Prep Softball ’94 / Six Teams to Watch : MARINA

Coach: Shelly Luth (fourth year, 72-15).

1992-93: 23-4, 13-1 in the Sunset League; Seeded No. 2, lost to finalist Los Alamitos, 1-0, in 22 innings in Division I quarterfinals.

Key returners: Stacy Byers, Sr., left fielder; Marcy Crouch, Jr., pitcher; Faith Fuata, Jr., right fielder; Heather Hibben, So., third baseman; Rainey Keiter, Sr., shortstop; Becky Thompson, Jr., second baseman; Lynette Velasquez, Sr., first baseman; Heather Williams, Jr., catcher.

Key newcomers: Angela Alvarez, Jr., center fielder; Michelle Castorena, Sr., center fielder; Jennie Hoff, So., left fielder.

Outlook: Replacing outfielder Robyn Yorke (.603, 30 runs, 33 stolen bases) is paramount to impossible, but no one will feel sorry for Marina, which returns Fuata (.400, 27 RBIs) and Crouch (.348, 16 runs) and nearly everyone else. As a pitcher, Crouch (12-1, 0.31 ERA) can make do with less offensive support than most, though the Vikings should get a real test from Ocean View (22-7 last year), which has dominating pitcher Kathy Ponce, and Fountain Valley (18-7), which might have one of county’s best offenses.