2011 Baseball Preview

The 2011 prep baseball season is in its first full week of a three-month run. Below is a capsule look at the six local teams.

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Brethren Christian Warriors

League: Academy

Head coach: Josh Franco (third year)

Staff: Brandon Cox; Ken Diebold

2010 record: 8-11

League record/finish: 7-8 (fourth)

CIF results: Did not qualify

Number of returning starters: 3

Returning players: Bobby Frisch (3B/P/1B, captain, three-time all-league, Sr.); Justin Neese (C/P/3B, first-team all-league, Soph.); Daniel Lee (2B/3B, Jr.); Cameron Smith (1B/DH, Jr.); Justin Piantedosi (2B/)F, Soph.); Curtis Draskovich (P/RF, Sr.); Zack Luce (SS/P, Sr.);

Coach’s outlook: “Good team chemistry, athletic, they work hard…may surprise some people,” Franco said.

Season opener: lost Friday to Saddleback Valley Christian, 11-7

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Edison Chargers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Steve Lambright (sixth year)

Coaching staff: Todd Cook; Joe MacDonald; Todd Woody

2010 record: 18-8

League record/finish: 12-3 (champion)

CIF results: Lost in first round

Returning players: Johnathon Brooks (1B, Sr.); Timmy Lopes (2B/P, Jr.); Christian Lopes: (SS, Sr.); AJ Libunao (3B, Sr.); Sean Whiteman (LF, second-team all-league, Sr.); Eric Snyder (CF, league MVP, all-CIF, Sr.); Jon Torres (RF, first-team all-league, Sr.); Henry Owens (P, league pitcher of year; Sr.).

Coach’s outlook: “We have a solid team with a lot of varsity experience,” Lambright said. “We should be contending for another Sunset League title and a run in the CIF playoffs.”

Season opener: def. Pacifica, 3-1, Friday (Loara Tournament)

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Fountain Valley Barons

League: Sunset

Head coach: Ron LaRuffa (15th year; 515-285)

Staff: Deric Yanagisawa; Cliff Ritter; Mark Wishek;Garett McFaul; Dan Ellis

2010 record: 13-13

League record/finish: 6-9 (fourth)

CIF results: Lost wild-card game

Returning players: Dan Jimenez (1B, first-team all-league, Sr.); Tyler Clouse (2B, Sr.); John Goldsby (OF, Sr.); Turner Clouse (P/OF, Jr.); Mike Tucker (P/OF, Sr.); Zack Milan (P, all-league, Jr.).

Season opener: lost Friday to Vista Murrieta, 6-0 (Loara Tournament)

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Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Benji Medure (11th year)

Coaching staff: Adam Springston; Jeff Ruziecki; Joel Bernstein; Gary Buckels

2010 record: 13-13

League record/finish: 7-8 (fourth)

CIF results: Did not qualify

Number of returning starters: 8

Returning players: LJ Brewster (3B, Jr.); Jake Porter (1B, Sr.); Devin King (DH, Sr.); Sean Anderson (RF, Sr.); Brett Urabe (CF, Jr.); David Stone (C, Sr.); Kevin Klaess (P, Sr.); Mark Johnston (P, Sr.); Frank Pacheco (P, Sr.); Garrick Danner (P, Sr.).

Coach’s outlook: “We have an experienced squad that will play good defense and throw strikes,” Medure said. “We are back in the Sunset League and it will be a tough test, but we are up for the challenge. We just have a solid squad that is going to get after people. Nothing special, just a hard working group of kids who are going to battle.”

Season opener: def. Santiago/Corona, 3-2, Friday (Newport Elks Tournament)

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Marina Vikings

League: Sunset

Head coach: Robert Marshall (first year)

Coaching staff: Michael Grasse (assistant); Paul Renfrow (assistant; former head coach); Steve Foreman (pitching coach)

2010 record: 14-12

League record/finish: 5-10 (tied fifth)

CIF results: Did not qualify

Number of returning starters: 5

Returning players: Tyler Mildenberg (3B, Soph.); Travis Peugh (P/OF, Sr.); Colin Scott (C, Sr.); Kevin Graham (OF, Sr.); Mitch Huffman (P, Sr.); Chris Schaaf (2B/SS, Sr.); Nick Marshall (C/IF, first-team all-league, Sr.); Payton Lobdell (OF/P, Sr.); Jeff Guzman (OF/SS, Sr.); Mike Feirstein (OF, Sr.); Sean Hale (P, Sr.); Lucas Kaplan (P, Sr.); Chris Martinez (1B, Sr.); Jake Tillinghast (ace pitcher, second-team all-league, Sr.); Hunter Stevens (P, Sr.); Trevor Megil (P/DH/1B, Jr.).

Coach’s outlook: “This year’s group is a hard-working, dedicated and focused team that plays with passion and intensity,” Marshall said. “We have a team where most of these guys have played baseball together for the past 12 years and have a unique bond that shows on and off the field. This team believes they can compete with anyone and win every game. They take great pride in belonging to Marina High and being part of this local community. A few of our strengths include our pitching staff which will help us to stay in ballgames, our team speed which helps us defensively and offensively, and like I said, this team believes they can compete with anyone, anytime, and win.”

Season opener: def. El Dorado, 2-0, Friday (Loara Tournament)

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Ocean View Seahawks

League: Golden West

Head coach: Shane Borowski (sixth year)

Coaching staff: Patrick Johnson (assistant); Steven Christy (assistant); Kirk Spurlock (assistant); Bob Gibbs (hitting coach)

2010 record: 22-9

League record/finish: 13-2 (champion)

CIF results: CIF Division 3 champion

Returning starters: 6

Returning players: Blake Walker (SS/P, league co-MVP, CIF Div. 3 Player of the Year, Sr.); Blake Hitchcock (OF, first-team all-league, all-CIF, Sr.); Colton Johnson (IF/P, first-team all-league, Jr.); Timmy Robinson (3B/C, second-team all-league, Jr.); Travis Sparks-Jackson (OF/P, second-team all-league, Jr.); Freddy Sepulveda (P/utility, Sr.); Trey Gourdine (P/OF, Sr.).

Coach’s outlook: “I was and still am very excited about this year’s club,” Borowski said. “Great kids who know how to win and many of them who contributed on last year’s championship team, are back with us. Keeping healthy has been a big issue for us this offseason. From nicks and bumps to more serious issues, it’s been a tough balance for us to keep all our starters healthy. We hope to have everybody ready by league time, but we may take some dings in our record along the way. All things considered, we are lucky to have such a great group of kids that work hard and get the job done.”

Season opener: def. Irvine, 6-3, Friday (Newport Elks Tournament)