SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL / LEAGUE PREVIEWS : CHANNEL

Buena

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 20-6 12-2

COACH YEAR Sharon Coggins 16th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Kim Herman Sr. C Bevan Trueblood Sr. 1B Michelle Cordes Sr. RF Robyn Reida Jr. SS Nicole Greathouse So. RHP Stephanie Kinnear So. IF/OF Robin Peet So. DP Tanya Triana Sr. 3B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Rene Hofmann Fr. IF Kelly Carr Jr. RHP Erin Kelly Fr. RHP Dolly Villa Fr. RHP

OUTLOOK

Although the Bulldogs finished second last season to San Marcos, which returns all of its key players, many league coaches figure Buena to be the favorite this season. However, several Bulldogs, specifically Greathouse, are still playing for Buena’s championship basketball team.

Hueneme

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 0-19 0-14

COACH YEAR Patty Frash 2nd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jennifer Ayala Jr. SS Christina Canchola Sr. 2B/C Roseanna Almanza Jr. C Roxana Cervantes Jr. RF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Yvettez Carmona Fr. P/IF Nicole Gens So. 2B Angela Salanoa Sr. C/RHP

OUTLOOK

Despite losing 10 seniors from a winless team, Frash is confident because the freshmen have infused a new attitude. “The freshmen gave the varsity players a lift in the summer and that’s why I feel I’m going to have a great season,” she said. Carmona is expected to be the team’s No. 1 pitcher, despite her inexperience.

Oxnard

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 4-12 4-10

CO-COACHES YEAR Linda and Ray Covarrubias 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Anissa Velasquez So. RHP Genevive Moreno Sr. OF Adela Lucio Sr. 3B/SS Joelle Soliz Sr. 1B/SS

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Donna Hardy Sr. 1B/C Melissa Cervantez Jr. 3B/2B Kristy Herman Jr. C Chere Garcia Jr. OF Joanne Matibag Jr. 2B/RF Erika Contreras So. OF

OUTLOOK

Velasquez was the starting pitcher as a freshman last season and will remain in that role. Defense should be the team’s strength. Despite few returning players, Linda Covarrubias is optimistic. “They have much better attitudes about their softball this year,” she said. “They are committed and ready to go.”

Rio Mesa

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 13-11 10-4

COACH YEAR John Velasquez 8th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Kandie Apodaca Sr. 3B Cynthia Almanza Sr. 1B/SS Debbie Douglass Sr. C Sonia Ortiz Sr. RHP Trina Ayala Jr. RHP Jade Sawyer Jr. SS/2B Candice Holguin Jr. OF Megan Bosserman So. 2B/RF Gina Gonzalez Jr. OF Carol Caldana So. OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Sarah Michelle Jr. UT Sara Starr Jr. IF/OF

OUTLOOK

Rio Mesa figures to be a top contender for the playoffs. Although the Spartans return players at virtually every positions, the pitching is inexperienced. Ortiz and Ayala pitched sparingly last season. “Our pitching will be inexperienced initially,” Velasquez said, “but these girls will prove to be pretty good pitchers down the road.”

Ventura

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 5-22 5-9

COACH YEAR Felix Cortez 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jennifer Dietz Sr. 3B Clarrisa Peinado Sr. 2B Debbie Lancaster Sr. 1B-OF Alisha Eckberg Sr. RHP Joanne Meade Sr. OF Karrissa Tidwell Sr. IF/OF Tami Vaughn Jr. C Amanda Menez So. IF/OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Rebecca Rees Jr. 1B Camille Minkel Fr. P/IF

OUTLOOK

The top players are Dietz, an all-league pick as a sophomore who spent last season in Oregon, and Peinado, a four-year starter. Although 10 players return, only three were full-time starters last season. The Cougars’ goals are modest. “I hope we can finish 8-6 and make the playoffs,” Cortez said.

FRONTIER

Calabasas

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 8-10 5-7

COACH YEAR Richard Harrison 2nd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Melissa Krolik Sr. P Jennifer Goodeliunas Jr. 3B Kelli Sargent So. 1B Christy Culver So. 3B-P Lizette Barajas So. 2B Jennifer Rosson So. RF Robin Goodeliunas So. CF Keyna Bell So. SS

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Kelly Cheever Fr. OF Jessica Armacost Fr. IF

OUTLOOK

Six sophomores form the nucleus of the Coyotes, who have only one senior--all-leaguer Melissa Krolik, who batted .404 and also pitched last season. Keyna Bell batted .316 and bolsters the middle infield.

Moorpark

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 18-5 12-0

COACH YEAR Tom Humphreys 2nd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Mindy Penrod Sr. P Tracey Milburn So. CF Tina Milburn Jr. UTL Christina Gutierrez Sr. C Amy Thomas Sr. 1B Jenny Plante So. 2B Elizabeth Christensen So. UTL

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Lisa Estill Fr. OF Erin Heidenbech Fr. P Meghan Finnerty Fr. UTL

OUTLOOK

Last year’s Frontier League champions, the Musketeers seem poised for a repeat performance. Only one starter is gone and Penrod, the league’s most valuable player, returns. Penrod will be counted on at the plate (.457 batting average) and on the mound (9-0, .89 earned run average in league play). Tracey (.500) and Tina Milburn (.457) can both hit the ball. Freshman Erica Heidenbech will pitch if Penrod needs a rest.

Nordhoff

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 0-21 0-12

COACH YEAR Fernando Coronel 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Amber Blundell Sr. CF Julie Sandefur Sr. P-1B Blake Kidder Sr. 3B Keyanna Stanford Jr. SS Michelle Girardi Jr. UTL Shanon Haire Jr. LF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Jessca Hill Jr. P/1B Jessica Colborn Jr. C Deanna McCullah So. IF

OUTLOOK

One victory for the Rangers will be an improvement over last season. Nordhoff will depend on Blundell (all-league as a sophomore two years ago) and Sandefur (missed all last season with an injury). Hill will also help in what may be a battle for fifth place with league newcomer Malibu.

Santa Clara

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 10-10 5-5

COACH YEAR Dick Weber 3rd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Niecee Madrigal So. SS Mia Barrera Sr. C Darlene Duarte So. P Kathy Montoya So. 1B Katie Thomas So. OF Michele Mullen So. 2B/P

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Stephanie Aranda So. IF Leah Ward Fr. C/IF

OUTLOOK

The Saints finished one game out of second place last season and could improve with a young, but talented, nucleus returning. Barrera, the only senior on the team, and Madrigal will be the top hitters. Duarte is the No. 1 pitcher.

Santa Paula

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 16-5 9-3

COACH YEAR Leonard Mata 10th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Alicia Ramos Sr. C Lorraine Marquez Sr. P Tanya Paez Jr. SS Karrie Barrajas Jr. CF Kathy Mata So. 2B Mandy Gonzalez Sr. 1B Tina Mata Sr. 3B/1B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Tina Rodriguez Fr. UTL Julie Herrera Fr. UTL

OUTLOOK

The Cardinals could give Moorpark a run for its money in the Frontier League race. Five seniors return from a team that finished second in the league last season. Ramos batted .450 and will call the pitches for Lorraine Marquez (9-4, 1.61). Barrajas anchors the outfield and can swing the bat (.375).

HIGH DESERT

Paraclete

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 25-5 11-1

COACH YEAR Margaret Neill 16th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Kristal Nessa Jr. 2B Alyson Martin Sr. 1B Vicki McKay So. P Suzanne Bass Sr. OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Cassie Burke So. C/SS Kathy Munoz So. OF

OUTLOOK

Nessa, who stole seven bases in five playoff games, will be counted on to get on base and start the offense for the Division V finalists. McKay will pick up the pitching load, with Burke on the receiving end. “I think that this will be the toughest league season that we’ve had in a long time,” said Neill. “The other teams didn’t lose a lot of players.”

RIO HONDO

La Canada

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 24-3 12-0

COACH YEAR Tom Parker 3rd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Lindsay Parker Sr. P Jacki Tenerelli Sr. 1B Tricia Walton Sr. SS Lauren Burns Sr. C Shannon Smith Jr. 3B Kori Zimmerman Sr. OF Kara Campbell So. OF Siarra Geer Jr. OF Tara Howard Jr. P Kelly O’Toole Jr. UTL Sara Takata Sr. UTL

TOP NEWCOMERS: None

OUTLOOK

The Spartans, who reached the Division IV final last season, have won 28 consecutive league games dating to 1992. Virtually every starter returns. Parker, who has signed with Fresno State and is among the top pitchers in the state, was selected the division’s player of the year after posting an ERA of 0.05 and pitching 281 innings without yielding an earned run.

TRI-VALLEY

Fillmore

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 16-8 8-4

COACH YEAR Dave Wilde 3rd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Danielle Stines Sr. 3B Nicole Ortiz Jr. P Jennifer Asenas Sr. 1B Debbie Davis Sr. INF Nicole Uribe Jr. C

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Naomi Qualls Fr. P Christie Rosenblad So. SS April Kozar So. OF Esther Gurrola Fr. UTL Sally Alvarado Fr. UTL Kim Kozar Sr. OF

OUTLOOK

The Flashes unquestionably are in a rebuilding season, but Wilde is optimistic about his new players. “We hope to have a decent season,” Wilde said.

Oak Park

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 17-7 8-2

COACH YEAR Roger Newell 11th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Tammi Beck Jr. SS Kaylene Boldroff Jr. P Shana Silverman Jr. OF Kristin Becker Sr. 3B Katie Russell Sr. OF Tabitha Tata Jr. P Colleen McDonald Jr. 2B Nicole West So. C Alicia Barron Jr. 1B Jennifer Malter Sr. OF Christy Argast Jr. UTL

TOP NEWCOMERS: None

OUTLOOK

The return of seven starters should ensure the Eagles of a shot at the league title. Silverman and Boldroff, who figures to share duty with Tata, were all-league selections last season.

La Reina

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 17-10 9-1

COACH YEAR Don Hyatt 11th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Shane Anderson Sr. SS Jennifer Baltruzak Jr. P Sarah Heiler Sr. OF Jennifer Osborne Sr. C Kelly Osborne Sr. 1B Katie Russell Sr. OF Stephanie Deddens So. 3B Kindrea Cuccia So. OF Anna Robison Jr. 1B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Aimee Thompson Fr. INF Christy Odre Fr. INF

OUTLOOK

La Reina has a history of success that should continue. The Regents reached the semifinals last year after winning the Division 1-A championship in 1991 and ’92. Anderson, who has signed with Stanford, batted .384 with eight home runs and 31 runs batted in. Baltruzak, the top pitcher, was 12-7 last season.

St. Bonaventure

‘94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 10-12 5-5

COACH YEAR Craig Thompson 3rd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Sandy Echeveste Sr. OF Kristin Klarc Sr. 1B Alison Coultas Jr. C Brandi Cook Jr. P Melissa Mathwin Jr. OF Clare McNamara So. SS Candice Bartosh So. C Paige Hiroshima So. DP

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Robyn Roberts Fr. P Thome Dombrowik Fr. 3B

OUTLOOK

Cook is solid on the mount, but it will likely take more for the Seraphs to contend. “The pitching is good in our entire Division,” Thompson said. “We’ve got our work cut out for us.”