COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL PREVIEWS : Trying to Reach the Next Level : El Camino: Although the Warriors should be improved from a 14-21 season in 1992, Coach Nick Van Lue says the team is far from becoming a force.

When Nick Van Lue took over a struggling El Camino College baseball program in 1992, he said the task of making the Warriors a contender would be lengthy and difficult.

Van Lue expects El Camino (14-21, 9-13 in South Coast Conference play in ‘92) to be improved this season but says the program is not yet where he wants it to be.

The job may be more difficult now that Harbor College has joined the SCC. Harbor had won seven consecutive Southern California Athletic Conference championships and three state titles.

“It’s going to take a while to get kids in this area to come here,” said Van Lue, a former Harbor assistant. “But it’s already happening.”

One of Van Lue’s biggest problems in 1992 was a lack of depth. This season the Warriors, who return five sophomores, have added several promising newcomers.

“We have depth at every position,” Van Lue said. “I think we are too strong at every position. Our biggest downfall right now--the big question--is team speed. We have individuals that can run, but our overall team speed is average to below average.”

El Camino’s top returning starter is All-SCC catcher Garret Quaintance, a former El Segundo High player. He was the Warriors’ cleanup hitter and runs-batted-in leader in ’92.

“We’re still a young team, but I would say there’s more confidence and optimism than last year,” he said. “There’s still a lot of individual players on this team but we’ve come a long way.”

Tom Dallen (West Torrance High), who is a kicker on the Warrior football team, returns to first base, and Moises Barba (Hawthorne) will be at third.

If Dallen accepts a football scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, he would quit the team in a couple of weeks. In that case freshman Tremayne Noles (Westchester) will start at first.

The Warriors may also lose sophomore second baseman Dane Cowing, who suffered an ankle injury during practice. Doctors will make a final decision this week on whether Cowing will be able to play, Van Lue said.

Freshman Paul Casillas, an All-Southern Section selection from Santa Monica High, will start at shortstop and freshman Steve Sarkisian will be his backup.

Sarkisian was an All-Pioneer League selection last year as a pitcher and shortstop at West Torrance. He led West with a .436 batting average, 40 hits, 23 RBIs and four home runs. As a pitcher, he was 8-0 with a 1.58 earned-run average.

The all-freshman outfield will include Ruben Mecado in right, Kerry Cosgrove in center and Armando Fernandez (Hawthorne) in left. Mecado, an All-City selection from Venice, will also play catcher. Cosgrove, who took a redshirt season at St. Mary’s College, is expected to be the leadoff batter. Fernandez, a redshirt from Cal State Long Beach, is expected to add power to the lineup.

Pitching may be a problem area for the Warriors, who have only one returning starter in right-hander Tavo Lopez (Leuzinger). Freshmen Frank Bignami (All-Ocean League selection from Redondo) and Jeff Johnson (Carson) are expected to compete for starting roles.

“In my mind I have to pitch for nine innings every time I go out there,” Lopez said. “But I think when these pitchers get innings under their belt they’ll do better.”

Freshmen Ralph Martinez (Torrance), Eligio Lopez (San Pedro) and Mike Houck (Redondo) will be relievers.

Houck played basketball for El Camino and Chaminade University in Honolulu, but under community college rules, maintains freshman status in any sport he didn’t compete in.

“He’s slowly but steadily coming back,” Van Lue said of Houck. “I expect him to bounce back real fast because he’s a great athlete. He will really help us as a long reliever.”

El Camino opens SCC play at Long Beach City College on Tuesday. Harbor and Cerritos are expected to battle for the SCC title, but Van Lue says not to count the Warriors out.

“We’re a sleeper,” he said. “People don’t expect a lot from us, but we’re going to surprise some people.”