PREP BASEBALL ‘94: SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Irvine

1993 RECORDS:

OVERALL: 23-8

LEAGUE: 11-3

COACH: Bob Flint

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 245-118

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T David Hongslo Jr. C R-R Tommy Louie Sr. P/3B R-R Geoff Noisy Sr. OF R-R Eric Sobek Sr. 3B/P R-R

TOP RETURNERS: None

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Charlie Heath Sr. P/OF R-R Travis Kowalewsky Sr. 1B R-R Mike Walas So. SS R-R Matt Ward Jr. P L-L

OUTLOOK

The Vaqueros shared the league title with Woodbridge and reached the Division III finals before losing to Tustin, 8-5. Even though they lost 17 players to graduation, Irvine will continue to be competitive simply because Louie is still in the program. Louie, a right-hander, was the league’s most valuable player, MVP of the Upper Deck Classic, pitched two no-hitters, went 12-3 with two saves and had a 2.24 earned-run average. At the plate, he batted .348 with 25 runs batted in and had a school record-tying five triples and 37 runs. Irvine also gets a shot in the arm from Sobeck, who batted .336 with 28 RBIs, hit five triples and scored 29 runs, and who went 4-1 with five saves and 1.82 ERA in 42 1/3 innings. Noisy (.240, 17 runs), Hongslo (.206) and Kowalewsky will be asked to step up their games to help offset the departure of Scott Seal (five triples, 24 RBIs), Ryan Jones (.483, six home runs, 29 RBIs, 26 runs) and Aron Garcia (.432, 37 runs). Although it would take quite a run to reach the section finals for a third consecutive season, it wouldn’t be unfathomable, either.