PREP BASEBALL 1992: EMPIRE LEAGUE

El Dorado

1990 RECORDS: OVERALL: 20-7 LEAGUE: 12-3

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL Steve Gullotti: 194-88

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Tyson DowDell Sr. P-3B R-R Shawn Holcomb Sr. P-3B R-R Brian Loyd Sr. C R-R Andy Osborne Jr. 1B R-R John Street Sr. 2B R-R

OTHER TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T Eric Ayala Sr. OF R-R Ron Kiino Sr. OF R-L Mark Selway Sr. SS R-R

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Blaine Leitner Jr. CF L-L Spencer Frost So. OF R-R

OUTLOOK

The Golden Hawks went 20-7 and 12-3 in the league last season, and could only manage second place. That’s tough, but that’s the way the Empire League traditionally shakes out. Gullotti likes his team’s chances this season, what with league co-MVP DowDell back for his senior season. As a junior, he hit .400 with five home runs and 25 runs batted in and had an 8-1 record with a 2.10 earned-run average as the Hawks’ ace. He is expected to rank among the county’s top players this season. Loyd was a first-team all-league selection, batting .363 with two homers and 17 RBIs. Holcomb hit .333 and was 4-3 with a 2.53 ERA. Street is the fourth returning starting who hit .300 or better--he hit .300 exactly. Hitting and scoring runs should not pose a problem for the Hawks, according to Gullotti. He believes an improved offense will be the team’s strongest point. Once you get past DowDell and Holcomb, however, the Hawks are thin in the pitching department and are in desperate need of a quality shortstop. Gullotti picks El Dorado first, with Esperanza, Katella and Los Alamitos not far behind.