HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION PREVIEWS : PACIFIC LEAGUE : Crescenta Valley

COACH: Tony Zarrillo, 5th year

LAST SEASON: 9-13-1; 5th in league, 5-9-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Falcons’ strength should be pitching, with their top three starters returning. The most intriguing is junior left-hander Jim Parque, who was 3-2 with a 2.90 earned-run average last season. He struck out 36 and allowed 26 hits in 31 1/3 innings. He is only 5 feet 6 and 125 pounds. “You look at him and say, ‘What is this guy doing in a varsity baseball game?’ ” Zarrillo said. Junior right-hander Garrett Lee was 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA. Another starter is senior Brendon Cowsill. Also the No. 1 third baseman, Cowsill is beginning his fourth season as a varsity starter. As a pitcher, he was 2-3 with a 4.67 ERA. He batted .275 and hit three home runs. The shortstop is likely to be Adam Jacobsen, the star of the Falcon basketball team. Jacobsen has not played baseball since his sophomore year at Glendora High. Another newcomer is junior middle infielder Kirk Hagge, a transfer from St. Francis. Junior catcher David Fielder (.282), the football team’s quarterback and punter, probably will bat third. Senior center fielder John Gabrielson hit better than .400 in American Legion play. OUTLOOK: Crescenta Valley and Arcadia are considered the top teams in the league. Although pitching seems to be the Falcons’ strength, Zarrillo said, “as a group, (the pitchers) haven’t come along quite as fast as we’d hoped.”

Glendale

COACH: Chris Axelgard, 6th year

LAST SEASON: 11-10; 3rd in league, 8-7

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Brendan Barrett, an all-league second baseman last season, is considered one of the top returning players in the league. “He’s really in place to have a big year,” Axelgard said of his leadoff hitter. Senior center fielder Edwin Bonilla will be a starter after a good season with the junior varsity. “He is probably the best athlete on the team,” Axelgard said. “He’s extremely fast.” The other two outfielders are returning starters--seniors John Lister in left and Juan Chavez in right. Senior David Sofro, who started the second half of last season, will be the shortstop. Junior catcher Guy Blackwell has improved markedly behind the plate, Axelgard said. Pitching is a question mark. The ace is right-hander David Gantt (4-3, 2.92). Senior right-hander Frank Loera is getting a look as the No. 2 starter.

OUTLOOK: Glendale should fall somewhere in the middle of the league standings. The Dynamiters don’t appear to have a notably strong offense or pitching staff, but the league is such that no team will be out of the race.

Hoover

COACH: Bob Cooper, 19th year

LAST SEASON: 11-9-1; 4th in league, 6-8-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Andrew Spencer was an all-league selection as a center fielder last season when he hit .426. A left-handed thrower, Spencer also pitched sparingly, but Cooper said he will be one of the front-line starting pitchers. First baseman Nate Dishington (.333, four home runs, 23 runs batted in) will start at first base and also do some catching. Senior Robert Ruiz (.283) returns as the starting shortstop. Junior right fielder Chris Butler, the leadoff hitter, also returns. Most of the Tornadoes’ other key players were members of last year’s Pacific League champion junior varsity. Senior right-hander Doug Jackson will pitch, play outfield and bat as the designated hitter. Sophomore right-hander Gerald De La Pena was the JV closer and will be cast in that role for the varsity. Sophomore left-hander Amador Solis will pitch and play outfield. Sophomore Carlos Valadez will be the starting catcher. Junior Ron Pirayoff, a reserve last season, will start at third base.

OUTLOOK: “I don’t know about our pitching,” Cooper said, “but I think our hitting will be as good as there is. Our defense will be pretty good also.” Hoover might be a year away from contention in the league because of a lack of pitching depth.