OLYMPIC LEAGUE
* Brethren Christian: 6-15, 1-9 in 1997. Coach: Dave Clifton (seventh year, 64-55-1). Prospects: The Warriors will be aggressive at the plate and hope for the best; only three starers are back, including two of their three seniors: pitcher/first baseman Bryce Baas and second baseman/third baseman Carrie Tyson. The other returning starter is sophomore center fielder Sarah Kanouse. Freshman Julie Cape is the sister of graduated Melissa Cape, Brethren’s all-league catcher.
* Calvary Chapel: 27-5, 9-1 in 1997. Coach: Rose Imbriano (third year, 46-11). Prospects: The defending Division V champions defeated Lancaster Paraclete, 2-0, for the title. Calvary’s chief concern is replacing pitchers Keri Przygocki (13-3, 0.90 ERA) and Linda Van Hook (11-2, 0.56). That task could fall to freshman first baseman/outfielder Stephanie Williams or sophomore Sarah Hughes (.255), whose only game last year was a shutout. Whoever pitches, section Division V player of the year Christy Ring is behind them at shortstop. Ring (.551, 28 runs, 21 RBIs, 13 stolen bases) was a second-team Times all-county designated hitter. She is complemented by junior catcher Amanda Hallaway (.409, 21 runs, 25 RBIs), sophomore second baseman Jaqueline Beadle (.253) and junior third baseman Kori Przygocki (.224). Hallaway was also an all-section first-team performer. Sophomore left fielder Lindsey Stice (.352) is a talented left-handed slap hitter, and junior center fielder Anna Jones also returns. Ring and Stice provide a lot of speed at the top of the lineup, and Hallaway and Jones will be counted on for power.
* Cerritos Valley Christian: 8-10, 3-7 in 1997. Coach: Gene Bras (first year). Prospects: Eleanor Dykstra coached the Crusaders 20 years, and Bras is the second coach in two years since Dykstra resigned. Pitcher Tracey Halma (first-team all-league) and shortstop Christine Williams, both juniors, and sophomore third baseman Jennifer Pappas are among four starters who return for the Crusaders.
* Ontario Christian: 18-9 6-4 in 1997. Coach: David Smith (first year). Prospects: Pitcher Mandy Tillema (5-0), catcher Melissa Brunelle (.269), second baseman Laura Miersma (.380) and third baseman Jennie Rhodes (.250) are among six starters returning for the Knights.
* Orange Lutheran: 11-11, 5-5 in 1997. Coach: Steve Miklos (first year). Prospects: Not only did Kirk Norton resign as coach after two seasons, but his daughter, Erin Norton (.420), also transferred to El Modena. Another pitcher besides Norton, senior Tiffany Johnson, chose not to play. Both were first-team all-league players, and the Lancers are left without a senior. The pitching falls to sophomore Jessica Edwards and freshman Laura Miklos. Starters in the infield who return are junior second baseman Jenny Miklos, a second-team all-leaguer, and junior third baseman Molly Slane. Sophomore Cassie Leasure, sophomore Jaclyn Blanco and junior Melanie Morgan return to the outfield. Freshman catcher Nicole Sandberg will bat cleanup.
* Whittier Christian: 13-13, 6-4 in 1997. Coach: Gary Guy (fourth year, 30-37). Prospects: The Heralds have only five starters back from last year’s team, including senior shortstop Jodi Alessi (.222) and pitcher/infielder Celina Camarillo (.282, 24 runs, 11 stolen bases), who are two-time first-team all-league picks, and second baseman Julie Smith, a second-team player. Also returning to the starting lineup are catcher/outfielder Bobbi Goodman (.152) and junior first baseman/outfielder Melissa Villa (.182). Camarillo will share pitching duties with freshman Jennifer Benavidez, and Guy thinks his team’s strength lies in its pitching and defense. He especially likes his defense up the middle with Alessi and Smith.