PREP BASEBALL 1993: SUNSET LEAGUE

Santa Ana

1992 RECORDS: OVERALL: 4-20 LEAGUE: 2-10

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL Paul Nelson: First year

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Ernie Aceves Sr. C R-R Saul Cuellar Sr. SS R-R Jose Mata Jr. 3B R-R Oscar Miranda Sr. P R-R Joe Valdez Sr. P R-R

OTHER TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T Jose Aguilar Sr. OF R-R Matt Chavez Jr. P R-R Sal Gomez Sr. P-OF R-R

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Mark Fausto Jr. OF-P R-R Jose Herrera Jr. P R-R Gabriel Romero Jr. OF R-R

OUTLOOK

Nelson, a 1985 graduate of Santa Ana, replaces Bob Glassman as the Saints’ coach. Nelson, 26, pitched at Biola for three seasons and was a junior varsity coach at California High in Whittier before becoming a science teacher at Santa Ana in 1990. He will be assisted by another former Saint, John Schilling. Nelson said he wasn’t confirmed by the district as the Saints’ coach until two weeks ago. It could be a long year. Santa Ana allowed 17 runs and committed five errors in its season opener against Capistrano Valley. Mata, a returning starter, was hurt while playing goalkeeper for the soccer team and is out indefinitely. Four other returning starters are academically ineligible. Nelson, who suits up only 13 players, admits, “We have a tough year ahead of us. Right now, I’m shuffling guys in and out of the lineup and out of position.” Aceves, starting his third season, is the team’s best player. He went four for four in the opener. Herrera, top player on the junior varsity last year, is the No. 1 pitcher. “Right now, we’re pretty thin on pitching,” Nelson said.