First pitch is Friday

Mike Sciacca

The 2005 prep baseball season gets underway Friday, and for four

local schools, the season will begin with tournament play.

Edison and Marina will play in the Loara Tournament, Huntington

Beach competes at the Foothill Tournament and Ocean View opens at the

Costa Mesa Tournament.

Here’s a capsule look at the area teams:

Edison Chargers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Matt Mosiello (fifth year)

Coaching staff: Steve Lambright; Joe MacDonald; Dave Tallman.

2004 overall record: 13-13

2004 league record: 6-9 (fourth place)

2004 playoff results: Did not compete

Last CIF title won: 2001

Last league title won: 2003

Returning starters: Tommy Palica (P/OF, two-time first-team

all-league; Sr.); Garrett DeGrazio (SS, first-team all-league, Sr.);

Thomas Marcin (P, Jr.); Andrew Mozeleski (C, Sr.); Chad Blauer

(P/DH/1B, Jr).

Key newcomers: Brandon Cooke (1B, Jr.); Justin DeMarco (2B,

Soph.); Ryan Sheeks (OF, Soph.); Billy Silvestri (INF., Soph.);

Hunter White (Utility, Soph.).

Season opener: vs. Long Beach Wilson, Loara Tournament, Friday.

Coach’s outlook: “We return all of our pitchers and our pitching

staff should keep us in every game,” Mosiello said. “We may have

three or four sophomores that start, and if they can relax and play

like they can, we will be very good. This may be our best offensive

team since I’ve been here. The guys really like to play and as long

as everyone plays like they can, stays within themselves and puts the

team first, we will be very tough. The Sunset League will be

extremely competitive once again.”

Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Benji Medure (fifth year)

Coaching staff: Rusty McNamara, Nate Buecler, Justin Whitcomb,

Josh Willis.

2004 overall record: 17-10

2004 league record: 11-4 (champion)

2004 playoff results: defeated Redlands (1-0) first round; lost

second round to Division I champion Arlington (3-2).

Last league title won: 2004

Returning starters: Hank Conger (C, 2004 state sophomore of the

year; 2005 preseason All-American by Baseball America, Jr.); Cameron

McMullen (CF, all-league, Jr.); Justin LaTempa (P/INF, signed with UC

Irvine, Sr.); Justin Ratowsky (SS, Sr.); Joel Bernstein (P/OF, signed

with Point Loma, Sr.).

Key newcomers: Jeff Van Doornum (INF; Jr.); Tony Katreeb (OF,

Sr.); George Chace (P/INF, Sr.).

Season opener: vs. Arlington, Foothill Tournament, Friday

Coach’s outlook: “We have the potential to be a good hitting team

with solid pitching,” Medure said. “If our defense improves, we

should be fighting for a playoff spot again. I like our chances. Our

kids believe that they can win any game, which hasn’t been the case

in the last couple of years. After last year, attitudes have changed.

We have confidence. We’ll need it. If we stay healthy, there is no

reason we can’t compete for the top spot again.”

Marina Vikings

League: Sunset

Head coach: Paul Renfrow (22nd year)

2004 overall record: 21-7

2004 league record: 9-6 (tied for 2nd)

2004 playoff results: Defeated Redlands East Valley (9-1); lost

second round to Long Beach Wilson (9-6) in Division I.

Last CIF title won: 2003

Last league title won: 1976

Returning starters: Justin Sellers (SS, first-team all-league,

Sr.); Patrick Murray (1B, first-team all-league DH, Sr.); Chris

Torres (OF/3B, Sr.).

Newcomers: Jimmy Cooper (P/1B, Sr.); Nick Plantz (P/OF, Sr.);

Torion Rayford (OF, Sr.); Luis Gonzalez (OF, Sr.); Nick Huey (P,

Sr.); Mike Olmsted (P, Sr.).

Season opener: home vs. La Mirada, 3:15 p.m. Friday, at Loara

Tournament.

Coach’s outlook: “We should be strong defensively with some

offensive punch,” Renfrow said. “Pitching is the key and the season

will determine our success. We should have a good year and with some

hard work, finish in the top three in league. The Sunset League is

always tough, but we have finished in the top three the past three

years. Our seniors need to provide leadership, and we can make the

playoffs four years in a row.”

Ocean View Seahawks

League: Golden West

Head coach: Aaron Kavanagh (2nd year)

Coaching staff: John Klein; Steve Christy

2004 overall record: 18-8

2004 league record: 9-3 (co-champion)

2004 playoff results: defeated Sonora (4-1); defeated Nogales

(12-4); lost to Crespi (3-2) in Division III quarterfinals.

Last CIF title won: 1998

Last league title won: 2004, 2003

Returning starters: Jeff Roth (P/OF/SS; 6-2 record; 1.14 ERA;

league MVP, Sr.); Alex Burnett (CF/P; Sr.); John Vega (RF/P, Sr.);

Jason Walker (INF/P, Sr.); Geoff Klein (C, Jr.); Matt Hughes (1B,

Sr.).

Key newcomers: James Kang (SS/P, transfer from Huntington Beach,

Jr.); Derek Martin (OF/P, Sr.); Marc Fernandez (3B, Sr.).

Season opener: at Garden Grove, Newport Elks Tournament, Friday.

Coach’s outlook: “I expect this team to compete game in, and game

out,” Kavanagh said. “We play a tough nonleague schedule. We play La

Quinta, Gahr, Westminster twice and Pacifica, plus the tough

tournament schedule and good competition out in Palm Desert during

spring break. We need to be able to score four or five runs a game,

and should have a competitive season.”