HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SEASON PREVIEW : FRONTIER LEAGUE

Calabasas

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 15-6-1 8-4

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COACH YEAR Rick Nathanson 3rd

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Josh Morton Sr. 3B Billy Hoover Jr. P Bhret Haessig Sr. OF Tanner Troster So. OF Sam Rutherford Sr. OF Brandon Cohen Jr. C Josh Mogy Sr. 2B

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Mike Melucci Jr. 2B Anthony Kaufman Sr. P Gabe Feldman Jr. P Darin Reisman So. IF Zach Fields Jr. OF Mitch Tisher Jr. OF

OUTLOOK

The Coyotes hope they won’t have to start over from scratch one year after capturing their first league championship, a co-title with Moorpark. All-league second baseman Jared Dahl moved and most key players are underclassmen. Morton, who batted .357 with a 28-game hitting streak, is one of the top prospects in the country.

Moorpark

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 14-8 8-4

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COACH YEAR David Rhoades 5th

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jason Adamson Sr. OF Adam Rauch Sr. OF Rick Collier Sr. SS Craig Weaver Sr. 1B Bill Finnerty Sr. C Brian Garrettson Sr. P Mike Vasquez Sr. P

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Andy Huisenga Jr. OF Ben Hall Jr. 2B Travis Ehrlich Jr. 3B

OUTLOOK

Six position players and two pitchers return from a club that won 14 games last season and shared the league crown. Only three are gone from the roster. Three-year starter Adamson batted .409.

Nordhoff

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 4-16 0-12

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COACH YEAR Steve Blundell 4th

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Brian Roney Sr. P Jason Mounsey Sr. OF Mike Rodriguez Sr. 2B Charlie Venable Jr. C Miles Robertson Jr. OF Rusty Darter Sr. OF Mike Gardia Jr. IF Shawn Strben Jr. OF Craig Provata Sr. IF

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Ben Blanton So. P Mike Walsh Jr. P Ryan Thompson Sr. IF

*OUTLOOK

What goes up must come down. Blundell hopes the same theory will work in reverse for his Rangers, but there’s no indication that will happen right away. Walsh had a 16-strikeout game in a Palomino game when he discovered a curve last summer.

Santa Clara

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 8-9 7-5

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COACH YEAR John Lorenzana 1st

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Chris Gray Sr. P Patrick Redican Sr. P Andy Maciel Jr. OF Bobby Herrera Sr. 2B Fernando Garcia Sr. 3B

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TOP NEWCOMER YR POS Jason Watkins So. SS

*OUTLOOK

The Saints’ biggest asset could be the return of Lorenzana, who produced two league titles and led Santa Clara to the playoffs in eight of nine seasons in a previous coaching stint. It remains to be seen if Maciel, who hit .395, will have much of a supporting cast on offense.

Santa Paula

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 12-10 7-5

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COACH YEAR Sam Cathcart 1st

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Joseph Jauregui Sr. SS Robert Newman Sr. 1B Anthony Morales Sr. 1B Raul Santa Rosa Sr. P Jeff Shea Sr. C Hector Torres Jr. 3B Hector Soltero Sr. OF David Quals Sr. P Phillip Arellano Sr. P

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TOP NEWCOMER YR POS Jeremy Johnson Jr. OF

*OUTLOOK

The Cardinals would appear in best shape of any team in the league. They were good last year and have eight returning starters. Morales led the league with a .512 batting average last year. Four-year starter Jauregui hit .310. Santa Paula went 12-0 at home, 0-10 on the road last season.