High School Baseball Previews: HB strong again

It was last June when the Huntington Beach High baseball team won a CIF Southern Section championship. Come Saturday, the Oilers along with local teams Edison, Fountain Valley, Marina, Ocean View and Brethren Christian, get their respective seasons underway.

The new season includes new head coaches at Ocean View and Brethren Christian, and Huntington Beach playing at a newly designed field.

Below is a capsule look at the local prep baseball teams.

Edison Chargers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Cameron Chinn (3rd year)

Coaching staff: John Gonsalves; Jeff Sears; Bob Strachan.

CIF Division: 1

Last year’s record: 19-11

Last year’s league finish: 8-6 (3rd)

CIF results: Lost first round.

Varsity roster: Kyler Arenado (SS, Jr.); Chase Hanson (OF/P, Soph.); Jared Sasaki (OF/P, Jr.); Tommy Chittick (C, Soph.); Leo Hyodo (2B, Sr.); Adam Gooch (OF, Sr.); Vince Inman (OF/P, Jr.); Eric Krueger (OF/1B, Jr.); Carson Letterman (3B/P, Soph.); Ted Burton (INF, Fr.); Ryan deBos (P, Sr.); Brian Krueger (UTL, Sr.); Charlie Dysome (1B, Sr.); Connor Aoki (C/INF, Soph.); Ryo Takada (OF, Sr.); John Thomas (OF, Jr.); Blake Morton (1B, Fr.); Kaz Akamatsu (OF/P, Sr.); Hunter Baclig (C/INF, Fr.); Grant Mason (P, Sr.); Noah Dettman (1B, Jr.); Wyatt Mitchell (P, Jr.); Brandon Davis (P, Sr.); Ryan Davis (P, Sr.); Hank Skolnick (OF, Sr.).

Returning with honors: Kyler Arenado (SS, first-team all-league, Jr.); Leo Hyodo (2B, second-team all-league, Sr.); Kaz Akamatsu (P/OF, first-team all-league, Sr.).

Coach’s take: “This year’s team has a healthy balance of returners and newcomers,” Chinn said. “Our success will be determined by how diligently the newcomers can compete and how effectively the returners can lead.”

Season keys: “We would like to have set roles for our team by the time the second round of league begins,” Chinn said. “With all the newcomers on the roster, players will have to take advantage of opportunities in nonleague games.”

The schedule: “Like always, we play one of the toughest schedules around. Beginning with Millikan, who has 20 seniors on the roster and should be the top of the Moore League, will be a great test for us to lead off the season. A second doubleheader includes Mission Viejo, last season’s Division II champs!

Season opener: 10 a.m. doubleheader Saturday vs. Long Beach Millikan.

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Fountain Valley Barons

League: Sunset

Head coach: Deric Yanagisawa (4th year)

Coaching staff: Mark Wishek; Chris Sorce; Garrett McFaul.

CIF Division: 1

Last year’s record: 21-11

Last year’s league finish: 9-6 (2nd)

CIF results: Reached second round.

Varsity roster: Travis Aversa (INF, Jr.); Ryan Foster (2B/OF, Jr.); Justin Mazzone (C, Jr.); Tommy Mendoza (OF, Sr.); Wyatt McGinnis (OF, Sr.); Riley Hanson (1B/OF, Sr.); Jared Brand (P/3B, Jr.); Roger Gonzalez (P, Sr.); Trent Sievers (OF, Jr.); Travis Behrens (P/OF, Jr.); Miguel Larios (P, Jr.); Trevor Staffieri (OF/1B, Jr.); Parker Smith (P/C, Jr.); Justin Yang (SS/P, Jr.); Michael Murphy (OF, Sr.); Travis Burleson (P/C/3B, Jr.); Nathan Wilson (P/OF, Soph.); Blake Mielke (1B/OF, Jr.); Isaac Campbell (P, Jr.); Conrad Villafuerte (1B/3B/OF, Soph).

Returning with honors: Travis Burleson (P/C/3B, 2015 league rookie of the year, Jr.).

Coach’s take: “We will be young but we’re very excited about the juniors and sophomores,” Yanagisawa said. “This team will rely heavily on Travis Burleson, Justin Mazzone and Michael Murphy to lead us. They will be asked to carry the load on and off the field. I like the make-up of this team because we have some athletes that can play multiple positions. We will have the flexibility to mix and match our starting lineups this year. This will be a little different than our teams in the past few years because we have a lot of talent from top to bottom. There’s been a lot of competition during the fall and winter.”

Season keys: “The key to our season is simple: Burleson, Mazzone and Murphy have to have big years offensively and defensively,” Yanagisawa said. “Burleson will take on the role as the No. 1 starting pitcher and RBI guy. Newcomers Justin Yang and Trent Sievers have the capability to help carry the load.”

The schedule: The Barons start their season with a doubleheader at Sonora, take on Long Beach Poly Monday at USC, and then begin play March 3 at the Loara Tournament.

“Our schedule is very tough,” Yanagisawa said. “Playing in the Sunset League, you’re going to be in 15 really competitive games. You have to play your best to win ballgames in this league. Anyone can beat anyone on a given day.”

Season opener: 11 a.m. doubleheader Saturday at Sonora.

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Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Benji Medure (16th year)

Coaching staff: Adam Springston; Jeff Ruziecki; Joel Bernstein.

CIF Division: 1

Last year’s record: 26-8

Last year’s league finish: 13-2 (champion)

CIF results: Won Division 1 championship

Varsity roster: Chad Minato (INF, Sr.); Ben McConnell (OF, Jr.); Tanner Southern (P, Jr.); Logan Pouelsen (P/3B, Sr.); J.J. Muratore (OF, Sr.); Nate Madole (P, Soph.); Dominic Abbadessa (OF, Sr.); Dylan Palmer (INF, Jr.); Jimmy Pecaro (C, Sr.); Mitch Kovary (P, Sr.); Cory Moore (P/INF, Jr.); Connor Neves (P, Soph.); Kobe Anton (P, Sr.); Anthony Martinez (C, Sr.); Trevor Windisch (INF, Jr.); Hagen Danner (P/C, Jr.); Jack Furry (P, Sr.); Landon Silver (OF, Sr.); Justin Cianca (INF, Jr.); Nick Pratto (P/OF, Jr.); Nate Lammers (INF, Sr.); Joey Paturzo (OF, Sr.); Nick Lopez (INF/C, Soph.); Dominic Muscato (P, Sr.); Matt Geiger (P/OF, Sr.).

Returning with honors: Hagen Danner (P/C, 2015 league pitcher of the year, Jr.); Logan Pouelsen (P/3B, first-team all-league, first-team All-CIF, Sr.); Landon Silver (OF, first-team all-league, All-CIF, Sr.); Dominic Abbadessa (OF, first-team all-league, Sr.).

Team tidbits: The Oilers ended the 2015 season No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 1, and on Monday received the top ranking in the Division preseason poll. They have two transfer players in Pratto (Mater Dei) and Moore (Yucaipa). The program’s baseball field also is in the midst of a refurbishment project. Medure said the stadium will have 232 seats with each seat having a “good view of the field.” He said the project will be finished in mid-March and the Oilers will play their first home game on their new field April 4. He said the surface of the playing field will be redone, and the clubhouse and other amenities are to come over the next year.

Coach’s take: “I feel like we are going to play good defense and pitch very well,” said Medure who was the All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 Coach of the Year last year. “We have a lot of depth in our pitching rotation and we are going to need it with the schedule that we are playing.”

Season keys: “Staying healthy is the biggest key for us to have a successful season,” Medure said. “If we can avoid any major injuries, I like our chances.”

The schedule: The Oilers definitely will be challenged early and often. In its first two weeks, they’ll face Trinity League teams Orange Lutheran and JSerra, ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the CIF-SS preseason Division 1 poll. They’ll also go to North Carolina for a national invite-only tournament, and make a return appearance to the Boras Classic.

“We go to North Carolina for the [National High School Invitational] and play in the Boras Classic back-to-back weeks,” Medure said. “We play 12 games in a 20-day period. That is going to show how tough we are in that stretch. I think that we play one of the toughest schedules in America. There isn’t one bad team on our schedule. We are going to have to scratch and claw for every little inch that we can gain this year.”

Season opener: 10 a.m. doubleheader Saturday vs. Aliso Niguel (at Irvine Valley College).

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Marina Vikings

League: Sunset

Head coach: Bob Marshall (6th year)

Coaching staff: Paul Renfrow; Jeff Sellers; Mike Grasse.

CIF Division: 1

Last year’s record: 17-14

Last year’s league finish: 6-9 (5th)

Varsity roster: Tyler Abend (OF/C, Sr.); Eric Anderson (OF/1B, Jr.); Jason Arita (OF, Jr.); Steven Casas (2B, Fr.); Matt Clark (P, Sr.); Matthew Coots (2B, Sr.); Brandon Gorball (C, Jr.); Ian Green (P/INF, Soph.); Griffin Hennessy (SS, Sr.); Kyle Henscheid (P, Sr.); Seth Hoetker (P, Jr.); Will Hoyer-Pingle (OF, Sr.); Cory Lewis (1B/P, Fr.); Lance Mashita (OF, Jr.); Tyler Mills (P/OF, Jr.); Jared Minor (P/OF, Soph.); Riley Ohl (P, Sr.); Blake Partis (P/1B, Soph.); Chris Reynolds (OF, Jr.); Matthew Richardson (P, Sr.); Decker Robinson (C/1B, Jr.); Reid Sebby (P, Jr.); Jyles Sellers (INF, Soph.); Tommy Verdugo (C, Sr.); Joe Waked (INF/P, Sr.).

Coach’s take: “Our motto is, ‘Finish Strong,’” Marshall said. “We are a great group of young men that love baseball and are eager and ready to accept the challenges that the powerful Sunset League will bring. This off-season our players have improved in all areas of the game and have matured as a team. I am extremely excited to be part of such a hard-working and talented team.”

Season keys: “Our keys is to play fundamental baseball and to finish strong with an at-bat, a pitching performance, a single game, a tournament, and the season, each pitch ‘Finish Strong,’” Marshall said.

The schedule: The Vikings once again will take part in the Loara Tournament and in league play, face Newport Harbor March 19 at Angel Stadium.

Season opener: 10 a.m. doubleheader Saturday at Garden Grove Pacifica.

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Ocean View Seahawks

League: Golden West

Head coach: Tanner VanMaanen (1st year)

Coaching staff: Pat Johnson; Chris Tallman; Garret Leon; Casey Chop; Steve Christy.

CIF Division: 3.

Last year’s record: 18-10

Last year’s league finish: 14-1 (champion)

CIF results: Reached second round.

Varsity roster: Jake Legg (C, Sr.); Brandon Nicholson (P/INF, Sr.); Grant Rockefeller (OF, Sr.); Braydon Salzman (P/OF, Sr.); Brian Schlosser (INF, Sr.); Blake Barsotti (P, Sr.); Derek Chumacero (INF, Sr.); Adam Meyer (UTL, Soph.); Daniel Myers (P, Soph.); Jake Volo (INF, Soph.); Miguel Abascal (OF, Jr.); Adam Carles (P, Jr.); Ricky Martinez (UTL, Jr.); Joseph Romero (INF, Jr.); Ronnie Evans (INF, Jr.); Devin Lacy (INF, Jr.); James Williams (INF, Soph.).

Returning with honors: Braydon Salzman (P/OF, 2015 league pitcher of the year); Brian Schlosser (INF, first-team all-league, Sr.); Grant Rockefeller (OF, first-team all-league, Sr.); Ricky Martinez (UTL, first-team all-league, Jr.).

Coach’s take: “Our team is going to be extremely competitive this year,” said VanMaanen who previously coached for eight years at Cypress High which won a CIF title in 2013. “They love to work hard and play the game at high level.”

Season keys: “Real simple — pitching and defense,” VanMaanen said.

The schedule: The Seahawks have a tough opener Saturday against Cypress, go to Angel Stadium March 19 to take on Redondo Union, and have upcoming key league matchups against Segerstrom and Orange. VanMaanen called the slate “extremely challenging.”

Season opener: 10 a.m. doubleheader Saturday at Cypress.

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Brethren Christian Warriors

League: Academy

Head coach: Mike Thompson (1st year)

Coaching staff: Cody Rockwood; Jake Kaufman.

CIF Division: 6

Last year’s record: 7-13

Last year’s league finish: 4-8 (5th)

Varsity roster: Brendan Hughes (C, Soph.); Eric Alexander (3B/P, Soph.); George Miller (OF, Jr.); Jack Patcheak (OF, Fr.); Jake Mann (INF, Soph.); Johnny Klaeb (INF, Fr.); Jordan Leonard (OF, Jr.); Kieran Reynolds (P/1B, Jr.); Tyler Ubl (P/UTL, Sr.); Zach Koenig (2B, Jr.); Jake McKay (OF, Jr.).

Returning with honors: Brendan Hughes (C, second-team all-league, Soph.); George Miller (OF, all-league honorable mention, Jr.).

Coach’s take: “Young, energetic, motivated team of hard-working young men looking to be extremely competitive this season,” said Thompson who previously was a volunteer assistant coach at Newman and Chapman universities, and assistant coach at both Villa Park High and Saddleback College.

Season keys: “Pitching and defense,” Thompson said. “If we can limit mistakes and free passes, I like our chances.”

The schedule: The Warriors will compete in both the Newport Elks and Anaheim Lions tournaments during nonleague play. Thompson called it a “tough nonleague schedule to challenge our players before they enter league.”

Season opener: 11 a.m. doubleheader Saturday vs. Winchester Temecula Prep.