BASEBALL CAPUSLES

CRESCENTA VALLEY

COACH: Phil Torres, 11th year.

LEAGUE: Pacific

LAST YEAR: 24-3, 13-1 in league for first place. Lost to Rio Mesa, 3-2, in CIF Southern Section Division II quarterfinals.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Kris Kauppila, senior, shortstop; Lonnie Kauppila, sophomore, third baseman; Daniel Park, senior, outfielder; Travis Feldman, senior, pitcher; Kyle Pomeroy, freshman, pitcher; Zack Torres, junior, second baseman; Sean Carroll, senior, outfielder; Joe Sedano, sophomore, catcher; Jake Lehne, junior, catcher; Nick Dragovich, sophomore, first baseman; Brandt Bowers, junior, infielder.

TORRES’ QUOTE: “Our weakness is inexperience, or not so much inexperience, but these guys have never had to be the man.”

FLINTRIDGE PREP

COACH: Robert “Buzz” Cook, eighth year.

LEAGUE: Prep

LAST YEAR: 4-12, 4-8 in league for fourth place. Did not qualify for CIF playoffs.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Mark Chodas, senior, pitcher/shortstop; Ben Slyngstad, sophomore, pitcher; Aaron Fried, junior, third baseman; Nick Ostiller, sophomore, infielder; Kyle McDonald, freshman, second base.

COOK’S QUOTE: “It’s definitely disappointing not to make the playoffs and [making the playoffs is our] goal each and every year.”

GLENDALE

COACH: Jon Keefer, second year.

LEAGUE: Pacific

LAST YEAR: 4-17, 3-10 in league for seventh place. Did not qualify for CIF playoffs.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hong Ahn, senior, shortstop; Chris Osuna, senior, pitcher; Robert Escobar, junior, outfielder; Michael Chico, senior, pitcher; Kyle Norton, senior, catcher; Ian Conover, junior, second baseman.

KEEFER’S QUOTE: “This year with Jesse [Meaux] being gone, they’ve all kind of understood they need to all step up together.”

HOOVER

COACH: Jim Delzell, 15th year.

LEAGUE: Pacific

LAST YEAR: 7-14, 4-9 in league for fifth place. Did not qualify for CIF playoffs.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Oscar Aguirre, senior, pitcher/third baseman; Tyler Delzell, sophomore, first baseman; Sako Chapjian, senior, shortstop; Jason Ochart, senior, pitcher/outfielder; Johnny Barcena, senior, outfielder; Billy Paulson, senior, third baseman; Mike Dorardo, junior, second baseman.

DELZELL’S QUOTE: “I think we’re capable of beating anybody, but I think we’re capable of losing to anybody.”

ST. FRANCIS

COACH: Brian Esquival, first year.

LEAGUE: Mission

LAST YEAR: 17-9, 4-8 in league for fifth place. Did not make CIF playoffs.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Kyle Wong, senior, shortstop; Nick Gentili, junior, outfielder/pitcher; Ramiro Carreon, senior, pitcher/first baseman; Mike Dean, senior, outfielder; Garrett Salzman, senior, catcher; AJ Berglund, sophomore, pitcher; Jeff Johnson, junior, third baseman.

ESQUIVAL’S QUOTE: “We’re gonna execute and do the little things to win some ballgames.”