PREP BASEBALL 1992: GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE : Rancho Alamitos

OUTLOOK

With a team that finished only two games out of the league basement last season, Case realistically is setting his sights on nothing higher than third place and a playoff spot. “We are still young,” Case said. The Vaqueros feature several talented juniors and sophomores, including catcher Freeman, who batted .370 as the designated hitter last year. “He’s going to be a star,” Case said. Winemiller (.300) and Brown (.330) also provide punch and will do the pitching, which Case said worries him most. “The pitching has been suspect. If it’s a problem, we are going to have to score a lot of runs,” he said. Byrd, who led the county in rushing during the football season, will patrol center field for the Vaqueros after batting .500 on the junior varsity last season. “If the ball is in the air, he’ll catch it,” Case said. Bettencourt, a three-year letterman who Case said is one of the team leaders, anchors the infield. “Defensively, we won’t make very many mistakes,” Case said. On offense, Rancho Alamitos will combine speed with occasional power. “We do have a few sticks who can hit the long ball,” Case said.

1991 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 7-12 4-10

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL

Doug Case: 7-12

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Phil Bettencourt Sr. SS R-R Marshall Brown Jr. P-3B R-R Nathan Freeman Jr. C S-R Brian Jordan Sr. OF R-R Scott Shade Sr. 1B-P S-R Erin Winemiller Jr. P-3B R-R

OTHER TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T Travis Donahue Sr. OF R-R Dustin Spicer Sr. P R-R

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Jeff Byrd Jr. OF R-R Mario Reyes Jr. U-P R-R