JUNIOR COLLEGE SOFTBALL PREVIEWS : Pitching-Poor Teams Could Be Strong-Armed

Remember that catsup commercial about anticipation, how people couldn’t wait for the stuff to slip out of the bottle?

That’s what junior college softball coaches from the region are going through with their teams about to launch the season.

Well, most of the coaches.

Some, the ones with seriously weak pitching--and that’s a well-represented group--are not so eager to get things rolling.

For them, going to battle without reliable arms is a prescription for disaster. But no one is about to raise a white flag as the season begins.

A team-by-team rundown:

ANTELOPE VALLEY

COACH: Gene Pagliaro, eighth season

1995 RECORD: 33-14; first in Foothill Conference, 11-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The three-time defending conference champions feature five returning players and several top recruits who should help them make a run at another title. The second-year players are pitcher Monica Dopson, shortstop Cindy Sims and outfielders Audri Heath, Sandy Holm and Andi Boswell. The freshmen include pitcher Angie Davison from Desert High, catcher Neisa Beaston and third baseman Shannon Martini from Highland and second baseman Natalie Aston from Antelope Valley.

OUTLOOK: Pagliaro believes the Marauders, who open today at the Cypress tournament, will contend again for the conference banner. “We have a lot of good athletes,” he said. “They are very intelligent and very diligent. Our strength will be defense and our pitching will come through later on.”

CANYONS

COACH: Ray Whitten, 10th season

1995 RECORD: 20-15; fifth in Western State Conference, 8-8

PLAYERS TO WATCH: As they head for today’s opener at the Cypress tournament, the Cougars have only 11 players and one sophomore--first baseman Jennifer Sprague, who batted .354 in WSC play and did not commit an error. Several players chose not to return for assorted reasons. Perhaps the biggest blow is the loss of pitchers Amy Ryun and Loren Fenstemaker, who are academically ineligible. They combined for all of Canyons’ victories last season. Also, shortstop Lisa Kelley (.464) accepted a scholarship to Michigan after one season at Canyons. Four former Canyon High players--pitcher Stacy Creo, third baseman Sunshine Esparza, shortstop Kassi Lemasters and second baseman Shalyn Martinez--are among the starters.

OUTLOOK: “It’ll be a test,” Whitten said. “We didn’t even have a pitcher until two weeks ago. . . . Our main thing right now is making sure we stay injury-free.”

MOORPARK

COACH: De Dow, third season

1995 RECORD: 20-15; second in WSC, 12-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Only shortstop Marie Zentil and second baseman Brandy Heyl return but Dow is confident the freshmen can help the Raiders in the chase for the conference title. The top newcomers include center fielder Chara Smith, catcher Alicia Ramos and pitcher Jessie Davenport from Thousand Oaks High, third baseman Danielle Stines from Fillmore and pitcher Christina Fernandez from Moorpark. Davenport and Fernandez, both right-handers, have the task of replacing Kelly Lovato, who transferred to Pierce. Lovato was an All-WSC selection last season.

OUTLOOK: Never underestimate the Raiders, who open the season today at the Cypress tournament, even when they have only two returning players. They have won or shared 10 WSC championships, one under Dow. “We have a lot of depth and versatility,” Dow said. “Our defense is pretty strong.”

PIERCE

COACH: Dan Berry, second season

1995 RECORD: 20-17; tied for third in WSC, 11-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: This is a rebuilding year. The Brahmas have no returning players and only one sophomore, pitcher Kelly Lovato, an All-WSC pick at Moorpark last year. But Berry, the former Crescenta Valley High coach, is happy with his recruits. They include former Alemany High teammates Sonja Maldonado--who Berry says has the “best glove on the team”--and Esmeralda Macias. Macias is a former All-Southern Section outfielder who moves to shortstop with the Brahmas. First baseman Maryann May, who led Verdugo Hills in home runs in 1994, provides power. Speedster Lili Hernandez, from San Fernando High, is in center field and Heather Mikels, who sat out last season because of shoulder surgery, is the catcher.

OUTLOOK: The Brahmas are coming off their first playoff appearance in the past 10 seasons. Berry doesn’t expect a major letdown. “Last year’s team didn’t have the same talent but they had a lot of heart,” he said. “I think we’ll do fairly well.” Pierce opens Tuesday at San Bernardino.

VALLEY

COACH: Kodee Murray, second season

1995 RECORD: 12-13; seventh in WSC, 5-11

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Eight players return for the Monarchs but all at new positions. And none have significant pitching experience. Shortstop DeDe Molina and second baseman Silvia Landaverde, who played center field last year, are the hurlers. Molina played third base in ’95. “She pitched about eight innings,” Murray said. Kristina Kepner, last season’s catcher, is now at shortstop or second base. Tiffany Langness switches to third base from second base and Arlene Lozano moves to right field from left field. The Monarchs have only five freshmen on the 14-player roster.

OUTLOOK: Valley has to buckle down elsewhere to compensate for its pitching shortage. “We can score some runs and put the ball in play,” Murray said. “Defensively, we should be OK.” The Monarchs open Wednesday at home against Irvine Valley.

VENTURA

COACH: Susan Johnson, eighth season

1995 RECORD: 31-21; tied for third in WSC, 11-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Pirates are loaded with pitchers and proven players. Sophomore right-handers Debi Covarrubias, Jennifer Malson and Rebecca Jimenez are set to share the duties and Johnson says that freshman Sonya Ortiz, from Oxnard High, also figures in her plans. The Pirates have power with sophomore outfielder Andrea Dominguez, a transfer from Moorpark, and shortstop Cynthia Almanza, a freshman from Oxnard. Sisters Tammy and Jennifer Peck return at second base and center field, and Elaine Smith is back at catcher. Maria Gonzalez, a freshman from Channel Islands who played volleyball for the Pirates last season, is the first baseman and outfielder Jennifer Tucker, from Thousand Oaks, is one of the top newcomers.

OUTLOOK: Some coaches tab the Pirates, who open today at the Hartnell tournament, among the favorites to win the conference and Johnson believes they can. “We have good hitting and good pitching,” she said. “I think this year we should come out really strong.”