GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

Bolsa Grande

Coach: Doug Euper

2000 record: 12-15

League record: 6-6

Bolsa Grande has experience, returning five senior starters from last year’s playoff team, but lacks depth. First-team all-league shortstop Alex Guadarrama, who hit .408 in league, and starting pitcher Polo Leon, who had four wins and a 3.50 ERA, return. Seniors Fil Covarrubius and David Vanhorn will also contribute on the mound, while catcher Abel Rodriguez and outfielders Scott Stewart and Omar Arias should provide some power.

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Garden Grove

Coach: Jim Rawls

2000 record: 11-14-1

League record: 4-8

Making the playoffs this season would be a big accomplishment for the Argonauts. First baseman Felipe Garcia, third baseman Danny MacLeith and infielder Juan Delgado are the only returning starters. The Argonauts also will count on a pool of four other varsity returners and seven newcomers to make an impact.

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La Quinta

Coach: Dave Demarest

2000 record: 25-3

League record: 11-1

The Aztecs started 21-0 last year and won their eighth straight league crown, but a 6-3 loss to Western in the first round of the Division IV playoffs took some of the luster off those accomplishments. La Quinta is loaded again this season, returning pitchers Ian Kennedy (8-0, including a perfect game, 1.91 ERA) and Mike McKernan (6-0, 1.87 ERA), along with catcher Arnulfo Arroyo (.370, 7 HRs, 32 RBIs) and third baseman Ian Stewart (.430, 11 doubles).

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Los Amigos

Coach: Carl Swanstrom

2000 record: 9-16

League record: 4-8

Victories might be hard to come by for the Lobos, who return only one starter from last year’s team. Matthew Hardin and Gerardo Mercado must fortify the pitching staff for Los Amigos to stay competitive. Carl Swanstrom, who begins his first year as coach, said the team’s speed should help produce runs, while a solid defense may help prevent them.

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Pacifica

Coach: Mark Flatten

2000 record: 9-13-1

League record: 6-6

With 10 players returning from last year’s squad, the Mariners could challenge La Quinta for the league title. Pitchers Jacob Clark and Brandon Bedolla, who combined for eight of the team’s nine victories last year, and outfielder David Heller, a first-team all-league selection as a freshman, give Pacifica reason to be cautiously optimistic about its chances.

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Rancho Alamitos

Coach: Terrance Tewell

2000 record: 5-19

League record: 3-9

Terrance Tewell begins his first year as coach at Rancho Alamitos with five returning starters, including catcher Frank De La Rosa, who batted .422 last season and caught every game for the Vaqueros. Pitching will be thin, with Maurice Garcia the lone returner from last season. Outfielders Brad French and Aris Limjuco return, but the team will be young, with three starting underclassmen.

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Santiago

Coach: Paul Allen

2000 record: 14-11

League record: 8-4

Returning league MVP Brian Pilkington did it all for the Cavaliers last season, winning eight games, saving four and striking out 83 while hitting .414 with seven home runs. Five other starters return, including outfielder Lee Sutherland, so another trip to the playoffs isn’t out of the question. Santiago’s strength will be pitching, with juniors Cesar Cabral and Daniel Vera picking up the slack when Pilkington isn’t on the mound.