PREP BASEBALL 1992: GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE : Kennedy

OUTLOOK

The ever-dreadful “athletic ineligibility” whammy has hit the Fighting Irish hard, leaving Pascal wondering how he’s going to plug some of the vacancies. His three starting outfielders and their main backup are academically ineligible, creating a huge void in an otherwise solid team that at one point seemed like a genuine contender. “What it means is I don’t have nine guys I can say, ‘OK, you’re the starters.’ I’ll be juggling (the lineup) all the time,” said Pascal, who took Kennedy to the Southern Section Division 3-A title in 1989. Still, Kennedy features two excellent pitchers in right-handers Jones (4-3 with a 2.78 earned-run average in 1991) and Lyon (4-3, 2.82). And though both struggled last season--Jones with his effectiveness and Lyon with a sore shoulder--Pascal expects productive years from the two starters. Underwood, a three-year starter at catcher who batted .347 last season, lends stability behind the plate. And Gonzalez, who batted .361, returns to help offensively and in the infield. But the questionable outfield won’t dampen Pascal’s outlook. “I’ve got some good, young kids,” he said. “But we have to play to win every pitch.”

1991 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 13-12 6-8

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL

Chris Pascal: 86-75-2

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T R.J. Gonzalez Jr. INF R-R Scott Jones Sr. P-OF R-R Rich Lyon Sr. P-OF R-R Devin Underwood Sr. C S-R

OTHER TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T Daric Grove Sr. U R-R Ted Gugert Sr. 2B R-R

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Chris Clark So. INF R-R John Guthrie Jr. OF-P R-R