SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PREVIEWS : Westside League

Highland Hall

COACH: Dave Desmond and Pat Cheek, 4th year

LAST SEASON: 21-6; 1st in league at 8-0

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Highland Hall has seven players returning from a team that advanced to the Small Schools quarterfinals last year. Senior right-hander Robert Ramirez (14-4, 2.38 earned-run average), an All-Southern Section selection, is joined by junior right-hander Tommy Tominaga, a transfer from Japan. Junior catcher Jakob Jensen (.506 with 36 runs batted in) also will pitch as a reliever. Senior Craig Ernst, a two-time all-league third baseman, batted .364 last season. Sophomore second baseman Tum Ratanatraiphob (school-record 39 bases) and senior shortstop Kenji Maeda (.362), both were second-team all-league players. Brothers Ed (sophomore right fielder) and Greg Anastas (senior first baseman) also return.

OUTLOOK: Highland Hall enters the season with a string of 24 consecutive league victories, sixth in Southern Section history. “Our motto this year is 24 and looking for more,” Desmond said. “We’re going to be strong. We gotta consider ourselves to be the (league) favorites and everybody is looking to knock us off.”

Oak Hill

COACH: Phil Bruder, 2nd year

LAST SEASON: 4-6 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Oak Hill begins its first year in the Westside League. Sophomore right-hander Joe Green, a transfer from Coutin, was 4-0 last season. Junior right-hander Greg Van De Car posted a 1.95 earned-run average and figured in all of Oak Hill’s decisions. Junior second baseman and leadoff hitter Mike Healy batted a team-high .282.

OUTLOOK: “We’ll be very young,” Bruder said. “But I think we’ll be among the top two in our league.”