HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SEASON PREVIEW : EAST VALLEY LEAGUE

Grant

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 6-16 5-12

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COACH YEAR Jeremy Lawrence 1st

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Aaron Amitin Sr. 2B Rudy Velasquez Sr. 3B Dylan Forman Jr. SS Marc Scorza Sr. LF Tommy Smith Sr. C

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Joe Tintari Sr. RF Tony Iovino Jr. RHP Josh Weiss Sr. 1B Adam Frank Jr. CF Shawn Smith Sr. RHP Walter Rios Jr. RHP

OUTLOOK

Lawrence, the Lancers’ third coach in as many years, has his work cut out for him in his debut season. Four starters return for the Lancers, but none hit better than .300 last season. To make matters worse, none of the returnees are pitchers. However, Lawrence said he has seven pitching prospects. “We’ll go as far as our pitching allows us,” Lawrence said. Offensively, Lawrence said, the Lancers are sound. “We don’t have a weak link in our lineup as far as hitting goes.” Eleven of the 17 players on the roster are seniors.

North Hollywood

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 11-12 8-9

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COACH YEAR Rick Pally 3rd

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Robert Talamantes Sr. LF Carlos Sandoval Sr. RHP Juan Zavala Sr. C Patrick Fields Sr. RHP Mike Delano Jr. LHP Alex Ramos Sr. CF Juan Zuniga Sr. 1B Rafael Cabrera Sr. RF

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Sean Flynn Jr. SS Hector Machaca So. 2B Jesus Acosta So. RHP

OUTLOOK

Seven starters return from a team that showed marked improvement from the previous season. The Huskies finished a paltry 2-20 in 1992. Talamantes, who hit a team-high .422 with four triples and 15 RBIs last season, is one of three returning starters in the outfield. Beside him will be Ramos (.408) and Cabrera (.380, 11 stolen bases) in right. Pitchers Fields, Sandoval and Delano, a left-hander, also return, but pitching was not a strength a year ago. Fields (4-1) had 32 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings and finished with a team-best 3.21 ERA. Zavala (.395) is a veteran catcher and Zuniga (12 RBIs) is a three-year starter at first base. The Huskies should challenge for a playoff berth. “We have some talented kids,” Pally said. “We have the opportunity.”

Poly

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 11-12 11-6

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COACH YEAR Chuck Schwal 2nd

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jerry Delgado Sr. RHP Javier Sanchez Sr. RHP Francisco Dorame Sr. 3B Jaime Cerna Jr. 1B Luciano Cuevas Sr. C Ray Montenegro Jr. 2B Sam Vizcarra Sr. CF Paco Hernandez Jr. OF

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Hugo DeLaTorre Jr. RHP Francisco Ozaeta Jr. LHP Gaudencio Martinez Sr. SS Jaime Corona So. OF

OUTLOOK

The Parrots took their knocks in the early part of the season a year ago. Poly was outscored, 55-8, in the first five games. But the Parrots rebounded nicely to finish in second place in the league behind Sylmar. With seven starters back for Poly, this season promises to be much different. Poly and Sylmar, which provide the best rivalry in the conference, should once again renew that competitiveness. Dorame, who hit .410 as a designated hitter last year, will move to third base. Delgado (eight doubles, 12 RBIs), Cuevas (17 RBIs) and Cerna all batted above .325. Schwal expects more of the same from them and believes five others will join the .300 club. Sanchez and Delgado will anchor the pitching staff.

Sylmar

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 20-8 15-2

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COACH YEAR Gary Donatella 6th

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TOP RETURNEES YR POS Carlos Velazco Sr. RHP Art Diaz Sr. 1B Mario Cervantes Sr. RHP Hiram Damwijk Jr. SS Tommy Mitchell Sr. 2B

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Esteban Zamora Jr. RHP Jose Palacios Jr. C Frank Martinez Jr. C Jose Davila Sr. 3B Xavier Gutierrez Sr. 3B Chris Ruley So. RF Javier Ruelas So. RHP

OUTLOOK

Sylmar has the top pitcher in the league in Velazco, who finished 11-1 with an 0.96 ERA, best among area City pitchers. Velazco had 51 strikeouts in 73 innings. Diaz, who batted .316 with eight doubles and 16 RBIs, is the Spartans’ best offensive weapon. Sylmar has four returning starters and probably will start three sophomores, but Donatella figures the Spartans will repeat as league champs. “I already told our guys, if we don’t win the league, it will be a disappointing year,” he said.