SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL / LEAGUE PREVIEWS

ALPHA

L.A. Baptist

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 19-6 11-1

COACH YEAR Mark Bates 4th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Marc Larson Sr. C Tony Marek Sr. 1B John Wilson Jr. P

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Seth Barkley Jr. 3B Jon Devirsan Sr. OF Josh Highsmith Jr. OF Scott Page Sr. P

OUTLOOK

Bates has an inexperienced squad on his hands. However, it is a group that is used to winning. The junior varsity has won league titles the past two seasons. “I know we’re going to be a good team,” Bates said. “I just hope that it’s this year.” Returning all-league pitcher John Wilson will be counted on heavily by the Knights, defending Alpha League champions.

Village Christian

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 15-9 6-6

COACH YEAR Brian Gibson 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Mike Gallegos Jr. 3B/P David Gustafson Sr. CF Jason Robitaille Sr. P/2B David Swanson Sr. P Jason Mikels Sr. 2B Robert Mikels Sr. SS

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Brian Agnor So. 3B Adam Davis So. 3B Aaron Funk So. IF/OF Tim Gustafson So. 1B Mike Santiago Fr. 1B Mike Malloy So. 3B

OUTLOOK

Gibson, in his first year as coach, inherits a team that should improve on last year’s record. Robitaille and Gallegos give the Crusaders a solid pitching core. They also add some solid bats to the lineup. Gallegos, a junior, batted .382 and Robitaille, a senior, hit .381.

CHANNEL

Buena

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 15-10 9-5

COACH YEAR Stan Hedegard 11th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Danny Rodriguez Sr. RHP Jeff Stetler Sr. C Brian Riley Jr. 3B Craig Williams Sr. SS Javier Flores Sr. 2B Chris Carr Sr. CF J.C. Holt Sr. LF Corey Phillips Sr. RF Clint Pine Sr. RHP Darryl Mundy Jr. RHP Trevor Jackson Sr. 1B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Eddie Loya So. 2B David Arroyo So. RHP Ricky Helland So. RHP Emilio Aragon Jr. IF

OUTLOOK

The Bulldogs would be in much better shape if several key players--Carr, Holt and Mundy--had not been injured playing other sports. All three will miss the start of the season. Rodriguez, the staff ace, was 8-0 last season and made The Times’ all-county team. Buena should challenge for second or third place.

Hueneme

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 11-15 5-9

COACH YEAR Reg Welker 16th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Josh Towers Sr. SS Sergio Casarez Jr. RHP Jess Sanchez So. 2B Brian Donohue Sr. 1B/OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS David Valadez Sr. OF Jess Vega Sr. C/3B Cody Washington Sr. OF

OUTLOOK

Welker admits it might be another long season for the Vikings, who once last year had to finish a game with eight players. Welker indicated he might be dealing with an 11 or 12 players on the roster again this year. Towers and Casarez are the team’s top hitters.

Oxnard

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 6-14-2 3-9-2

COACH YEAR Jack Dalton 3rd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Eric Mendoza Sr. RHP Ernie Hernandez Sr. C/RHP Rolando Ibarra Jr. SS Pete Martinez Sr. 3B Jason McAuliffe Sr. RF Mark Spencer Sr. LF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Zack Gyler Jr. C Gerald Synegal Sr. CF Chris Novellino Jr. 1B Adrian Carrillo Jr. 2B

OUTLOOK

The top returning hitters are Martinez (.327) and Mendoza (.309). Synegal might also become a dangerous hitter. Mendoza returns as a main starting pitcher, but he was 1-6 with a 4.60 ERA last season. The Yellowjackets probably don’t have enough to make the playoffs.

Rio Mesa

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 21-7 11-3

COACH YEAR Richard Duran 9th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Richard Soliz Sr. LHP Chad Snyder Sr. 3B Eric Flores Sr. SS Manuel Chavira Jr. RHP Daniel Martinez Sr. RHP Steve Arneson Sr. C Vince Roman Sr. 1B Marcus Yasutake Sr. 2B Charlie Boch Sr. CF Albert Ambriz Jr. OF

TOP NEWCOMER YR POS Ruben Delgado Jr. IF

OUTLOOK

The Spartans are loaded. Only three players are gone from a team that advanced to the Southern Section Division II semifinals. Soliz (8-1, 1.53 ERA) was the best pitcher and he is joined in the rotation by 6-foot-4 Martinez, who was injured last spring but pitched well over the summer. Snyder and Flores are both pro prospects. Rio Mesa is favored to win its sixth league title in nine seasons.

Ventura

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 11-11-2 8-5-1

COACH YEAR Dan Smith 16th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Robert Verstraeten Sr. RHP Seth Casey Sr. RHP Jeremy Pierce Sr. IF Chad Anderson Sr. RF Jeremy Glass Sr. LF Monty Moritz Sr. C Tim Stallings Sr. 2B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Marcus Tovar Jr. IF Oscar Tovar Jr. OF Curtis Guffee Jr. OF Jeremy King Sr. UTL Shawn Wenger Jr. 1B

OUTLOOK

The Cougars figure to be the team with the best shot of upending Rio Mesa. All three of last year’s top pitchers--Verstraeten, Casey and Moritz--are back. Anderson, Pierce and Casey were the team’s top hitters. Smith said his only concerns are offensive consistency and a lack of speed.

FRONTIER

Calabasas

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 18-6 9-3

COACH YEAR Rick Nathanson 4th Scott Drootin 4th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Billy Hoover Sr. OF/P Mike Melucci Sr. 2B Tanner Trosper Jr. CF/P Zach Fields Sr. OF/P Brandon Cohen Sr. C/P Darin Reisman Jr. 1B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Jared Sandler Sr. P Brett Niles Sr. 3B Josh Harris Jr. SS

OUTLOOK

If any team can unseat Moorpark, it’s the Coyotes. Trosper (.447), Hoover (.352) and Melucci (.333) garnered all-league honors last season. The addition of Montclair Prep transfer Jared Sandler (12-2, 1.26) adds instant credibility to the pitching rotation. Brett Niles, a transfer from Crespi, will start at third base and bat in the middle of the lineup. This could be a two-team race.

Moorpark

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 20-5 11-1

COACH YEAR Scott Fullerton 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Andy Huisenga Sr. C Travis Ehrlich Sr. P/3B Ben Hall Sr. 2B/SS Ryan Norton Sr. OF/P

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Justin Ames So. P/1B David Gray Fr. SS Brian Fortman Sr. CF Stephen Jennings Sr. 3B

OUTLOOK

Only four players return from last year’s league championship team. Two of them, however, are Huisenga and Ehrlich. Huisenga batted .329 and moves from the mound to catcher because of a football-related injury. Ehrlich appears to be the top pitcher and will be joined in the rotation by Justin Ames, a sophomore. Ben Hall adds stability to the middle infield.

Nordhoff

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 7-13-1 1-11

COACH YEAR Steve Blundell 5th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Mike Gardia Sr. SS Mike Walsh Sr. P Sean Strben Sr. LF Miles Robertsen Sr. RF Charlie Venable Sr. C

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Matt Cresto So. 2B Rusty Perry Jr. 1B Sky Boulten Jr. P Bobby Jones Jr. CF

OUTLOOK

The Rangers can only improve upon last year’s finish and with newcomer Malibu joining the league, that could happen. Gardia and Cresto give the Rangers a solid middle infield and Boulten, a transfer from Villanova Prep, will help on the mound. Walsh (3-6 last season) likely starts as the No. 1 pitcher.

Santa Clara

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 6-16 4-8

COACH YEAR John Lorenzana 2nd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS James Edwards Sr. P Chris Gray Sr. P Andy Maciel Sr. CF Brad Posca Sr. LF Andy Super Jr. SS-P

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Frank Arevalo Jr. C Allan Fouchy Jr. P/OF Vince Herrera Jr. C/OF Armando Delgado Jr. OF Mike Stewart Jr. 1B/P

OUTLOOK

The slick-fielding Saints need to improve offensively: They batted a paltry .153 last season. If they increase that, they could improve their fourth-place finish. James Edwards (2-1) and Chris Gray (1-4) return on the mound.

Santa Paula

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 9-13 5-7

COACH YEAR Henry Jacinto 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Marc Fallini Sr. P Juan Garcia Sr. OF Paz Olson-Pacheco Jr. IF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Rudy Ramirez Jr. SS Gil Segovia So. IF Clayton Alamillo So. OF Daniel Forhan So. P/1B Willie Zavala Fr. P/IF Rocky Frutos Jr. OF

OUTLOOK

A talented yet inexperienced team, the Cardinals will likely finish in the middle of the pack. Hector Torres’ unexpected move to Idaho cost the Cardinals pitching and power hitting. Fallini (3-2 last season) must pick up the pitching slack while Garcia, a defensive specialist in the outfield, should improve his hitting. Newcomer Rocky Frutos looked sharp in the preseason.

HIGH DESERT

Paraclete

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 12-12 8-4

COACH YEAR Mike Fulmer 4th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Dan O’Gara Jr. P/UTL Robbie Wood Sr. SS/P Raul Gutierrez Sr. 3B/P Bill Kneifl Jr. 2B Dan Berry Sr. C Steve McMurtry Sr. IF Craig Preasmeyer Sr. OF/1B Lance Lanfear Sr. UTL Sam Price Sr. UTL Steve Dombrowski Sr. OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Vinnie Pagan Jr. UTL

OUTLOOK

“If everything goes right, I think we should come in first,” said Fulmer, who has 13 of 14 players returning. O’Gara went 8-2 with a 2.90 ERA and two saves, making the All-CIF SS Division V team. Wood was an All-League selection, hitting .386 with 24 stolen bases. Fulmer thinks Kern Valley and Rosamond will also be in the hunt for the league title.

RIO HONDO

La Canada

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 11-10 8-7

COACH YEAR Gary Lievre 12th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Clinton Hollewell Sr. P Mike Flones Sr. SS Charlie Petit Sr. OF Kevin Carberry Sr. 2B Joseph Brendent Jr. INF/P

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Mike Herman Sr. OF/P Nick McKelvey Sr. 1B Dean McCoy Jr. INF Adrian Jobe Sr. OF James Wolstenholme Sr. C

OUTLOOK

Lievre says he can’t recall a season filled with so many new faces. But the cast of newcomers has shown the ability to handle the bat and play defense. “If we can get any kind of consistency out of our pitching, we should be OK,” Lievre said. The Spartans have not reached the playoffs since 1990.

TRI-VALLEY

Fillmore

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 7-13 5-7

COACH YEAR Tom Ecklund 23rd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Ryan Morales Sr. 1B Chris Gilkerson Sr. OF Tino Venegas Sr. OF Danny Ibarra Jr. SS Chris Goodenough Jr. 2B/P

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Jake Ellis Jr. OF Tim Pina Jr. C Eric Ortega So. OF/P

OUTLOOK

Ecklund says he can’t recall having a team so inexperienced. “Especially pitching,” Ecklund said. “We’re going to have to do a lot of developing in a hurry.” Goodenough is the probable ace. Ibarra is the only full-time returning starter.

Oak Park

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 14-6-1 8-4

COACH YEAR Bill Springman 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Brian McMullen Sr. C Kevin Pryor Sr. SS Eric Ruhle Sr. OF Todd Schultz Sr. P Tyler Blondi Sr. OF Mike Giunta Sr. 2B Cameron Marcarelli Sr. P Rick Lane Sr. 1B Brent Schneider Sr. P/1B Rob Hughes Sr. UTL

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Scott Christensen So. P Dan Wasserman So. OF

OUTLOOK

Springman, an assistant at Pepperdine for five years, replaces Mike Bolyog and inherits enough experience to lead the Eagles to another league championship. Oak Park finished in a first-place tie with St. Bonaventure last season and advanced to the Division IX quarterfinals. Schultz, one of the league’s top pitchers, was 7-1 last season.

St. Bonaventure

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 14-9 8-4

COACH YEAR Dennis Johnson 8th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jake Brown Sr. 3B/P Matt Buck Sr. C Ryan Tauber Sr. C/DH Jo Jo Molina Sr. 2B Les Ybarra Sr. 1B Matt Montee Sr. OF Andrew Montenegro Jr. UTL Ryan Worley Jr. P

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Danny Harrison Jr. OF/P Donny Harrison Jr. OF/P Andrew Corona So. SS Greg Kurtz So. SS

OUTLOOK

The Seraphs should remain a league power. Brown batted .457 and was selected the league’s most valuable player. Worley and twins Danny and Donny Harrison add to a solid staff. Defense might be a question mark. The middle infield is new from last season.