PREP BASEBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION PREVIEW : Diamond Bar Poised for Another Shot at Title

Kent Neil, Diamond Bar’s baseball coach, knows how to get his team ready for the playoffs.

Although the Brahmas have not won the Sierra League title the last two seasons, they advanced to the Southern Section Division 5-A championship two years ago and to the semifinals last season.

Coming off of a 20-9 campaign, Diamond Bar is expected to be back on top again.

Right-handed pitcher Jared Janke, a 6-foot-5 senior, has won 21 games in the last two seasons and hit .344 with five home runs and 32 runs batted in last season.

Catcher Karl Thompson is a four-year starter who batted .500 as a junior.

“I told them that it’s great that people think we have a good program, and we appreciate the recognition,” Neil said. “But you still have to go out and play the games.”

Diamond Bar, The Times’ top-rated Southern Section team in preseason games, opened league play last Friday.

A look at the rest of the ranked teams:

No. 2 HUNTINGTON BEACH

League/Division: Sunset, 5-A

1991 Record: 12-13

Huntington Beach is off to a quick start, having beaten El Dorado for the Loara tournament title. Although the Oilers struggled to a four-way tie for third in league last season, they are more optimistic this year because of the right-handed pitching tandem of Jon Ward and Derek Glascoe. Infielder Mike Moutrey transferred to Huntington Beach after having an all-league season last year at Bellflower.

No. 3 LONG BEACH MILLIKAN

League/Division: Moore, 5-A

1991 Record: 24-6, defeated Edison to win division championship.

Millikan breezed through the playoffs last year on the hitting of center fielder Dante Powell. Powell is gone, but 11th-year coach Dan Peters has plenty of talent back. The leader is senior pitcher Greg Gregory, who was 13-0 last year and has won 20 of 21 decisions as a starter.

No. 4 PLACENTIA EL DORADO

League/Division: Empire, 5-A

1991 Record: 20-7

El Dorado is led by three seniors who figure to be selected high in the amateur draft: Tyson DowDell, who can start at almost any position; catcher Brian Loyd and pitcher Shawn Holcomb. DowDell also pitches and was 8-1 last season with a 2.10 earned-run average.

No. 5 SIMI VALLEY

League/Division: Marmonte, 5-A

1991 Record: 21-5

Simi Valley proved it will be a force this season after defeating Crespi last week in a nonleague game, 6-4. The Pioneers will receive a boost when senior first baseman Aaron Fischer returns from an ankle injury. Fischer was a first-team divisional player last year, batting .473 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs.

No. 6 SANTA ANA MATER DEI

League/Division: Angelus, 5-A

1991 Record: 13-10

Having won section titles in football and basketball, Mater Dei will attempt to make it a clean sweep. The Monarchs have seven starters from a team that failed to make the playoffs last year after tying Servite for third place in the league. The leader is outfielder Cale Carter.

No. 7 RIVERSIDE POLY

League/Division: Citrus Belt, 5-A

1991 Record: 20-5-1

Riverside Poly is seeking its third consecutive league title and should have little trouble, with seven returning starters, its top three hitters and top two pitchers. Coach Rich Graves will be relying heavily on his son, Ryan, who was 9-3 last season with three saves.

No. 8 HUNTINGTON.BEACH OCEAN VIEW

League/Division: Sunset, 5-A

1991 Record: 16-8

Although Coach Steve Barrett maintains that his team’s strength is defense, opponents might disagree. Outfielder Rich Crowe (.457) and shortstop Joe Fraser (.420) provide plenty of power. Seth Bartels (7-2 last season) is the Seahawks’ top pitcher.

No. 9 EL SEGUNDO

League/Division: San Fernando, 3-A

1991 Record: 25-5

Coach John Stevenson is in his 33rd season at El Segundo, and is no stranger to high rankings. He has guided the Eagles to six section titles, the last in 1989. El Segundo should be in the hunt again with eight returning starters. Pitcher Matt Gangawere was 10-1 last season with a 2.69 ERA. Catcher Jeff Poor batted .475 and hit 11 home runs.

No. 10 ENCINO CRESPI

League/Division: Mission, 5-A

1991 Record: 16-9-1

Expectations are high at Crespi, which finished a half-game behind league champion St. Paul last season. Junior pitcher Jeff Suppan finished 6-4 with a 1.75 ERA, but was undefeated in American Legion play during the summer.

No. 11 LA PUENTE BISHOP AMAT

League/Division: Angelus, 5-A

1991 Record: 12-12-1

Bishop Amat should have little trouble improving on last season’s fifth-place league finish. A key is senior shortstop Gabriel Alvarez, who batted .433 last year with five home runs and 33 RBIs. Alvarez played winter ball with the Dodgers’ scout team.

No. 12 RIVERSIDE ARLINGTON

League/Division: Ivy, 4-A

1991 Record: 25-5

Arlington is expected to be challenged by Palm Springs for the league title, but the Lions still have the talent to repeat. Junior pitcher Tim Carlson is back after going 9-1 last season with a 1.41 ERA and 76 strikeouts. Senior pitcher Brian Martineau is expected to join the team after being suspended before the first game.

No. 13 ARCADIA

League/Division: Pacific, 5-A

1991 Record: 19-5-1

Arcadia is going for its fourth consecutive league title. The Apaches have six starters back, three of whom made the all-league team. Pitcher Brian Springer, (4-1 last year with 1.08 ERA), shortstop Jeremy Lewis (.412) and Grady Rohn (.500, 15 RBIs) are the leaders.

No. 14 ONTARIO

League/Division: Hacienda, 3-A

1991 Record: 26-0, defeated La Mirada in division championship.

Ontario will have a difficult time repeating last season’s perfect record after losing six starters. But Coach Bob Beck has a solid foundation to build around in senior pitcher Ryan Mitchell, who was 7-0 last year with a 2.18 ERA and 50 strikeouts.

No. 15 CHANNEL ISLANDS

League/Division: Marmonte, 5-A

1991 Record: 16-6

This might be the final season for Coach Don Cardinal, who is expected to retire after 26 years. Channel Islands has plenty of hitting with catcher Jose Gastelum (.425), pitcher Angel Aragon (.380) and shortstop George Macias (.368). Aragon was 10-2 last season with a 1.98 ERA.