PREP BASEBALL 1993 / ORANGE LEAGUE : Magnolia

1992 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 4-20 2-13

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL John Hangartner First year

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Jason Dongler Jr. OF R-R Richard Hughes Sr. P-1B R-R Dustin Martin Sr. SS R-R Butter McCown Sr. P R-R

OTHER TOP RETURNERS

None

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Matt Nester Jr. OF-P R-R Tony Ortiz Jr. 3B R-R Rick Rickabaugh Sr. C R-R

OUTLOOK

Hangartner, a standout shortstop at Magnolia in the mid-1980s, replaces John Sharp, who’s now an assistant coach at Savanna. Hangartner has the tough job of rebuilding a program that finished last in the league last year after having two strong seasons. And to make things even tougher, he has lost two of his best players to injuries. Hughes is out with an injured hip until the start of league play, and Martin pulled a back muscle during basketball season and can handle only light workouts. Magnolia had been a league power before hitting rock bottom last season. The Sentinels finished a half-game behind league champion Brea-Olinda in 1990 and a game behind the Wildcats in 1991. They had five starters back last season, including Hughes and McCown, but they fell apart early, never recovering from a 2-7 nonleague season. They have a tough start this season, too, playing top-ranked Irvine in the first round of the Loara tournament today. But Hangartner thinks he might have one of the league’s better pitching staffs. “We’re expecting a lot from our senior pitchers,” he said. “With Hughes out, that will put a lot of pressure on Butter.”