HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SEASON PREVIEW : CHANNEL LEAGUE

Buena

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 15-7 8-6

COACH YEAR Stan Hedegard 10th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS James Melcher Sr. RF Jason Kimball Sr. 1B Rick Guzman Sr. LF Mark Stehle Sr. LHP Danny Rodriguez Jr. RHP Kris Hebert Sr. C Craig Williams Jr. RHP

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Jason Stetler Jr. C Xavier Flores Jr. 2B Chris Carr Jr. OF Cory Phillips Jr. OF

OUTLOOK

Melcher is the top returning player. He hit .441 and earned all-league and All-Ventura County honors. A left-hander, Melcher might also pitch. Stehle (2-3, 2.60 ERA) and Rodriguez (4-1, 4.08) will be the top pitchers. They will need to pitch well, because Hedegard is not optimistic about his club’s offense. Besides Melcher, Kimball, Guzman and Williams also are returning starters. Hebert was the varsity backup. “If all those guys come through,” Hedegard said, “we’ll be in good shape.”

Hueneme

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 14-12 9-5

COACH YEAR Reg Welker 15th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Robert Ralston Sr. C Raudel Flores Sr. SS Art Bolen Sr. UT

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Josh Towers Jr. RHP George Jones So. OF Robert Ruiz Sr. OF Manuel Aranda Sr. RHP

OUTLOOK

The brevity of the above list tells you all you need to know about the Vikings. A week before the season, only 12 players were on the squad. Of the returnees, Ralston is the best. He led the team with 28 RBIs and a .341 batting average last year. Flores (.302, 24 stolen bases) is moving from third base. Bolen, who played sparingly last season, is considered the strongest player on the team. Welker will be replacing all three outfielders. “We’re going to be real green,” he said. “As green as the grass. Hopefully we’ll be competitive, but you never know.”

Oxnard

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 8-13 5-9

COACH YEAR Jack Dalton 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Manuel Canales Sr. RHP Chuck Harrington Sr. 3B Eric Terrill Sr. 1B John Salinas Sr. UT

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Peter Gutierrez Sr. LHP Pete Martinez Jr. 2B Ernie Hernandez Jr. C Eric Mendoza Jr. OF Osvaldo Ibarra Sr. OF Jason Macauliffe Jr. OF

OUTLOOK

The Yellowjackets don’t return much, but Canales is the best. Dalton said he is the team’s best hitter and best pitcher. The other half of the starting rotation will be Gutierrez, who is 6-foot-2 and has a good fastball. Gutierrez didn’t play baseball last year and Dalton admitted he’s not sure why. Mendoza (.395 for the junior varsity) and Ibarra (.390) were the top hitters for the JV last year, and they will start in the outfield. If Canales and Gutierrez pitch well, the Yellowjackets may contend. Otherwise, the team is probably too inexperienced.

Rio Mesa

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 10-14 4-10

COACH YEAR Richard Duran 8th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Don DiDomizio Sr. LHP Eric Flores Jr. 3B Manny Perez Sr. SS Rudy Swanger Jr. SS Vince Roman Jr. 1B Marcus Yasutake Jr. 2B Johnny Espinoza Sr. CF Charlie Boch Jr. RF Steve Arenson Jr. C

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Randy Smith Sr. RHP Chad Snyder Jr. OF Brian Normington Jr. OF

OUTLOOK

The Spartans finished in last place a year ago, but they are certain to improve because of so many returnees. Duran can complete his lineup with players who started last year. DiDomizio has not pitched much, but Duran is planning to hand him the ball on a regular basis. Smith, a first-year varsity player, may be the sleeper of the pitching staff. Among the regulars, Flores (.391) is the most accomplished. He was an all-county pick as a sophomore. Swanger has great potential. Expect Rio Mesa to challenge for one of the league’s top spots if the pitching is good.

Ventura

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 10-15 5-9

COACH YEAR Dan Smith 15th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Monte Moritz Jr. SS Seth Casey Jr. RHP Aaron Kelly Sr. OF Ebon Brown Sr. 1B David Mace Sr. 3B Damian Aragon Sr. C Robert Verstraeten Jr. RHP

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Chad Anderson Jr. OF Jeremiah Glass Jr. OF Tim Stallings Jr. 2B Kris Krabill Sr. C

OUTLOOK

Moritz will rotate between shortstop and pitcher. “I’m looking for big things from him,” Smith said. He hit .405 and was 5-7 with a 3.45 ERA. The number of returnees is deceptive, though. Some of the returnees were only part-time players last year, such as Aragon and Casey. And Perez missed much of the year with arm problems. “Our returning seniors have to play like good seniors,” Smith said. “Our JV kids are going to have to pick it up a notch.”