HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SEASON PREVIEW : MID-VALLEY LEAGUE

Birmingham

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 6-14-2 5-12

COACH YEAR Rick Weber 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Steve Brown Sr. RHP Pedro Rodriguez Jr. RF Don Wingo Sr. 1B Todd Challgren Sr. SS John Ransom Sr. CF Jimmy Uline Jr. C Dan Arnold Sr. 2B Carlos Patino Sr. LF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Lionel Villereal Jr. 3B Jamie Darnell Sr. RHP Hector Garcia So. RHP

OUTLOOK

Brown makes Birmingham a cut above an average team. Despite his 3-5 record last season, Brown threw seven complete games and finished with a 2.41 ERA. In 61 innings, he struck out 52 and walked only 18. “Control is one of his strong suits,” Weber said. “He’s a smart pitcher.” Of the five returning starters, only Rodriguez (.311, 10 RBIs) hit above .300. Wingo, the Braves’ No. 2 ace, had 10 RBIs and two home runs last season. In order for Birmingham to compete for a playoff spot, the Braves will have to hit more consistently than last season.

Canoga Park

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 6-15 3-14

COACH YEAR Jim Smith 6th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Gus Lomelli Sr. RHP John Carlson Jr. RHP Javier Vasquez Sr. SS Victor Oliveras Sr. IF David Vargas So. OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Ememy Sorano Jr. C Jeremiah Johnson Sr. 3B Kevin Fischman Jr. OF Ryan Silva Jr. RHP

OUTLOOK

The Hunters are 10-67 in the 1990s. Six of those wins came last season. Four starters return. Lomelli emerged as the top pitcher. Pitching should not be a problem, said Smith, who worries most about the Hunters offensively. “Our hitting let us down last year,” Smith said. “We only had one guy batting over .300.” Canoga Park again should find it tough to compete against conference pitchers.

Monroe

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 20-5 15-2

COACH YEAR Kevin Campbell 9th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Joel Zamudio Sr. RHP Jaime Dorado Sr. SS Eddie Rojo Sr. 2B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Sergio Lopez Jr. C Chris Duran Jr. 1B Mike Perez Jr. 3B Wayne Nix Jr. OF Evan Lovett Jr. OF Alfredo Aleman Jr. OF Ricardo Loredo Jr. 3B David Lusk Fr. C

OUTLOOK

Zamudio is being hailed as one of the top three pitchers in the region. He throws in the upper 80s miles per hour and last year struck out 81 in 64 innings. Zamudio finished 7-1 with a 1.64 ERA. Unfortunately for Zamudio, he will be surrounded by only two other returning starters, Dorado and Rojo, at shortstop and second base. Zamudio also was the Vikings’ top batter last season, hitting .462 with nine doubles and 27 RBIs. Zamudio suffered with back problems through the latter part of the season. He will have to remain healthy for Monroe to repeat as league champion. “He’s the guy we have to have to be competitive,” Campbell said.

Van Nuys

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 9-16 6-11

COACH YEAR Jim Friery 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jesus Bolivar Sr. RHP Jose Casco Sr. 3B Fernando Navarette Sr. OF Pedro Cuervo Sr. RHP Miguel Romo Sr. 1B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Joe Mendez Jr. 2B Yuri Cuervo Jr. SS Andrew Silver So. LHP

OUTLOOK

Friery coached the junior varsity to a league title last year and is hoping the Wolves’ winning ways continue on the varsity. Five returning starters will help Van Nuys compete for a playoff berth. Bolivar emerged as the Wolves’ ace last season. He finished 4-7, but sported a 1.90 ERA and struck out 65 in 77 1/3 innings. Bolivar, who hit .438 in 32 at-bats, also was Van Nuys’ top batter. To be fundamentally sound in all areas of the game is Friery’s No. 1 goal. As for predicting the league race, Friery won’t do it. “I’m gonna take a wait-and-see attitude right now,” he said.