SUNSET LEAGUE
Edison
Coach: Tom Duggan
1999 record: 19-9
League record: 10-5
Only two starters return for the Chargers, who finished second in the league last season. Shortstop Glenn Hedgpeth, who batted .279 with four home runs, will be asked to take the mound more this year. Steve Henderson, a senior transfer from Mater Dei, figures to add punch. He hit seven home runs last year. Third baseman Brent Roumeliotis, who batted .299 with three home runs and 13 RBIs, is the Chargers’ top returning hitter.
Esperanza
Coach: Mike Curran
1999 record: 17-7
League record: 10-5
The Aztecs will have plenty of firepower in their lineup with three returning players who batted .350 or better. First baseman Scott Hendrickson, who batted .390 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs and was league rookie of the year, is the top returner. Kent Carpenter batted .380 with six home runs and 17 RBIs and Patrick Rooney hit .351 with 14 RBIs. Esperanza’s weakness is an unproven pitching staff. A.J. Shappi was 4-3 with a two saves and a 2.17 ERA and is the top returning pitcher. Other candidates are Doug Brown, Kyle Aase and Dennis Seaman.
Fountain Valley
Coach: Ron La Ruffa
1999 record: 19-10
League record: 6-9
Ron La Ruffa returns to a well-stocked cupboard after a one-year stint as assistant coach at Cypress College. Considered one of the top teams in the state, the Barons have six pitchers who can throw 85 mph or better. Justin Fortugno, a right-hander who has signed with Cal State Northridge, leads the pack. Matt Clanton had a team-best six victories last year and left-hander Justin Azze would be a top starter on any team. Shortstop John Clark transferred from Ocean View, where he was an All-Golden West League selection. He adds punch to a lineup that already includes all league third baseman Casey Janssen and all-league outfielders Seb Gonzalez and Josh Bartusick, a sophomore.
Huntington Beach
Coach: Mike Dodd
1999 record: 13-13
League record: 6-9
Justin Keadle and Joel Needham return to give the Oilers experience on the mound. Shaun Donahoe will move from second base to shortstop, and how he makes the transition will define the team’s defense. Left fielder Shaun Shuck, second baseman Chad Maki and right fielder Matt Wolff round out the list of six returning starters. Speed is the strength of the team, but pitching depth after Keadle and Needham is unproven.
Los Alamitos
Coach: Rob Wigod
1999 record: 19-10
League record: 11-4
The defending champions have their work cut out if they want to repeat in this perennially tough league, but the Griffins appear to have the necessary arsenal. First baseman Nick Fitzgerald, the league MVP a year ago when he batted .398 with 37 RBIs, is back. So is catcher Jerod Ball after a .397 season. Infielders John Hartford and Ron Prettyman are equally solid with the bat and glove. The pitching staff will miss Greg Schwenn, but left-hander Bryan Desena, who was 3-3 with a 3.69 ERA, and Chris Kluwe, up from the junior varsity, should help.
Marina
Coach: Paul Renfrow
1999 record: 7-17
League record: 3-12
The Vikings are young, having lost six starters to graduation, but have seven players with varsity experience. Third baseman Jason Stone batted .381 last season and will be the big bat. Catcher Robert Saltarelli and second baseman Matt Gorham are the other returning starters. Coach Paul Renfrow said he hopes to get consistent pitching from Jonathan Ford, Shaun Bartholomew and Eric Stewart. Brett Becker, a transfer from Pennsylvania, is slated to start at shortstop.