City Central Baseball Preview : Turnover Makes League Prospects Uncertain

SAN DIEGO — Nothing is certain about the City Central League baseball season, which begins on Tuesday.

Not when three teams have had almost a complete turnover in rosters, and not when three of the six schools in the league have new coaches.

New faces are on the field at Christian, which lost eight members of last spring’s championship team; at San Diego, where only two players return from last season’s second-place team, and at Lincoln, where just three players are back from last year’s fourth-place team.

New faces are on the bench at Christian, where former assistant coach Tim Meinert has moved up; at Lincoln, where David Hanula has been named coach, and at Hoover, where Chuck Giles is a rookie.

“It’s going to be different,” said Crawford Coach Roger Engle, who not only is returning himself but has most of his 1987 third-place team (all but two starters) back as well. “When you play just 15 games, anything can happen. Any team can get hot, win seven or eight games, and win the league.”

And in a short season, pitching can make all the difference.

“There are not a lot of returning pitchers in the league,” said St. Augustine Coach Bill Whittaker. “Whoever gets good pitching is going to be in the playoffs.”

Two of the better pitchers in the league belong to San Diego (senior left-hander Sean Tucker, 8-5 with a 1.72 ERA in 1987) and Lincoln (senior right-hander Daniel Hernandez, 7-1).

But except for the expected strong performances of a couple of seasoned pitchers, not many people know what to expect from the Central League in 1988.

“It’s an inexperienced league right now,” San Diego Coach Tom Lopez said. “With the exception of Crawford, everyone lost some key players to graduation. There are going to be a lot of new faces.”

The teams:

CHRISTIAN

Last season: 17-7, 11-4 league (first).

Coach: Tim Meinert.

Top returnees: David Beezer (senior, OF), Bo Handran (senior, P).

Top newcomers: Merv Hartman (junior, C-3B), Josh Brouillette (sophomore, C), Jim Rost (junior, P).

Outlook: Meinert says the defending champions are full of potential. Christian lost eight seniors, including seven starters, from last year’s team. “We’re going to be a young team with a lot of potential,” Meinert said. “I’m looking forward to the middle and late parts of the season. I want them to mature late in the season so we have a shot at the playoffs.” The return of Beezer, a senior center fielder who batted over .400 last season, will help. Newcomers Hartman and Brouillette will battle for the starting catching job.

SAN DIEGO

Last season: 17-8-1, 9-5-1 league (second).

Coach: Tom Lopez.

Top returnees: Sean Tucker (senior, P), Brian Baird (junior, OF).

Top newcomers: Josh Stepner (sophomore, SS-P), Keon Sly (sophomore, P-OF), Claudio Moreno (sophomore, P-OF).

Outlook: Just two players return from last season’s team, but one is Tucker, the Cavers’ most valuable player and an All-Central League pitcher. When he’s on the mound, San Diego can play with just about anyone in the county. But the Cavers’ success this season may be determined on days when Tucker isn’t pitching: Lopez is counting on three sophomores (Stepner, Sly and Moreno) to fill out the rest of the rotation. Lopez lists only four seniors on his roster. “It’s going to be a strange season, but don’t count the Cavers out,” Lopez said. “With a couple of good hops and a little luck, we’ll be fighting for a playoff spot at the end of the year.”

CRAWFORD

Last season’s record: 9-16-3, 7-6-2 league (third).

Coach: Roger Engle.

Top returnees: Jeff Wilcox (senior, P), A.J. Leighton (senior, P), Manny Gagliano (junior, 3B)

Top newcomer: Eric Turner (junior, OF)

Outlook: The Colts are young but experienced. There are eight juniors on the team, all of whom played at the varsity level as sophomores. Crawford lost two starters from last year, but all others, including starting pitchers Wilcox and Leighton and the entire 1987 starting infield, return. Transfer Eric Turner (from Coronado), an outfielder and catcher, and Keith Gilbert, a pitcher, infielder and outfielder who missed most of last season with a football injury, make the Colts even stronger. “We kind of took it on the chin last year,” Engle said. “But we ought to be real competitive this season.” A lot depends on whether Engle can find a consistent catcher. Turner and Josh Neil will both get some playing time there.

LINCOLN

Last season: 12-10-1, 6-8-1 league (fourth).

Coach: David Hanula.

Top returnees: Fred Stokes (senior, P-OF), Daniel Hernandez (senior, P).

Top newcomers: Jerry Davis (senior, SS-P), James Davis (sophomore, 2B), Ron Jones (junior, OF)

Outlook: Pitching and speed are Lincoln’s biggest strengths. Stokes and Hernandez, two of the Hornets’ best pitchers last season, return. Jerry Davis, a transfer from Point Loma, will step into the third slot in the rotation. In addition to pitching, Stokes, a switch-hitter, was Lincoln’s top batter last year. But Hernandez and Stokes are the only returning starters. Sophomore second baseman James Davis has been impressive at the plate in nonleague games. “I feel we can contend as long as our pitching holds up,” Hanula said.

HOOVER

Last season’s record: 8-17, 6-9 league (fifth).

Coach: Chuck Giles.

Top returnees: Mike Wahlstrom (senior, 2B), Gus Garcia (senior, SS).

Top newcomer: Felipe Preciado (junior, OF-P).

Outlook: Five starters are back, and Hoover will be strong up the middle with second baseman Wahlstrom, shortstop Garcia and center fielder Mike McKnight all returning. McKnight, probably the fastest player on the team, will bat first. “We’re not the quickest team around,” Giles said. “And with a lot of new kids on the team, we’re still coming together.” Giles is hoping for consistency from his pitching staff, which includes Preciado and seniors Kenny Feistel and Tim Tucciarone.

ST. AUGUSTINE

Last season: 6-17, 4-11 league (sixth)

Coach: Bill Whittaker

Top returnees: Mason Reber (senior, P-IF), Mark Strawbridge (senior, P), Brad Gennaro (junior, OF-P)

Top newcomers: Mike Mossuto (junior, 1B), Mike Fuson (junior, P), Mark Jackson (junior, P)

Outlook: Whittaker is expecting to have a much better record this season than in 1987, thanks to the return of six starters. Whittaker is awaiting the return of right-handed pitcher Reber, who is expected back the first week in April after he broke his left thumb. “When we get Reber back, I think we’ll be surprising,” Whittaker said. “Our team speed is better than it’s been in a long time.” St. Augustine also can hit the ball well--both Strawbridge and Gennaro batted over .300 last season.