HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION PREVIEWS : DEL REY LEAGUE : St. Francis

COACH: John Yakel, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 11-12; 2nd in San Fernando League, 8-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior catcher Mike Jaramillo is an NCAA Division I prospect, according to Yakel. Senior Rudy Martinez, who has started the past two seasons at third base, will move to shortstop. Yakel will keep a close eye on Martinez (.328 batting average, 12 doubles), who suffered a separated right shoulder as the football team’s quarterback. Junior Cordy Foster (.330), who played left field, will move to center. Junior first baseman Brett Christoffersen, a varsity reserve last year, is a left-handed power hitter, Yakel said. Junior Vinnie Sinatra will start at second and senior Steve Thomas will play third. Junior Dan Bir, who played five positions for the varsity, will start in left field. Juniors Mat DeCristo, Richie McCoppin and Jaime Aguilera will battle for the starting job in right field. The pitching staff is led by right-hander Richard Luna, the varsity’s No. 2 pitcher last season. Senior right-hander Jaason Pruett, who missed most of the varsity season last year because of illness, also will start. Senior right-hander David Cass will be the closer.

OUTLOOK: The Golden Knights are making a major move from the San Fernando League to the Del Rey. “We used to look at teams like Bell-Jeff as two wins,” Yakel said, “now teams (in the Del Rey) are probably looking at us that way.”