1996 Baseball Preview : Olympic League

Brethren Christian: 4-17, 3-12 in 1995. Coach: Dave Posthuma (first year). Prospects: The team lost all-leaguer Tony Dybas (.408), but returns five players, including three starters: catcher Aaron Ireland, pitcher Erik Jensen and pitcher Jonathon Rouwenhorst. Jay Christensen and Edgar Fermin have playing experience and will improve a team that finished fifth in league. Last season, only Dybas batted over .250.

Calvary Chapel: 20-9-1, 12-3 in 1995. Coach: Joe Walters (second year, 40-18-1). Prospects: Defending Southern Section Division V champions are picked to return to the finals for the third consecutive year. Although they finished second in league to Cerritos Valley Christian, the Eagles outscored their opponents, 31-12, on their playoff run to the title; Valley Christian lost in the first round. Calvary Chapel suffers huge losses with the graduation of all-leaguers Joe Jones (.524, 26 runs batted in), third in the county in batting, Chance King (.319) and second-team pick Justin Lentini (.374). The Eagles return four senior starters: all-league outfielder Kenny Nash (.401, 21 stolen bases, 19 RBIs), catcher Gabe Gerhart (.321), second-baseman Jerry Quenzler (.280) and shortstop Ryan Blood (.331). Blood, who broke his back in the final regular-season game last year, should provide a huge emotional impact. The entire pitching staff is back, including two of the county’s best: junior Josh Stewart (10-1), a second team all-league pick who had a 1.86 ERA, and sophomore John Tucker (9-6), who ranked ninth in the county in ERA (1.24) and had 79 strikeouts. Also returning are Andy Stevenson, Dallas Kruse and Joe De La Fuente. First baseman Dustin Barrett, a newcomer, should round out an already packed lineup.

Cerritos Valley Christian: 14-4, 12-3 in 1995. Coach: Mike DeMaster. Prospects: Always a strong team, Valley Christian returns Mark Bauer and Kirk Saarloos, both all-league players, and will be Calvary Chapel’s primary competition. The Crusaders lose some key players to graduation, including league MVP Kevin Mohr and second-team pick Trevor Hefner.

Orange Lutheran: 15-10, 11-4 in 1995. Coach: Roger Senne (first year). Prospects: Senne, coaching for 29 years, is a walk-on at Orange Lutheran. The Lancers finished third in league last season and lost in the first round of the playoffs. They will sorely miss all-league pitcher Adam Cavaness (10-2), the team’s MVP, who finished with a 1.49 ERA and 69 strikeouts. Also gone: all-leaguer Mike Bunch (.400). On a positive note, the Lancers return six starters: Kevin Rutten, Brad Vieselmeyer, Dan Young, Che Holloway, Nick Bogalbus and Nick Odenath. That’s still not enough to catch Calvary Chapel or Valley Christian.

Ontario Christian: 1-22, 0-15 in 1995. Coach: Mike Cole (first year). Prospects: Cole takes over a team that earned one victory last season and its only all-league player, Harlan Miersma, has graduated. Cole should expect some improvement from the Knights.

Whittier Christian: 10-9-1, 7-7-1 in 1995. Coach: Steve Randall (fifth year, 63-26-1.) Prospects: All-league pitcher Lance Jordan (7-3), who struck out 88 batters on the way to a 1.98 ERA and top hitter Ed Zieman (.396) are gone. Senior Aarron Marrow (.306) returns to the outfield, along with Tyler Burleson (.298), son of Angel coach Rick Burleson. Junior Rich Wells (.315) returns behind the plate, where he threw out 46% of those attempting to steal. Defense is the team’s strength with the infield quickness of third-baseman Jason Garcia, shortstop Steve Verla, second-baseman Chris Vanderhook and newcomer Chris Coppes at first.