SOUTH COAST LEAGUE

Capistrano Valley

Coach: Bob Zamora

1999 record: 10-15

League record: 5-10

The Cougars have nine returning lettermen, including six starters, but that won’t mean much unless they start winning together. That didn’t happen last year as Capistrano Valley limped to a fourth-place finish in league. Coach Bob Zamora expects better results this season with a team that should feature good hitting, pitching and speed. Second baseman Jeff Scuderi, pitcher/shortstop Kellan McConnell and first baseman Scott Cheo will take care of the hitting. Last season Scuderi hit .481 and stole 11 bases, while McConnell hit .366 with 26 RBIs and Cheo hit .366 with nine home runs.

Dana Hills

Coach: Zeke Barragan

1999 record: 10-16

League record: 2-13

Say one thing for first-year Coach Zeke Barragan: He isn’t setting his expectations too high. “Playing .500 would be very acceptable,” he said, “considering ’99.” Oh yeah, that. The Dolphins finished last in league after going 8-3 in nonleague play. Pitchers Ricky Garcia and Geoff Overstreet are back, though, along with Brent Petre, a .300-hitting second “We have a tough task ahead of us,” Barragan said, “but if we get some breaks we could surprise some teams.”

El Toro

Coach: Tom McCaffrey

1999 record: 18-12

League record: 7-8

The Chargers placed third in the Sea View League last year, and another middle-of-the-pack finish may be on the horizon. El Toro returns only three starters, including two second-team all-league players in shortstop Mike Marquez and third baseman Grant Plumley. Marquez batted .410 last season, while Plumley hit .388. Pitching experience may be a concern, though, as returners Eric Walsh and Conner Gleason had only seven decisions between them.

Mission Viejo

Coach: Chris Ashbach

1999 record: 11-13

League record: 4-11

The Diablos should have considerable pop in their offense with the return of all-league pitcher/infielder John Hudgins and infielder Jason Ferrell. The addition of Foothill transfer Billy Hart, another infielder, also helps. Hudgins had a .350 batting average a year ago, Ferrell hit .350 and Hart batted a sizzling .450 for the Knights with five home runs and 25 RBIs. Despite the return of those players as well as a few others who shined in limited playing time a year ago, Coach Chris Ashbach fears his team’s inexperience at catcher and the absence of a proven No. 2 starting pitcher may be liabilities.

San Clemente

Coach: David Gellatly

1999 record: 19-11

League record: 9-6

The Tritons graduated 13 of 17 players from last year’s team and “will be a young team that will improve as the season progresses,” according to Coach David Gellatly. Pitcher Steve Schroer will need to have an outstanding year both on the mound and in the dugout as a leader for San Clemente to have any chance at repeating the success of last year, when the Tritons advanced to the Division I quarterfinals. Outfielder Nick Lentine and third baseman/pitcher Billy Pinney must become overachievers if San Clemente intends to do more than rebuild.

Trabuco Hills

Coach: Tim Ellis

1999 record: 19-7

League record: 12-3

There are two reasons why the Mustangs could leapfrog to the top of the league standings this season: Mater Dei now resides in the Serra League and Trabuco Hills returns every position player except its catcher. Senior Steve Sirbu, who hit .362 last season, has been coverted to catcher to fill the void. All-league center fielder Joe Burgett will be hungry after hitting .440 before breaking his arm last season.