TEAM-BY-TEAM BASEBALL CAPSULES
CRESCENTA VALLEY
COACH: Phil Torres, 12th year.
LEAGUE: Pacific.
LAST SEASON: 20-6, 12-2 in league for first place. Lost to El Toro, 6-2, in second round of CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Matt Ashby, senior, outfielder; Joe Sedano, junior, catcher; Sean Elliott, senior, pitcher; Brandt Bowers, senior, first baseman; Zack Torres, senior, second baseman; Jake Lehne, senior, pitcher; Kyle Pomeroy, soph., designated hitter; Elliott Surrey, freshman, pitcher; Nate Rousey, freshman, shortstop; Troy Mulcahey, freshman, pitcher/outfielder.
TORRES’ QUOTE: “We have a youthful, inexperienced team that has some talent, but it’s talent at practice. There’s no substitute for talent in games.”
FLINTRIDGE PREP
COACH: Robert “Buzz” Cook, ninth year.
LEAGUE: Prep.
LAST SEASON: 7-14-1, 3-8-1 in league for fourth place. Did not qualify for playoffs.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Ben Slyngstad, junior, pitcher/first baseman; Will Peterman, junior, catcher/pitcher; Kyle McDonald, soph., infielder/pitcher; Royce Park, freshman, pitcher/shortstop; Alex Sierra, freshman, infielder; John Rodli, junior, pitcher; Steve Fleming, freshman, pitcher.
COOK’S QUOTE: “If we can keep everyone healthy, I think we should do just fine.”
GLENDALE
COACH: Jon Keefer, third year.
LEAGUE: Pacific.
LAST SEASON: 5-18, 3-11 in league for seventh place. Did not qualify for playoffs.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Bennett Koss, junior, third base/pitcher; Zach Fields, soph., pitcher/first base; Ian Conover, senior, second base.
KEEFER’S QUOTE: “Our goal every year, and really every game, is just to compete at our highest level.”
HOOVER
COACH: Tito Cruz, first year.
LEAGUE: Pacific.
LAST SEASON: 13-9, 9-5 in league for fourth place. Lost to Arroyo Grande, 8-0, in CIF Southern Section Division II wild-card game.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Adam Ochart, senior, outfield; Tyler Delzell, junior, first base/pitcher; Levi Factora, senior, second base/pitcher; Steven Monroe, senior, outfield/pitcher; Bobby Romero, junior, catcher/pitcher; Mike Dorado, senior, shortstop; Cameron Doran, soph., third base.
CRUZ’S QUOTE: “Our goal, obviously, is to make the playoffs and win league. Myself, personally, I’d like to see them play hard every single game.”
ST. FRANCIS
COACH: Brian Esquival, second year.
LEAGUE: Mission.
LAST SEASON: 12-15, 2-10 in league for seventh place. Did not qualify for playoffs.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Nick Gentili, senior, outfielder; Ethan Bramschreiber, junior, pitcher; Karch Schreiner, senior, shortstop; Andrew Yu, junior, second base/pitcher; Ryan Pires, junior, pitcher/designated hitter; AJ Berglund, junior, pitcher/first base.
ESQUIVAL’S QUOTE: “I think we’ll be OK, I think we’re gonna win some ballgames.”