PREP BASEBALL 1992: CENTURY LEAGUE

Canyon

1991 RECORDS: OVERALL: 19-9-1 LEAGUE: 9-6

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL Hi Lavalle: N/A

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Jeff Brunswig Sr P-OF R-R Matt Kastelic Sr. OF L-L Tony Schifano Sr. SS R-R John Schumacher Sr. 3B R-R Brad Shuckhart Sr. 2B R-R Matt Wood Sr. P R-R

TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T Tim Sumner Sr. SS R-R Royce Valent Jr. C R-R

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T James Jekums Jr. OF R-R Jarrod Kula Sr. P R-L Kent Miller Jr. 1B R-R

OUTLOOK

What’s not to like? The Comanches return almost their entire infield and a quality pitcher from a team that reached the Southern Section 3-A championship game. Wood was 8-4 with a 1.83 earned-run average. Schumacher hit .341 with 14 runs batted in and 27 runs scored. Brunswig hit .308 and drove in 11 runs. He will also see more time on the mound. Schifano and Shuckhart give Canyon a strong double-play combination. “Experience will be our strength,” Lavalle said. “We have a good group to build on.” And there’s more. Kula was 7-0 on the junior varsity last season. Miller should fit in nicely in a veteran infield. “We expect to have three quality pitchers,” Lavalle said. “Pitching is the starting point for any team. But you need a good catcher too.” And there is the one question mark. Valent must fill the void left by Ryan Puskas, who was an essential part of the Comanches drive to the title game. Valent got some experience last season, filling in when Puskas was injured. He will have to be able to handle the job on a full-time basis.