EMPIRE LEAGUE

Century

Coach: Nate Guerriero

1999 record: 12-13

League record: 4-11

The Centurions made great strides last season, posting 12 victories after winning a total of nine in the previous three seasons combined. The lineup should be potent. Oscar Ramirez, Alex Gutierrez and Abel Ventura were all-league selections a year ago and all return. Gutierrez batted .392 to lead the Centurions. Ventura and Ramirez batted .360 and .359, respectively. Hugo Ornelas was 2-1 and is the top returning pitcher.

Cypress

Coach: Mark Steinert

1999 record: 17-11

League record: 8-7

Travis Ingle, a 6-2 senior who has signed with Fullerton, is considered the best pitcher in the league. Ingle was 8-3 with a 3.50 ERA and struck out 87 in 60 innings as a junior. Two more all-league selections, shortstop Ryan Justice and outfielder Zack Swanson, also return. Opposing coaches rave about Swanson, who is only a sophomore. Pitcher/outfielder Chad Halbert and third baseman Brandon Gruber are the other returning starters on a team Steinert says has “good pitching, better than average defense, and questionable hitting.”

El Dorado

Coach: Steve Gullotti

1999 record: 26-5

League record: 14-1

The defending Southern Section Division III champion and three-time defending league champion lost seven seniors to graduation, but remains a force. Senior pitcher Justin Angevine and third baseman Brett Marro, also a senior, were both named second team All-Southern Section Division III. Angevine, who has signed with UC Santa Barbara, was 9-2 as junior. Marro hit nine home runs in 1999. Also returning is pitcher Brian Hoff, who was 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA last year. The Golden Hawks always seem to reload, so losing five All-Division III players, including player of the year J.P. Frid, might not be as bad as it sounds.

Katella

Coach: Tim McMenamin

1999 record: 21-7

League record: 12-3

1999 Empire League MVP Mark Martinez, now the starting shortstop at Cal State Fullerton, will be difficult to replace. Jonathan Lorenzen is the only full-time returning starter. He throws in the low 90s and was league rookie of the year last season, going 3-3 with a 4.51 ERA. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound right hander also batted .368 with three home runs. Shortstop Sergio Mejia anchors a solid defense. Designated hitter Aaron Castaneda batted .317 average despite a second-half slump.

Kennedy

Coach: Chris Pascal

1999 record: 6-19-1

League record: 1-14

Third baseman Brett Fitzpatrick and left-handed pitcher Rob Legro were highlights in an otherwise forgettable season in which the Fighting Irish made 80 errors. Legro, a junior, was 2-4 with a 3.80 ERA and Fitzpatrick, a senior who missed the last eight games with a sprained ankle, batted .468. Shortstop Shawn Benavente, outfielder Grant Ramey and Joe Caira, who will move from first base to the outfield, also return. Five players return with at least 50 varsity at bats, giving Pascal hope that his team can make the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

Loara

Coach: Dave Lappin

1999 record: 11-14

League record: 6-9

The Saxons used a sophomore-laden team last year and took a few lumps, but with seven regular starters returning they should reap the rewards this year. Pitchers Bryon Kungl and David Ortiz, both right-handed juniors, are expected to carry the pitching load. Catcher Ivan Garcia returns after batting .430 to lead the team last year. Speedy outfielder Rudy Acosta was an all-county defensive back in football. Outfielder Billy Chavez, second baseman Ryan Gusman and shortstop Paco Garcia, up from the freshman team, add to the quickness of the Saxons.