2015 Baseball Preview Capsules
ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Jay Guest, second season
2014 record: 24-10 (8-2 Northwest, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Ten (five)
Top players: P/OF Sam Pastrone (Sr.), P/OF Ben Cutting (Sr.), SS Nick Quintana (Jr.), C/OF Joe Fitzhugh (So.)
Outlook: After winning the Northwest League last year, the Aggies bring back five starters.
Pastrone (.341, 2 HR, 7 doubles/6-2, 2.45 ERA), Cutting (4-1, 1.99 ERA, 31.2 innings, 33 strikeouts), Quintana (.425, 7 HR, 16 doubles) and Fitzhugh (.366, 9 doubles) are expected to be among the team’s leaders.
“If we can throw strikes and play solid defense, we might be able to win a few games,” Guest said. “Offensively, we will need to execute our plan and have good at-bats.”
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BASIC
Head coach: Scott Baker, fourth season
2014 record: 25-11 (8-2 Southeast, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eleven (six)
Top players: SS/P Ryne Nelson (Jr.), CF/P Logan Green (Sr.), LF/P Tanner Roundy (Sr.), 3B/P Josh McLean (Sr.), 1B/P Jack Wold (So.)
Outlook: McLean (6-2, 1.35 ERA, 51 innings, 41 strikeouts) and Green (3-0, 1.85 ERA) are back to lead the Wolves’ pitching staff.
Nelson (.350, 23 RBIs), Roundy (.333, 13 RBIs) and Green (.309, 22 RBIs) should be among the offensive leaders for Basic, which is hoping to contend for the Sunrise Region title.
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BONANZA
Head coach: Mike O’Rourke, second season
2014 record: 11-18 (2-8 Southwest, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (four)
Top players: C Hunter Junge (Sr.), P/3B Spencer Faught (Sr.), RF Chris Dunn (Jr.)
Outlook: The Bengals return four starters and hope to show improvement.
Junge (.341, 20 RBIs) and Dunn (.338, nine RBIs) should be among the leaders on offense, and Faught (3-3, 4.15 ERA) will be among the team’s top pitchers.
“We’re a balanced team when it comes to graduation years, but inexperienced in terms of varsity baseball,” O’Rourke said. “We are continuing to improve each day and have a competitive group of kids.”
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BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Bobby Reese, third season
2014 record: 21-8-2 (10-2 Sunrise, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (seven)
Top players: P/OF Peyton Koopman (Jr.), P Nick Giunta (Sr.), IF Austin Wishard (Jr.), IF Nolan Desantis (Jr.), P/IF Preston Van Diest (So.)
Outlook: The Eagles bring back seven starters from a team that finished one game behind Chaparral for the Sunrise League title.
Koopman (.449, 35 RBIs), Wishard (.337, 34 RBIs), VanDiest (.392, 27 RBIs) and Desantis (.333, 13 RBIs) are back to lead the offense.
Giunta (2.90 ERA) should be among the leaders on the mound.
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CANYON SPRINGS
Head coach: Todd Faranda, third season
2014 record: 8-16 (1-9 Northeast, fifth)
Returning starters: Three
Top players: P/OF Zack Gardner (Jr.), P/UTL Jordan Gainey (Sr.), P/1B Johnny Flores (Jr.)
Outlook: The Pioneers are young, with only three starters back, but the team is hoping to show improvement while starting as many as six underclassmen.
Gainey (.508 average) and Gardner (.444) should be among the team’s leaders on offense.
“The old Canyon Springs is now gone as this group is truly Faranda’s players,” Faranda said. “We have many underclassmen that came into the program, and with the success of our Legion program and having three teams this past summer, playing our system of 100 games a year has helped develop what we are trying to build here.
“I think the old stigma is leaving, and we can possibly slide into the playoffs.”
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CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Charles Cerrone, 16th season
2014 record: 27-13 (7-3 Southwest, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eleven (five)
Top players: 1B/P Travis Stevens (Sr.), IF Jake Portaro (Sr.), P/OF Zach Dixon (Sr.), P/OF Anthony Saccente (Sr.), P Jordan Wyke (Sr.), OF Jared Drizin (Sr.), C Hayden Grant (Jr.), IF Tanner Wright (So.), IF Kyle Horton (So.)
Outlook: Five starters return from last year’s Sunset Region championship squad.
“We have a mix of some veterans and inexperience,” Cerrone said. “We’re looking to advance to playoffs, stay healthy and hopefully improve as the season goes on and be playing our best baseball at the end of the year.”
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CHEYENNE
Head coach: Colin Snyder, second season
2014 record: 9-15 (4-6 Sunset, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eight (six)
Top players: C/1B Korey Poole (Sr.), 3B Joseph Rose (Sr.), P/CF/SS Angelo Hallenback (Jr.), P/CF/SS James Cummings (Sr.)
Outlook: Six starters return for the Desert Shields, who qualified for the Southern Region playoffs last year.
“This group of kids has played a lot of games together and is meshing as a team,” Snyder said. “Our focus this season is persistence as we expect to make a bigger impact in the playoffs.
“Our backups are young players. Those guys will get some playing experience this year. At this point, I feel pretty good about their progress and the maturity of our guys who have played the last few years and the roles they are taking.”
Snyder said Cummings and Hallenback will be the leaders on the mound, and he expectes Poole and Rose to have “a big year at the plate.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Mike Hubel, 13th season
2014 record: 21-10 (7-3 Southwest, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (seven)
Top players: SS Niko Decolati (Sr.), 1B/P Tyler Giovinco (Sr.), P/UTL Larry Quaney (Sr.), UTL/P Adam Mitchell (Sr.), 3B Trevor Lippard (Sr.), P Todd Danzeisen (Sr.)
Outlook: Decolati (.414, 8 HR, 29 RBIs), Mitchell (.408, 2 HR, 38 RBIs), Lippard (.436, 19 RBIs) and Giovinco (.362, 17 RBIs) are back to lead the offense.
Quaney (5-2, 2.59 ERA, 56.2 innings, 70 strikeouts) and Giovinco (3-3, 2.37 ERA, 38.1 IP, 43 K) should be among the leaders on the mound.
“We bring back seven every day starters and three of our top pitchers from 2014,” Hubel said. “We look to be competitive with a good mix of experience and youth. We will add three freshmen to the team and hope they can contribute on a daily basis.”
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CLARK
Head coach: Brian Gregorich, first season
2014 record: 2-11 (1-9 Sunset, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Five (three)
Top players: P/IF Ryan Ebel (Sr.), IF Miguel Carrillo (Jr.), C Stefan McLin (Jr.)
Outlook: Gregorich takes over a team that is hungry for success, but returns only three starters.
“This year’s goal is to play solid, fundamental baseball each game,” Gregorich said. “Many players are inexperienced at the varsity level and are working hard to settle into their roles.
“Senior Ryan Ebel is expected to lead the pitching staff, while he and Miguel Carrillo will be counted on to provide experience in the batting order.”
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CORONADO
Head coach: David Padilla, eighth season
2014 record: 19-13 (7-3 Southeast, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eleven (seven)
Top players: OF Sterling Saltz (Sr.), OF Jacen Yergensen (Sr.), P Adam Garcia (Jr.), P Zach Dunham (Sr.), C Nicco Festa (Sr.)
Outlook: Saltz (.316 average, 2 home runs, 16 runs), Yergensen (.324, 16 runs) and Garcia (4-3, 4.05 ERA, 38 innings, 48 strikeouts) lead a list of 11 returning lettermen for the Cougars.
“With a season of experience, Coronado is looking to improve on our 19-13 record from last season,” Padilla said. “The division will be tough this year with the addition of Green Valley and Rancho, but I believe we are up for the challenge.”
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DEL SOL
Head coach: Jorge Romero, second season
2014 record: 8-16 (1-9 Southeast, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Five (four)
Top players: 3B/P Jorge Cantu (Jr.), OF/1B Luis Socorro (Sr.), OF/P Aaron Squires (Jr.), SS/P Matt Styck (Sr.), SS/2B Christian Wallace (Jr.)
Outlook: The move to Division I-A should help the Dragons, who return four starters.
“We look to compete for the Sunrise League title,” Romero said. “A berth in the region and state tournaments is the goal.
“With our move to I-A and our returning experienced players, we look to continue our growth as a program.”
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DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Paul Buboltz, third season
2014 record: 16-21 (4-6 Southwest, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (nine)
Top players: P A.J. Landis (Sr.), P/OF Nolan Kingham (Sr.), OF Dominic Paratore (Sr.), IF Bryson Stott (Jr.), OF Chris Van Kuren (Sr.), IF Caeden Marin (Sr.)
Outlook: The Diamondbacks already had the makings of a competitive team, but the addition of Kingham (.421, 24 doubles/6-1, 1.65 ERA) and Marin (.395, 7 triples) from Sierra Vista only will help.
Landis (5-6, 4.24 ERA, 63 strikeouts) and Paratore (.379, 28 RBIs) also should be among the leaders.
“We have six seniors, all of whom start,” Buboltz said.
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DESERT PINES
Head coach: Ricky Earp, first season
2014 record: 8-21 (2-10 Sunrise, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Four (two)
Top players: P/C/3B Jose Avelino (Sr.), 2B/P Silverio Milian (Jr.), P/3B/SS Andres Corbett (Sr.)
Outlook: Earp inherits a squad that returns only two starters but is hoping to make a name for itself.
“We will be looking for contributions from a wide array of new faces,” Earp said. “We have worked hard in the offseason and are looking to improve and learn on a daily basis. Our goal is to improve from last season, finish in the first half of the division and make the playoffs.”
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DURANGO
Head coach: Sam Knapp, 14th season
2014 record: 12-19 (3-7 Northwest, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (three)
Top players: OF/P Artie Gallegos (Sr.), OF/P Joey Shawhan (Sr.), OF/P Kenny Busse (Sr.)
Outlook: The Trailblazers finished only one game out of fourth place and two out of third place in the Northwest League, but bring back just three starters.
“We’re a young team looking to play hard and improve every day,” Knapp said.
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ELDORADO
Head coach: Jesse Medellin, 18th season
2014 record: 11-18-1 (1-9 Southeast, fifth)
Returning starters: Seven
Top players: P/UTL Cris Andrade (Sr.), CF Josh Brown (Sr.), P/3B/1B Jordan Eldred (So.), P/1B Isaac Villanueva (So.), C/P Joseph Torres (Jr.), SS Trevor Swain (Jr.), 2B Ian Reber (Jr.)
Outlook: With seven returning starters, the Sundevils should be improved this season.
“This year’s team is one year older and still young, but we have played a lot of games and feel like we can compete at a high level this year,” Medellin said. “We will be relying on some young arms and our defense to keep us in games.
“Hopefully, our offense will come through with some timely hits and we can take advantage of scoring opportunities.”
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FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Blair Neagle, third season
2014 record: 30-6 (10-0 Sunset, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (four)
Top players: C Greg Sylvester (Sr.), P/UTIL Zach Trageton (Jr.), IF Chad Jones (Sr.), IF Josh Harmonay (Jr.), P/IF Cruz Daddario (Sr.)
Outlook: Back-to-back state championships lead to awfully high expectations for any team. The Crusaders, though, will have some work to do after losing 10 seniors to graduation.
“This will be a young team,” Neagle said.
Faith Lutheran returns some quality offensive weapons in Sylvester (.377, 8 doubles, 21 RBIs), Trageton (.398, 37 runs, 17 RBIs), Jones (.333, 24 runs, 12 RBIs) and Harmonay (.345, 38 runs, 24 RBIs).
“A difficult early-season schedule will give an indication of how this club can shape up,” Neagle said.
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FOOTHILL
Head coach: Matt Iglitz, ninth season
2014 record: 19-15 (5-5 Southeast, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (three)
Top players: P/OF Spencer Throgmorton (Sr.), 1B Austin Wilson (Sr.)
Outlook: The Falcons’ 13 returning lettermen include only three starters.
Throgmorton (.298 average/4-1, 3.23 ERA, 26 innings, 28 strikeouts) and Wilson (.327, 12 RBIs) lead the list of returnees.
“The returning varsity lettermen have made great strides, and along with a handful of sophomores and freshmen, this team should have the ability to contend for a possible sixth playoff appearance in the last seven years,” Iglitz said.
“Seniors Spencer Throgmorton, Austin Wilson and Rick Kinney, and freshman Andrew Hauck should anchor the pitching staff. Offensively, the Falcons will hope for contributions up and down the lineup. Most of the key contributors from last year’s team have moved on, which means that each player will have to find a way to pick up the slack.”
Iglitz said potential leaders on offense could include Kinney, Wilson, Throgmorton, juniors Jack Fredericksen, Alec Mathis and Shay Landers, and sophomore Kaelii Maruyama.
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GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Corey Gehlken, fourth season
2014 record: 27-9 (10-0 Northeast, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (five)
Top players: P/IF Blake Inouye (Sr.), OF/IF Jarrett Perns (Sr.), IF Jarod Penniman (Sr.), P Christian Straub (Sr.), IF A.J. Amelburu (So.)
Outlook: Perns (.430 average), Penniman (.305) and Inouye (.292) are back to help the Gators, who finished as the runnerup in the Sunrise Region last year.
Five starters return for the Gators, who hope to contend for the Southeast League title.
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LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Sam Thomas, 17th season
2014 record: 12-19 (4-6 Northeast, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (five)
Top players: P/UTL Jaime Solis (Sr.), IF Eddie Ojeda (Sr.)
Outlook: Solis (.425 average, 13 RBIs) and Ojeda (.355, 12 RBIs) lead a list of seven returnees for the Wildcats.
“We are still young and lack much-needed experience,” Thomas said. “We’re looking to be better than 2014, but we’re still 2-3 years away from competing for a region title.”
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LEGACY
Head coach: Tommy Krier, second season
2014 record: 8-21 (1-9 Southwest, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Ten (seven)
Top players: CF Donta Williams (So.), 1B Austin Michals (Jr.), SS Hayden Lecates (Jr.)
Outlook: Williams (.374 average, 25 runs, 14 stolen bases), Lecates (.347, 10 RBIs) and Michals (.312, 22 RBIs) are among the 10 lettermen hoping to help the Longhorns improve.
“The Longhorns return the majority of the team and will look to experienced seniors Nick DeLuca, Jordan Brown, Daniel Zaragoza and Anthony Golemme for production,” Krier said. “Legacy has faith it will be able to compete this year.”
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LIBERTY
Head coach: Garrett Kohler, first season
2014 record: 31-5 (8-2 Southeast, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Sixteen (six)
Top players: CF Preston Pavlica (Sr.), SS Nick Rush (Sr.), 1B/P Justin Lutes (Jr.), P/DH Trevor Mullaney (Sr.), P Bailey Daguio (Sr.)
Outlook: The defending state champions have plenty of reason for optimism again this year with 16 lettermen back.
Pavlica (.407 average, 30 RBIs, 20 runs), Rush (.353, 27 runs) and Lutes (.328, 13 runs) should be among the leaders on offense with Daguio (5-1, 3.35 ERA) and Mullaney (1-1, 3.15 ERA) back on the mound.
“Even with the loss of seven seniors, including the state player of the year, this year’s team is experienced and senior-heavy,” Kohler said. “This group is winning, and our expectations are to be one of the top teams in town and contend for another state title.”
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THE MEADOWS
Head coach: Frank DeSantis, 18th season
2014 record: 19-8-1 (11-3 Division III Southern, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eight (six)
Top players: P/IF Alex Agrawal (Jr.), P/IF Nabeel Afzal (Jr.), IF/OF Jacob Gleason (Sr.), P/OF Drake Gordon (Sr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs return six starters from a team that finished second in the Southern League last year.
“We need to fill some valuable positions from last year,” DeSantis said. “Leadership is key for this team.
“We have the makings of a good team. Pitching experience is a plus for us.”
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MOAPA VALLEY
Head coach: Gary Weiss, second season
2014 record: 10-14 (7-5 Sunrise, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (two)
Top players: C Chaz Cornwall (Sr.), CF/P J.R. Redd (Sr.), IF/P Riley Longman (Sr.)
Outlook: The Pirates qualified for the Southern Region playoffs last year, but return only two starters from that team.
“The Pirates look forward to a successful 2015 campaign with the addition of a strong group of underclassmen to complement a few experienced seniors,” Weiss said.
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MOJAVE
Head coach: Daniel LaSalle, fourth season
2014 record: 18-16 (5-5 Sunset, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Ten (six)
Top players: P/OF Ryan Lawrence (Sr.), OF Chase Anderson (Sr.), OF Otto Hernandez (Jr.), C Brady Allen (Jr.), 3B/P Liam Harris (Sr.), 1B/C/P Rease McClain (So.), P/IF Chris Clawson (Jr.), IF Andrew Foley (So.)
Outlook: Lawrence (7-0, 1.82 ERA) was an all-state selection last year and joins Anderson (.321) and Hernandez (.250) among the Rattlers’ returnees.
“After seeing some playoff success, the players have worked hard in the offseason to prove it wasn’t a one-time deal,” LaSalle said. “We lost some key players, but we feel we are more talented overall than last season.
“Anything less than a playoff run will be considered a disappointment to the players, and that is a long way from past seasons where just being competitive was acceptable. With the addition of some new players and young talent coming through the program, look for the Rattlers to make some noise this season.”
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MOUNTAIN VIEW
Head coach: Keegan McCann, first season
2014 record: 8-13 (6-8 Division III Southern, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (two)
Top players: SS/C/P Ian Locke (Sr.), CF/P Chase Ottofy (Jr.), C/3B Josh Stanton (Jr.), UTL Matt Peterson (Sr.), 3B/SS Connor LeBoeuf (Sr.), IF/OF Braeden Carmack (Fr.)
Outlook: Locke (.486 on base percentage, 14 stolen bases), Stanten (.346 average) and Peterson (.385) lead a list of just six returnees for the Saints, who also picked up Ottofy (3.23 ERA), a transfer from Fort Collins, Colo.
“We are hoping to build on last year’s regional playoff berth by competing for a second consecutive berth in a very competitive Division III,” McCann said. “We have a great mix of returning letter winners and newcomers, but it is going to come down to how the team can mesh together before our first league game.”
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PAHRUMP VALLEY
Head coach: Brian Hayes, third season
2014 record: 21-10-1 (8-2 Sunset, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (four)
Top players: SS/P Josh Mortensen (Sr.), 2B Dylan Ault (Sr.), C Carlos Rivera (Sr.), P Eduardo Gonzalez (Sr.), 1B Tyler Greene (Sr.)
Outlook: Mortensen (.392, 42 runs, 46 stolen bases/2.75 ERA, 20 innings, 27 strikeouts) leads a list of returnees that also includes Ault (.443, 3 HR, 11 doubles, 34 RBIs), Rivera (.326, 14 RBIs), Greene (.286, 7 RBIs) and Gonzalez (5-2, 2.40 ERA).
“We lost five significant starters to graduation, but almost all of our sophomore and junior class gained valuable experience during summer ball,” Hayes said. “We will find out early in the season if we are retooling or rebuilding.”
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PALO VERDE
Head coach: Kevin Fiddler, third season
2014 record: 14-19 (4-6 Northwest, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Twelve (six)
Top players: 3B/C/P J.D. Brooks (So.), C/1B Yodai Nakamura (Sr.), 1B/3B/P Sam Powers (Jr.), P/OF Dylan Orlando (So.)
Outlook: The Panthers ended a three-year playoff drought last year, but lost nine seniors to graduation.
Nakamura (.405, 20 RBIs, 18 runs), Brooks (.382, 20 RBIs, 19 R) and Powers (.324, 11 RBI) are among the team’s top returnees.
“These guys are young, hungry and excited for the upcoming season,” Fiddler said. “The positive culture change that has gone on here the last two years is setting the foundation for a program that is based on character, integrity and toughness with a focus on playing the game the right way.
“This is a great group of guys who have bought into the system, and we’re looking forward to watching them grow into their roles this spring. We feel that, on any given day, we’ll be able to compete with anyone in town.”
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RANCHO
Head coach: Tom Pletsch, 10th season
2014 record: 23-10 (7-3 Northeast, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Four (two)
Top players: P Andrew Wieger (Sr.), C Zach Barnhart (Jr.), UT/P Kavion Kealoha (Sr.)
Outlook: Wieger (7-1, 2.19 ERA, 48 innings, 44 strikeouts), Kealoha (.400, 20 RBIs) and Barnhart (.298, 18 RBIs) are among only four returning lettermen for the Rams, who have six freshmen on the team.
“The Rams will have a tough year replacing seven seniors that moved on,” Pletsch said. “Andrew Wieger will lead the way on the mound, and Zach Barnhart and Kavion Kealoha are the lone returning starters.
“The Rams will count heavily on younger players. We will definitely be better at the end of the year than at the beginning. The Rams hope to make the playoffs.”
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SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Frank Tousa, seventh season
2014 record: 21-13 (6-4 Northwest, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (six)
Top players: IF/P Tyler Burton (Sr.), P/1B Jake Wilson (Jr.), P/IF Isaiah Blaylock (Jr.), C/IF Robbie Galvan (Sr.), IF/OF Eric Jordan (Jr.), OF Jakob Chambers (Sr.), OF Dustin McDonald (Sr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs bring back plenty of experience with 13 lettermen back.
Wilson (7-1, 1.40 ERA, .421 average), Blaylock (2-4, 1.80, .412), Burton (2-3, 1.98, .464) are back to lead the pitching staff and are joined on offense by McDonald (.355), Jordan (.338), Chambers (.319) and Galvan (.296).
“We hope to battle for a league title and/or home field for a playoff game,” Tousa said. “We have some experience returning with three of our top four pitchers coming back.
“Tyler Burton, Jake Wilson and Isaiah Blaylock will anchor our pitching staff. Chris Opolka and Trevin Reynolds also got some valuable experience last year on the mound as closers. Tyler Burton, Eric Jordan, Robbie Galvan, Dustin McDonald and Jakob Chambers will lead our hitting efforts.”
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SILVERADO
Head coach: Brian Whitaker, 21st season
2014 record: 14-17 (7-3 Northeast, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fifteen (seven)
Top players: C Vince Taormina (Sr.), SS Dillon Johnson (Sr.), P James Skelly (Jr.)
Outlook: Taormina (.485 average, 10 doubles, three home runs, 37 RBIs) has the potential to be one of the top players in Southern Nevada and joins Johnson (.419, 11 doubles, 14 RBIs) and Skelly (5-5, 2.19 ERA) among seven returning starters for Silverado.
“The Skyhawks are looking forward to the 2015 season with high expectations,” Whitaker said. “After being primarily a young team for the last couple of years, Silverado will field a more veteran looking ballclub.”
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SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Paul Bassett, seventh season
2014 record: 15-16 (5-5 Northwest, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (four)
Top players: C/OF Jake Sellinger (Jr.), IF/P Bryce Bullock (So.), IF/P Jaxton Otis (So.), OF/P Nick Rupp (So.)
Outlook: The Grizzlies finished third in a closely-packed Northwest League last season and return four starters as the team transitions to Division I-A.
Sellinger (.323, 16 RBIs), Bullock (.288, 19 RBIs, eight doubles) and Otis (.309 10 RBIs) are back to lead the offense, and Rupp (3.09 ERA, 21 innings) is expected to be among the leaders on the mound.
“We are a very inexperienced team that looks to be competitive in our league,” Bassett said. “Pitching will be the key to this year’s team.”
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SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
Head coach: Antonio Morales, first season
2014 record: 2-16 (1-11 Sunrise, seventh)
Outlook: Morales, the team’s third head coach in as many seasons, hopes to bring some stability and success to the Miners’ program.
“For the upcoming season, we expect to be competitive in every game, laying the foundation for the future of Miner baseball,” Morales said.
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TECH
Head coach: Bill Stuber, 10th season
2014 record: 15-11 (8-4 Sunrise, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Ten (seven)
Top players: P/IF Sebastian Fitzgerald (Sr.), P/IF Rylee Campbell (Sr.), OF Jalen Birch (Jr.), C Jayce Otis (So.), IF Chandler Gehring (So.), P/1B Logan Campbell (So.), P/IF Trevor Kephart (So.), P/IF Alexis Acosta (Fr.)
Outlook: Ten lettermen return from a team that was more than just competitive in the Sunrise League last year.
Fitzgerald (.339 average/4-2, 2.87 ERA, 34 strikeouts) is expected to be among the team’s leaders. Otis (.343, 15 stolen bases), Birch (.338) and Gehring (.284) also posted impressive offensive numbers last year.
“We return most of our team, which is still young, and has a full year of experience from last season, summer ball and fall ball,” Stuber said. “Sebastian Fitzgerald will lead our pitching staff, which also includes sophomores Logan Campbell and Trevor Kephart and freshman Alexis Acosta.
“We should be solid throughout our lineup, led by Fitzgerald, Rylee Campbell, Jalen Birch, Jayce Otis and Chandler Gehring. We look to make another run for the playoffs and battle for a division title.”
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VALLEY
Head coach: Pedro Atoigue, second season
2014 record: 3-24 (1-9 Northeast, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eight (seven)
Top players: CF/P Isaiah Cardenas (Sr.), LF/P Roberto Gonzalez-Aleman (Sr.), OF/P Logan Corona (Sr.), 1B Jared Limbeck (Sr.), SS/P/3B Alonso Osorio-Kalawe (Jr.), C/3B Geovanni Marrero-Pereznegron (Jr.), 2B/P/SS Jacob Cruz (So.), P/1B Bryce Cowin (So.), RF/2B/P David Trotta (So.)
Outlook: The Vikings struggled last season, but gained valuable experience.
“We have a solid group of players who will add more depth to our lineup and will help us accomplish more this season,” Atoigue said. “Even though we have a tough conference and tough teams ahead of us, the Vikings are ready to improve from last season. The boys are more focused and determined as a cohesive unit.
“Our expectations this season are simple — stay focused, take each game one at a time, and learn from our mistakes.”
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WESTERN
Head coach: Jarion White, first season
2014 record: 3-15 (2-8 Sunset, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): One (one)
Outlook: White inherits a team that returns only one starter after struggling last season.
“The Western baseball program is a team looking to build a new foundation with new coaches and players,” White said. “Beaten but not broken last year we plan to continue the growth, showing all, that with hard work and resilient perseverance, Western can have a winning season.
“We expect to win more games than last year and gain some respect from our competition while presenting ourselves with class and honor.”
