell, has considerable power. “She could hit a home run every time at bat, but we don’t want her to do that because she overswings,” Quesnell said. “The outfielders play her very deep.”

Shannon Dolan, catcher, Fountain Valley senior--Arguably the class of the county’s catching corps. “I don’t know of a better one,” Baron Coach Cary Baker said. Her offensive numbers, if nothing else, add credibility to that opinion. The all-Sunset League selection hit .285 with 10 RBIs and two homers last season.

Kelley Green, catcher, Foothill junior--As a left-handed catcher, Green is somewhat of an oddity. But her sure hands are why Gonzalez has entrusted her with the position, not to mention that Green also hit .330 last season.

Lana Jimenez, outfielder, Kennedy sophomore--The only sophomore on the all-County squad last year, center fielder Jimenez batted .340 and scored 21 runs.

DaLynne Large, second baseman, Canyon senior--Perhaps the leading second baseman in the county, Large is an excellent all-around player. She batted .303 and drove in 14 runs last year.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Tammi Beer, junior outfielder at Buena Park; Shannan Brown, senior catcher at Sunny Hills; Bernie Fancuberta, sophomore pitcher/first baseman at Sunny Hills; Kristina Gallegly, junior pitcher at Savanna; Leeann Gonzalez, junior pitcher at Foothill; Tammy Lohmann, junior shortstop at Katella.