1996 Baseball Preview : Freeway League

Buena Park: 12-10-1, 8-6-1 in 1995. Coach: Russ McHale (first year). Prospects: McHale is moving up to the varsity, replacing Dave Meggision. Although outfielder Jim Jones (a sixth-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics) and three-time all-league shortstop Greg Cabral (.365, six homers, 21 runs batted in) have graduated, five starters return, including second-team all-leaguers Richie Pohle (.394, four homers, 21 RBIs) at third base and Dustin Strike (.390) at second. Right-hander Brent Andrew (5-4, 3.60) anchors the pitching staff. Buena Park will score runs; if the young pitchers mature, the Coyotes could have some playoff bite.

Fullerton: 13-10, 8-7 in 1995. Coach: Marty Berson (first year). Prospects: The Indians have already given their new coach, who has coached 28 seasons of high school and college baseball, a nice welcoming gift. Fullerton’s season-opening 5-4 victory Friday against South Pasadena was Berson’s 400th career victory overall. His senior-heavy squad is led by first-team all-leaguers Tyler Brickell (third base) and Mario Ramirez (catcher), and second-team right-hander Mike Garner (7-1). Fullerton is big on power but speed is a question. The Indians were the only team to beat Sonora twice last season.

La Habra: 7-15-1, 3-12 in 1995. Coach: John German (third year, 16-28). Prospects: La Habra found its growing pains last season to be just that--painful. The Highlanders are improved, but it will be tough to move up in this competitive league. The notable losses to graduation are second-team all-leaguers Ryan Busch and Jeremy Weinberg. Among the key returning players are second baseman Manny Valenzuela (.380) and catcher Paul Summers, who German says is the league’s best. A .500 season is not too much to ask for.

Sonora: 24-4-2, 11-3-1 in 1995. Coach: Pat Tellers (sixth year, 57-71-2). Prospects: The Raiders won their first Southern Section Division II championship last season and are not ready for the party to end. Tellers has two main cogs to replace: first-team all-leaguer Junior Rodriguez, whose bat (.392) was as potent as his arm (9-0), and Times second-team all-county infielder Marc Patino (.398, 38 RBI). David Miller will take over for Rodriguez. Miller, a first-team all-league selection, was 9-3-1 and batted .454. Ryan Owens (.348, 32 hits) can also be a star. Sonora, solid in all phases of the game--hitting, pitching, defense and experience--remains the team to beat.

Sunny Hills: 20-8, 10-5 in 1995. Coach: Doug Elliott (12th year, 175-119-2). Prospects: Don’t expect Elliott, the league’s coach of the year, to get Sunny Hills to match last season’s second-place finish. There are huge holes in the Lancers’ lineup. Times’ first-team all-county infielder Josh Hochgesang has taken his .507 average and 10 home runs to Stanford, and first-team all-leaguer Scott Warkentin (.340, two homers, 18 RBIs) also graduated. First-team all-leaguer Greg Garand (.349, two homers, 32 RBIs) returns, but Elliott says it’s “too early to speculate” on the team’s fortunes. That’s not a good sign.

Troy: 6-16-2, 3-10-2 in 1995. Coach: Dane Ilertsen (eighth year, 84-66). Prospects: There may not be much chance to improve upon last season’s fifth-place finish, but the Warriors are going to be better. Ilertsen expects improved run production now that outfielder Kris Green (.352), a first-team all-leaguer, and second-team all-league outfielder Chad Elliott (.300) have another year’s experience. And if a top reliever emerges from the pitching staff, a playoff berth becomes a strong possibility.