Coaches’ predicted order of finish
1. Tesoro: Every player returns from last year’s CIF finalist
2. Corona del Mar: Five starters are back for the defending Division IV champion
3. Northwood: Offensively fine but will need pitching to develop to return to the playoffs
4. Calvary Chapel: Another league team that has every starter returning
5. University: Pitching is fine, but the Trojans might have to scrap for runs
6. Laguna Beach: Defense and pitching appear steady, but Breakers might struggle offensively

Important dates
Friday-March 12, Loara Tournament (University); Friday-March 12, Newport Elks Tournament (Calvary Chapel, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Northwood, Tesoro); March 16, Tesoro at Aliso Niguel (doubleheader); March 21, Tesoro at Northwood; March 29, Tesoro at Corona del Mar; April 1, Tesoro at University; April 9-13, Big West Invitational (Northwood, University); April 12, Corona del Mar at Calvary Chapel; April 19, Northwood at Tesoro; April 20, Calvary Chapel at Laguna Beach; May 3, University at Calvary Chapel, Northwood at Corona del Mar; May 9, Corona del Mar at Tesoro; May 11, Tesoro at Corona del Mar;

Players to watch
Jeff Bolar (Laguna Beach, Sr., P-S); Mike Bonder (Northwood, Jr., P); Derek Craddock (Tesoro, Sr., P-1B); Eric Dowling (University, Sr., SS); Daniel Duhaime (Calvary Chapel, Sr., P); Bryan Evans (Tesoro, Sr., P-2B); John Ewing (Laguna Beach, Sr., OF-P); Andy Frenkiel (Corona del Mar, Sr., Ut.); Matt Gomez (University, Jr., C); Eric Hamren (Tesoro, Sr. OF-P)); Curtis Hill (Tesoro, Sr., 3B); Jeff Keller (Northwood, Sr., OF); Kevin Kelly (Laguna Beach, Jr., P-1B-C); Tyler Lance (Corona del Mar, Sr., 1B-3B); Jake Lemmerman (Corona del Mar, So., Inf); Sam Lew (Tesoro, Sr., 2B); Andrew Likens (Northwood, Jr., P); Ben Maggard (Corona del Mar, Sr., P); Mohan Martin (University, Jr., 1B); Matt Masaki (University, Sr., OF-P); Sean McDonald (Northwood, Sr., SS); Calvin Mead (Laguna Beach, Jr., OF-2B); Nick Nelson (Tesoro., Sr., OF); Shawn Pfendler (Laguna Beach, Sr., OF); Wess Presson (Corona del Mar, Sr., C-OF); Garrett Rauch (Laguna Beach, Jr., 3B-2B); Matt Rickerts (Calvary Chapel, Sr., P-2B); Kazuki Saito (University, So. P); Jeff Senters (Tesoro, Sr., P-SS); David Stout (Calvary Chapel, Sr., 1B); Dylan Tasher (Northwood, Sr., 3B); Steve Tinoco (Tesoro, Jr., C); Vinnie Valdez (Calvary Chapel, So., 3B); Jason Van Lueven (Northwood, Jr., 1B-P); Sean Williams (Calvary Chapel, So., 2B); Bryce Wilson (Calvary Chapel, So., C);

Noteworthy
Last year’s final standings: 1. Corona del Mar 25-5 overall, 15-0 league; 2. Tesoro 20-11, 11-4; 3. Northwood 20-11, 8-7; 4. University 14-13, 6-9; 5. Laguna Beach 5-16, 3-12; 6. Calvary Chapel 4-20, 2-13. ... The three league teams that qualified for the CIF-Southern Section Division IV playoffs advanced to at least the semifinals. Corona del Mar beat Northwood, 6-5, in the semifinals, and defeated Tesoro, 3-1, in the title game. ... The Pacific Coast League is a Division III league this season. ... Tesoro’s Craddock, Evans and were All-CIF Southern Section Division IV last season. Evans has signed with UC Davis. He was 8-5 last year. Hill batted .482 with 24 RBIs, and Craddock drove in 31 runs. Nelson drove in 22, and Tinoco hit .421. ... Presson drove in 25 runs for Corona del Mar. Lance batted .417 with 23 RBIs, and Frenkiel hit .444.

Northwood coach Rob Stuart’s prediction was straightforward. “We will finish fourth,” he said, “unless we overachieve. And we do have some overachieving guys.” Bonder was 3-2 and batted .340 in ’04. McDonald hit .400. ... University’s Martin batted .400 last year, and Saito was 5-1 and hit .330. ... Laguna Beach’s Bolar and Kelly give the Breakers a good 1-2 pitching duo. ... Calvary Chapel’s Stout and Wilson were second-team all-league in ’04.