PREP BASEBALL ‘94: EMPIRE LEAGUE

Los Alamitos

1993 RECORDS:

OVERALL: 15-11

LEAGUE: 9-6

COACH: John Bryant

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 0-0

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Cory Barnett Sr. Inf R-R Bill Blackledge Sr. Inf R-R Josh Taylor Sr. Inf R-R

TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T Marc Albert Sr. C/OF R-R Miles Campbell Sr. P L-L Derek Cunningham Sr. P R-R Clay Kemp Sr. OF R-R

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Enrico Bozman Sr. OF R-R John Ross Jr. Inf R-R Mark Ukleja Jr. C R-R

OUTLOOK

Bryant takes over this season, succeeding Rob Megill who resigned. Bryant played baseball at Cal State Fullerton and was a starter on the Titans’ national championship team in 1984. He inherits a team that could do even better than its second-place finish of last season. They have a good nucleus of players and a terrific transfer in Bozman, who was at Bellflower a year ago. Bozman was a Times Orange County first-team selection as a running back in football and many believe his best sport is baseball. He is a solid hitter and has good speed. The infield is solid with Barnett, Blackledge and Taylor, who all are returning starters. Taylor hit .410 and scored 22 runs. Barnett, a starter since his sophomore season, had a team-high 26 runs batted in. He also scored 25 runs and had 18 stolen bases. The Griffins have a good group of young players to mix in. A lot will depend on pitchers Campbell and Cunningham. Both were on the varsity last season, so they have some experience. But one will have to step forward and be the ace. If one or both come through, then the Griffins will be tough to beat.