HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SEASON PREVIEW : GOLDEN LEAGUE

Antelope Valley

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 8-13 8-7

COACH YEAR Ed t’Sas 4th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jason Storm Sr. RHP Chris Tapia Sr. CF James Juneau Sr. C Marcus Armstrong Sr. 3B Jeff Langham Sr. 2B Jon Johnson Jr. RHP Derrick Ford Sr. LF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Kevin Barlow Fr. SS Justin Graves Sr. RHP Glen Blair Sr. OF Charlie Cooke So. 1B

OUTLOOK

The Antelopes have one of the most experienced teams in the league, led by Tapia (.382, 3 HR, 21 RBI), Juneau (.362) and Storm (2-2, 5 saves). Also returning will be Langham, who was academically ineligible for the final four games last season, all of which Antelope Valley lost to fall out of the playoffs. Barlow, a freshman, will get the nod at shortstop, taking over for graduated Eric Cole (.480). T’Sas is excited about the potential of sophomore Cooke, who hit over .500 last year on the freshman team. “He might be a real find,” t’Sas said.

Highland

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 14-8-1 8-6-1

COACH YEAR Mike Van Cheri 4th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jeremy Castillo So RHP Sean Riley Sr. 1B Tory Carlon Sr. 2B Casey Cheshier Sr. C

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Ben Mia So. RHP Carlos Chavez Fr. LHP Joe Chavez So. SS Jacob Stanwood So. 3B

OUTLOOK

This is a team for the future. Twelve seniors--including all nine starters--graduated, leaving Van Cheri with only three returning lettermen. “It’s a very young team,” he said. “We brought everybody up from the jayvee and freshman teams.” Surprisingly, the team’s strength figures to be pitching. Castillo, then a freshman, played on the varsity at the end of last season and was 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA. Freshman Carlos Chavez greatly impressed the coaches last week by striking out five and shutting out Saugus in three innings of scrimmage work. Mia, also a sophomore, will share time on the mound. “We’re going to throw them to the wolves,” Van Cheri said. “It’s going to be a completely unknown quantity. I don’t even know what we’re going to be like.”

Littlerock

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 7-15 3-12

COACH YEAR Bernie Kyman 1st

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Pat Diehl Sr. 1B Jorge Pacheco Sr. RF Gonzo Barriga Sr. C Bob Roberts Jr. 2B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Jesse Silva So. OF Robert Reed Sr. RHP James Jefferson Jr. CF John Hangee Sr. OF John Stock So. SS

OUTLOOK

The Lobos return four starters, including Diehl and Pacheco, who have started since their sophomore season and should lead the team. Kyman is a longtime area coach (Chaminade, Alemany, Moopark , St. Bonaventure) who coached the Littlerock junior varsity last season. He is counting on his returnees to provide leadership to several newcomers--Reed, Jefferson and Hangee--who for various reasons were unable to play baseball last year. Silva, who was very successful last season as a jayvee, likely will be the top starter.

Palmdale

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 18-6-1 10-4-1

COACH YEAR Kent Bothwell 4th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Chris Paxton Jr. C Jerome Payton Sr. SS Robert Harmon Sr. LHP Shad Martin Jr. 3B/P Brian Welsh Sr. RHP David Glick Sr. RHP Justice Jones Jr. OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Dan Soto Sr. OF Charo Boyer Sr. IF

OUTLOOK

The Falcons, who missed a league title by half a game last season, could win the championship this year. Seven starters return, including all-league selections Paxton (.420, 27 RBI) and Harmon (.338, 11 SB) and second-teamer Payton (.338, 14 SB). “I think if our pitching comes along here, we should be pretty good,” Bothwell said. Trying to fill that need will be Welsh (3-0, 2.07 ERA), Glick and Martin. “They all have pretty good potential,” Bothwell said. “I’m waiting for one of them to step forward and be that top pitcher.” Boyer and Soto could contribute.

Quartz Hill

‘93 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 14-8 11-4

COACH YEAR Mike Nielson 3rd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Roger Worley Sr. RHP Al Miller Sr. SS Kyle Goss Jr. 3B-P Mike Weissenbach Sr. LHP

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Darrell Hussman Jr. 1B Aaron Brown Jr. CF J.D. Smith Jr. C Sean Potter Sr. C David Fishenich Jr. 2B Moses Rios Sr. 2B Matt Wilson Jr. RF Aaron St. George Jr. RF

OUTLOOK

Quartz Hill lost most of its starters from a league championship team, but the Rebels should again contend because of their pitching. They now have a new secret weapon--Worley. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder is much improved. “He’s throwing the ball much stronger this year,” Nielson said. Goss is the Rebels’ second starter and one of the team’s top hitters. “He’s a kid who could potentially put up some eye-popping numbers,” Nielson said.