1996 Softball Preview : Century League

Canyon: 16-13, 6-4 in 1995. Coach: Lance Eddy (13th year, 200-112-3). Prospects: Eddy is high on this year’s team and junior pitcher Veronica Lopez (10-7, 1.01 earned-run average). Despite last year’s ERA, Eddy says Lopez has blossomed into one of the county’s top pitchers in the off-season; she also batted .310 and was a second-team All-Southern Section choice. Catcher Kristie Hiatt (.280) made the all-league team, and junior shortstop Ro Lutz (.270), sophomore outfielder Megan Sabo (.270) and senior first baseman-pitcher Kim Snodgrass (.265, 1.08 ERA) are among seven returning starters.

El Modena: 10-12, 4-6 in 1995. Coach: Rhonda Weyer (second year, 10-12). Prospects: Shortstop Jennie Foyle (.367) graduated, but the Vanguards return some talent in the person of Carrie Bates (.443, 11 runs, 13 runs batted in), an all-league first-team catcher. First baseman Kim Bentley and sophomore outfielder Jessica Keenan were second-team choices.

Foothill: 25-3, 9-1 in 1995. Coach: Joe Gonzalez (seventh year, 136-42). Prospects: No team in the league took a bigger hit with the graduation of shortstop Michelle Churnock (Arizona), catcher Dawn Davidson (Utah State) and outfielder Carley Rutledge (Wesleyan College), but no team had as much talent coming back or coming in, either. Marisa Holmes (.382, 19 runs, 16 stolen bases) was a Times all-county second-team choice, and is joined in the outfield by a first-team selection, junior Lauren Bauer (.430, 18 runs, 27 RBIs, 17 steals). Juniors such as pitcher Marie Gieron (20-3, 0.62), first baseman Robin Tessman (.297, 14 RBIs), and third baseman Jenny Beltran (.426), and sophomore Lindsey Fossatti (.293, 12 RBIs) make Foothill one of the best teams in the county. Gonzalez calls the freshman class, led by shortstop Jamie Clark, his best in six years.

Orange: 11-12, 5-5 in 1995. Coach: Jim Prelesnik (10th year, 102-98). Prospects: The record might be a little deceiving because the Panthers lost a lot of one-run ballgames. They extended Pacifica to eight innings before losing a first-round playoff game, 1-0. Among the key elements returning are pitcher Lindsay Huebner (5-10, 0.71) and catcher Dara Marzolo (.352, 16 runs, 17 RBIs), both all-league selections, and shorstop Courtney Lines (.978 fielding percentage). Orange is set for pitching, defense and experience, but lacks overall team speed.

Santa Ana Valley: 4-22, 1-9 in 1995. Coach: Terry Orabona (fourth year, 14-52). Prospects: One of the Falcons’ assets is speed, which is a valuable treasure in this game. It might make up for a lack of experience. Center fielder Snow Nguyen and second baseman Claudia Ramirez and three juniors, shortstop Mayra Orejel (.456), pitcher-first baseman Yesenda Paniagua and left fielder Angie Rodriguez return to the starting lineup. Orabona likes the promise of this team, but says its attitude--its willingness to work and learn, and its cohesiveness--could determine its overall success.

Villa Park: 16-12, 5-5 in 1995. Coach: Robert Melendrez (first year). Prospects: Melendrez replaces Dave Shelton, who compiled a 237-154-2 record over 16 years. Shelton isn’t the only one gone from the program--so is Brandee McArthur (Pacific), who went 6-4 with a 0.31 ERA and batted .517. Tammy Kincaid (9-5. 0.66), who split time with McArthur, joins All-Southern Section catcher Kendra Wood (.349, 11 runs, 19 RBIs) and junior third baseman Heather Culver, who has some pop in her bat. Pitching, catching and defense are strengths, but experience isn’t--there are only three seniors and two juniors.