HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SEASON PREVIEW : ALPHA LEAGUE

L.A. Baptist

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 19-6 10-2

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COACH YEAR Mark Bates 4th

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Matt Hernandez Sr. RHP Ryan O’Connell Sr. C Zack Hernandez Sr. SS Dana Berg Sr. CF Nate Laufer Sr. RHP Trenton Mooney Sr. 1B Chad Ruffner Sr. OF Matt Barker Sr. 2B Jeff Baumsteiger Sr. 3B Greg Wells Sr. LHP

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Marc Lacson Jr. C Tony Marek Jr. 1B Matt Beck Sr. OF

OUTLOOK

With 10 starters returning, L.A. Baptist is the clear-cut favorite to repeat as league champion and has the potential to win a section title. Seven of those starters batted better than .300. Matt Hernandez, the league’s reigning most valuable player, is the veteran ace and workhorse. Last season, Hernandez went 10-0 with two saves and finished with a 1.83 ERA. He had 78 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings and completed eight starts. As a designated hitter, he batted .368 with five doubles and 21 RBIs. Laufer (5-4, 2.50 ERA) and Wells (3-1, 1.54 ERA) will provide solid depth.

Village Christian

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 11-12 8-4

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COACH YEAR Mike Henzie 7th

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jason Robitaille Jr. RHP Mike Spielman Sr. SS Newt Wimer Sr. LF Mike Agnor Sr. 1B Mike Wertz Jr. C Rene Abeyta Sr. 3B David Gustafson Jr. CF Ryan Orefice Sr. RBP

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Mike Gallegos So. INF

OUTLOOK

Eight starters return to help Village Christian battle for a playoff berth. The Crusaders are sound defensively and the pitching is above average, Henzie said. But last year’s problem remains. “The big question is whether we can hit or not,” he said. The team batted a paltry .256. “Two-fifty is not gonna win too many games,” Henzie said. Spielman, who batted .408 with nine RBIs, is the only starter who hit better than .300. Robitaille (5-2), who had 40 strikeouts in 46 innings, had a 2.43 ERA and completed four games.