SUNSET LEAGUE
* Edison: 10-13, 3-7 in 1998. Coach: Suzy Mathieson (third year, 20-26). Prospects: Edison has been 10-13 in consecutive seasons, and could finally break .500 with seven starters returning. Sophomore pitcher Kelly Birk (1.37 ERA) and junior second baseman Hillary Hamilton (.242) are back. Birk was a first-team all-league player, and Hamilton a second-teamer. Outfielder Kristen Degree (.500 on-base average) and shortstop Trisha Grady (.264) are the only seniors. Junior catcher Jamie Birk started as a freshman, but tore her anterior cruciate ligament in the first game last season.
* Esperanza: 12-11, 4-6 in 1998. Coach: Dennis Fox (second year, 12-11). Prospects: Junior Katie Louwsma is the only returning player who garnered all-league honors, being named to the second team. She, junior catcher Melissa Fox and senior first baseman Lauren Van Kurin are expected to be the heart of the Aztecs, whose strength should be their hitting. Four of their returning starters are juniors, including right fielder Megan Daniel and pitcher Jamie Van Keirsbelk.
* Fountain Valley: 19-13, 7-3 in 1998. Coach: Cary Baker (17th year, 304-148-2). Prospects: The Barons have had high expectations the last two seasons, only to fall short. With eight returning starters, they might finally realize those hopes. Three first-team all-league players are back, pitchers Natalie King (11-5, 0.52) and Colleen Burdick (7-7, 0.45), and outfielder Inez Vasquez (.219). Two others were second-team choices, Rocky Staniorski (.252) and designated hitter Jennifer Mendoza (.256). Staniorski is one of the best catchers in the county, and King one of the fastest pitchers. Fountain Valley will need to finish its scoring chances better--only graduated shortstop Lovieanne Jung (.408, 22 RBIs) had more than Staniorski’s eight RBIs and batted higher than Burdick’s .280 last season.
* Huntington Beach: 4-14, 1-9 in 1998. Coach: Amie Stewart (second year, 4-14). Prospects: Seven of nine starters will be freshmen or sophomores. Only one of five returning starters, first baseman/outfielder Nicole Army, is a senior. Shortstop Danielle Stilwell is a junior, and pitcher Ashley Perkins, catcher Lindy Lipscomb and third baseman Lindsay Ratowsky are sophomores. Three transfers, all sophomores, could help the Oilers improve: pitcher Tiffany Brown (Cerritos Gahr), Lindsay Baxter (Edison) and Jackie Roblero (Mater Dei).
* Los Alamitos: 14-11, 6-4 in 1998. Coach: Jami Shannon (21st year, 319-170-2). Prospects: The Griffins lost in the second round of the playoffs to Mater Dei, 1-0, in 10 innings. Eight starters are back, including four first-team all-league choices. Junior outfielder Kristin Farber (.416) was a Times All-County first-team player as a freshman, a second-teamer last year. Junior shortstop Phelan Wright (.258, seven RBIs), senior pitcher Andrea Castillo (9-6, 1.32) and senior catcher Sara Kahler (.401, 16 RBIs), one of the county’s best, were also first-team all-leaguers. Senior left fielder Kristi Bissonnette and junior second baseman Mandi Treece also return.
* Marina: 24-6, 9-1 in 1998. Coach: Shelly Luth (ninth year, 162-57-2). Prospects: Marina always finds a way to compete for first place, and the Vikings will do the same this season. Their overall hitting and pitching might be more balanced than that of Los Alamitos and Fountain Valley, but as a whole is more inexperienced. Senior second baseman Brooke Boyer (.350) and sophomore Carrie Hagen (.375) were first-team all-league choices, and senior shortstop Natalie Bonillas (.280) was a second-team choice. Junior catcher/right fielder Sara Pagano (.222) also returns. First baseman/pitcher Steffany Stenglein (3-1), sophomore Brooke Crouch and freshman Bree Boyer could comprise a pitching rotation.