HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SEASON PREVIEW : TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE

Fillmore

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 16-5 10-2

COACH YEAR Tom Ecklund 21st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Randy Kozar Sr. C Isaac Jimenez Sr. IF Brian Villegas Sr. OF Jason Merry Sr. P Aaron Meraz Sr. OF Mike Viaz Sr. P Josh Underwood Sr. 1B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Felipe Ordaz Jr. IF Jose Becerra So. 3B Troy Simerly Jr. C Tino Venegas Jr. OF Chris Goodenough So. P

OUTLOOK

Fillmore lost eight starters from last season and Ecklund is not ready to tout the Flashes for title contention, but other coaches in the league aren’t as wary. The road to the crown is Highway 126. Pitching will be the key. Fillmore has five right-handers and one lefty--none overpowering. “What I’m really looking for is three guys to say, ‘Give me the ball,’ ” Ecklund said. “Then we’ll settle in.” The defense is unsettled, but the offense has the potential to be explosive.

Oak Park

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 7-13 4-8

COACH YEAR Mike Bolyog 3rd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Kevin Pryor Jr. SS Eric Ruhle Jr. OF Tyler Blondi Jr. OF Mike Giunta Jr. 2B Brian McMullen Jr. C Todd Schultz Jr. P Chris Gorlitz Sr. P Brent Schneider Jr. P

TOP NEWCOMER YR POS Cameron Marcarelli Jr. P

OUTLOOK

After last season, the Eagles should park an ambulance behind the dugout or at least staff a physician. Thirteen players on the 18-man 1993 roster were sidelined with injuries. Pryor, a Division I prospect, was limited to eight at-bats because of a shoulder malady that required surgery. Ruhle, the only healthy starter, batted .400 most of the season. Bolyog said scouts are watching Marcarelli and Schultz. “They’ll be real competitive,” Bolyog said. “I just want them healthy.”

St. Bonaventure

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 8-12-1 7-5

COACH YEAR Dennis Johnson 7th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Travis Spurgeon Sr. SS Brad Burnett Sr. P Beau Rodriguez Sr. 2B Jake Brown Jr. 3B Les Ybarra Jr. P Gamble VanBuren Sr. P

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Matt Buck Jr. C JoJo Molina Jr. OF Ryan Tauber Jr. OF Matt Montee Jr. OF Ryan Worley So. P Andrew Montenegro So. C

OUTLOOK

The Seraphs have some interesting individuals. Spurgeon hit .450 last were and was a second-team All-Southern Section last year. Hard-throwing Burnett had 53 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings. Montee hit .400 for the junior varsity team, Montenegro .387, Molina .350 and Buck .342. Tauber hit .492 in varsity spot duty but must prove himself on defense. The JV team finished 10-2 in league play. Will all the pieces fit together? And will the pitching staff overcome control problems, unlike last year? St. Bonaventure lost two games last year because of bases-loaded walks.