JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL PREVIEWS : Dedication Watchword for Canyons

SANTA CLARITA —  The last time his College of the Canyons baseball teammates saw Chris Tashima alive was after practice Nov. 13.

Shortly after the workout, Tashima died in a multicar accident in Granada Hills while on his way home.

He was 20.

His death shocked the Cougars and shook a program that once was among the best in the state but has struggled the past two years.

But the Cougars are determined to bounce back, to use Tashima’s death, at least partly, as inspiration and motivation.

The former Alemany High standout, who played left field and batted .320 with five home runs and 26 runs batted in for Canyons last season, was one of the most popular players on the team.

And although the Cougars don’t want to dwell on his death, they don’t want to forget, either.

“We think about him every day,” said sophomore first baseman Mike Oliver, Tashima’s best friend on the team. “But we are getting along.”

Sophomore middle infielder Gaby Halcovich said the team has rallied around the tragedy.

“We’ve tried to put it into a positive,” Halcovich said. “We are completely dedicating this season to him and to winning the [Western State Conference South Division] in his honor.”

Halcovich said the Cougars will wear a white patch with a black No. 16, Tashima’s uniform number, on their left sleeves. A large banner with the number will hang on the left-field fence at Canyons.

If they indeed jell, the Cougars could battle for the division title. “We have more depth than we’ve had in a long time,” said Coach Len Mohney, in his 10th season. “It’s a very competitive atmosphere.”

Mohney hopes that such attitude carries over against opponents. Last year, the Cougars finished 19-26, 14-12 in division play, and were 15-21, 11-14 in 1994. Those were aberrations for a program that has won 16 conference championships, five under Mohney.

Leading the charge this season are four returning sophomores: catcher Jeff Brown (.331, 31 RBIs), left fielder Justin Bunch (.271, four home runs), Halcovich (.239) and Oliver (.270).

Elsewhere the Cougars are loaded with freshman or sophomore transfers whom Mohney hopes can contribute significantly.

Two of the pitchers, right-handers Nate Celusca and Joe Smith, arrived from four-year schools and are among the candidates to start. Celusca was at the University of San Diego last season and Smith played at UC Santa Barbara. Neither pitched regularly but Mohney is counting on whatever experience they gained.

The Cougars also have promising newcomers in right-handers Chris Baker, who was 8-2 with a 1.53 earned-run average at Hart and Luis Sanchez, who batted .390 at Hart but seldom pitched because of tendinitis. Sanchez, who will play third base or shortstop, is competing to be the closer. He was 7-2 with a 2.46 ERA two seasons ago.

“We feel good about our pitching but it’s unproven,” Mohney said.

That also goes for two-thirds of the outfield, with Rick Nadeau and Jeremy Seipel in right field and center. Nadeau last played regularly in 1993 at Kennedy (.453, seven home runs, 36 RBIs) and Seipel batted .333 last season at Hart.

Team by Team

ANTELOPE VALLEY

COACH: Joe Watts, first season

1995 RECORD: 19-17; fifth in Foothill Conference, 14-13

PLAYERS TO WATCH: After being the co-coach with Tom Feickert for three seasons, Watts goes it alone . He has only four returning players, including right-handed starter Todd Berry (4-6, 4.34 ERA) and first baseman Tim Pennell (.274) and third baseman Matt Dickerson (.182). Watts has a host of newcomers, led by switch-hitting shortstop Robbie Wood, who batted .329 at Paraclete High last year. “He has a very good arm. We are thinking of using him as the closer,” Watts said. Other top additions are two former Quartz Hill High teammates, catcher J.D. Smith (.419, 7 HRs, 34 RBIs last season) and right fielder Aaron Brown (.308). David Nichols, who batted .468 with 29 RBIs last season at Antelope Valley High, will be the designated hitter.

OUTLOOK: The Foothill Conference has been split into two divisions and Watts likes the setup because it gives the Marauders, who will play in the North, a better chance to make the playoffs. But he concedes that it’s no gimme. “We are going to have to rely on playing good defense,” Watts said.

GLENDALE

COACH: Andy Nieto, first season

1995 RECORD: 16-26; tied for fourth in the Western State Conference South Division, 8-18

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Although in charge of a young club in his rookie season, Nieto is pleased with his personnel. He particularly likes the pitchers, led by sophomore right-hander Garrett Lee, who was 5-5 with a 3.10 ERA in WSC play. Lee is backed up by left-hander Jared Sandler (8-1, 1.27 ERA at Calabasas High last year). Sophomores Marc Scorza and Tim Rosales, who batted .309 at Ventura College last season, are battling at catcher. The Vaquero newcomers include third baseman Brett Niles (.460, 5 HRs) from Calabasas, left fielder Joe Baldino (.383) from St. Francis and twins Aryn and Ryan Hart from Alhambra . Aryn, the Vaquero quarterback last season, is penciled in at third base and Ryan is set to play second base. Sheldon Philip-Guide, a transfer from Penn; Rudy Martinez, a transfer from Pasadena City, and Jeff Dano, a freshman from Franklin , are the outfielders.

OUTLOOK: Nieto, a former middle infielder at Cal State Fullerton, has the unenviable assignment of trying to improve a program that has declined considerably the past few seasons. But he’s upbeat . “I like the nucleus we have,” he said. “I think our pitching will keep us in games.”

MISSION

COACH: Ryan Cooper, first season

1995 RECORD: 14-30; tied for fourth in WSC South, 8-18

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Free Spirit has an abundance of freshmen. Top recruits include middle infielder Hiram Damwijk, right fielder Amador Solis and former Kennedy High teammates, catcher Kevin Serr and first baseman George Kassis. Damwijk, who batted .354 at Sylmar last year, is slated for shortstop or second base. Kassis was an All-City pick in 1995 after leading Valley-area City Section hitters with a .427 average. He had three home runs and 41 runs batted in. Serr had seven home runs and drove in 31 runs last year. Solis batted .459 at Hoover. The two key returnees are center fielder Anthony Martinez, who ranked second in batting in the WSC at .417, and Art Diaz (.292, 32 RBIs), who moves to second base from right field. Sophomore Ramon Orozco and freshmen Dusty Cook (Taft) and Danny Arguello (Alemany) anchor an inexperienced pitching staff.

OUTLOOK: Mission hopes to counter its pitching shortage with lively bats. The Free Spirit will have to produce big at the plate to challenge in the WSC South Division.

MOORPARK

COACH: Ken Wagner, seventh season

1995 RECORD: 27-15; second in WSC North, 17-9

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Raiders don’t have any returning regulars, except right-hander Phil Derryman (3-1, 3.37 ERA), the pitching staff ace. Sophomores Erik Jue (.200), Joel Mellinger (.222) and Scott Miller (.227) are set for third base, shortstop and first base, respectively. Richard Hernandez, a transfer from Cal Lutheran, is at second base. Sophomore Scott Gentleman (.357) and freshman Ben Lemos (.405, 35 RBIs) from Royal High are two of the leading candidates at catcher. The Raiders have inexperienced but promising pitchers, including starter Maki Kramer, who last played at Royal two seasons ago (he was 9-1 with a 2.02 ERA), and Mike Vasquez, who was 8-4 with 2.13 ERA in ’94. Sophomore Keith Loitz (1-1, two saves) could start or close.

OUTLOOK: Wagner anticipates a treacherous road. “It’s going to be a struggle for us,” he said. “We are still searching to see where we are. . . . It’s time for some of the guys who were on the bench last year to step up.”

OXNARD

COACH: Pat Woods, first season

1995 RECORD: 23-19; fifth in WSC North, 11-15

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Yet another first-year coach takes over a WSC program. But Woods is familiar with the Condors. He was an assistant the past four seasons to Chris Stevens, now an assistant at Northridge. Woods inherits a team with experienced pitching and good defense. Sophomores Ray Clinton, a right-hander who was 3-2 with a 4.66 ERA in relief last year and left-hander Brian Downing (5-4, 3.89) are the top two starters. Right-hander Josh Towers, who was 5-7 with a 2.44 ERA at Hueneme High last year, also starts. Returning are second baseman Eric Farias (.267, 18 stolen bases), first baseman Art Bolen (.293, 38 RBIs) and right-fielder Jake Spahr (.238, 24 RBIs). Two Camarillo products, freshmen Matt Buttell and Mike Muller, figure prominently for the Condors. Buttell (.326, 26 RBIs) leads off and handles center field. Muller (.329) works behind the plate.

OUTLOOK: Woods believes the Condors are on steady ground with their pitching but need to step it up elsewhere to compete. “Our yard is a pitchers’ park for sure because the wind blows in, but if we can hit a little, we’ll win some games,” he said.

PIERCE

COACH: Bob Lofrano, sixth season

1995 RECORD: 28-18; first in WSC South, 20-6.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Brahmas are deep and experienced everywhere except on the hill. But some players are switching positions: Jeff Astgen (.354, 24 stolen bases) moves to second base from center field, Dave Cipolla (.287) goes to shortstop from third base, Mike Glendenning (.288, 5 HRs, 34 RBIs) takes over at third after being mostly the designated hitter and Casey Cote (.301) switches to center field from left field. Dave Supple (.278) returns at catcher and Carlos Nunez (.296, 3 HRs) is back at first base. Casey Doherty, who batted .327 in part-time duty, is in left field. Lofrano has only one experienced pitcher, however: sophomore right-hander Jim DeBiase (5-0, 3.72 ERA in WSC play). Left-handers Keith Reid, who worked mostly in relief in ‘95, and Josh Morgan, a freshman from Santa Monica , are the other starters. Right-hander Harry Kenoi, who was 6-4 with a 3.08 ERA at Chatsworth last season, is the closer.

OUTLOOK: Lofrano is banking on the sophomores to provide sock and offset the thin pitching corps. “Most of these kids did play a lot [last season] so hopefully that bodes well for us,” he said. “But we lost 75% of our main pitchers and that’s a concern.”

VALLEY

COACH: Chris Johnson, ninth season

1995 RECORD: 11-28; sixth in WSC South, 7-19

PLAYERS TO WATCH: For the first time in several seasons, Johnson believes he has the pitching staff to win consistently. Left-handed sophomore Clint Marcus (1-6, 4.87) and freshman Taiki Yamaoka, a right-hander from Japan, anchor the staff. “Unless something weird happens, he’s going to be great,” Johnson said. Right-handed sophomore Ryan Mort, who Johnson said had an outstanding winter, and sophomore Jason Makohon are dueling for the third starting spot. Right-hander Tony Gennaro (six saves, 3.38 ERA) is the closer. The Monarchs are solid defensively at second base with sophomore Javier Dorado (.317) and catcher with sophomore John Shellabarger (.246), both from Monroe . Ron Pirayoff (.260, 25 RBIs) takes over at shortstop and Steve Zorn (.311) returns at first base. Third baseman Chris Crowley, who batted .299 at Notre Dame last year, rounds out the infield. Sophomore Chris Butler (.238) is in right field and Adrian Perez, who played at L.A. City two seasons ago, is in center field.

OUTLOOK: The Monarchs should be in the chase for the South title and Johnson is openly giddy. “We are looking real good on the mound,” he said. “We should be good in the outfield, and in the infield we are very talented.”

VENTURA

COACH: Don Adams, second season

1995 RECORD: 24-16; third in WSC North, 16-10

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Despite losing ace Brandon Knight to graduation and the pros, Adams says the Pirates will show well on the mound. Knight, now in the minor leagues, was 14-3 and was named WSC player of the year. Sophomore right-hander Aaron Hanel (2-1, 5.51 ERA) and freshmen Jeremy Pierce and Richard Soliz will try to pick up the slack. Pierce was 8-1 with a 2.22 ERA at Ventura High last year. Soliz, a left-hander, was 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA at Rio Mesa. Right-hander Pete Alamillo, who led the Pirates with five saves in ‘92, is the closer. Sophomore shortstop Joseph Jauregui (.246) anchors the infield and gives Ventura speed (22 stolen bases) at the top of the lineup. He’s within reach of the school record of 35 held by Terry Bauer. Center fielder Chris Carr batted .380 at Buena High last season and right fielder Dan Comando batted .288 for the Pirates in ’93. Sophomore Jeff Hiserodt (.348) and freshmen Monte Moritz, from Ventura, and Steve Arneson, from Rio Mesa, are still battling at catcher.

OUTLOOK: Ventura’s hitting might take some time to ignite so Adams is counting on pitching and defense to keep the Pirates afloat.