Coaches' Predicted Finish
1. El Toro:Romine, Doyle and an experienced pitching staff make the Chargers the team to beat.
2. Foothill:Defending CIF-Southern Section Division II champion lost a lot to graduation, but some good seniors will fill roles.
3. Woodbridge:The Warriors probably have enough pitching to secure a playoff berth in this competitive league.
4. Trabuco Hills:Pitching will be fine, and if the bats come through the Mustangs will contend for the playoffs.
5. Huntington Beach:The Oilers will win their share of games and could be in the hunt for a playoff berth.
6. Northwood:The Timberwolves came into the season with an inexperienced roster that could improve weekly.
Important dates
Today, Foothill at El Toro, Woodbridge at Huntington Beach; Trabuco Hills at Northwood; March 28, Huntington Beach at El Toro, Northwood at Foothill, Trabuco Hills vs. Woodbridge at Windrow Park; April 30, El Toro vs. Woodbridge at Windrow Park; April 7-11, El Toro, Trabuco Hills, Woodbridge in Anaheim Lions Tournament, various sites; April 7-11, Northwood in Pride of the Coast Tournament, various sites; April 25, Huntington Beach at Northwood; April 27, El Toro vs. Woodbridge at Windrow Park; May 10, Foothill at El Toro, Woodbridge at Huntington Beach, Trabuco Hills at Northwood
Players to watch
Kyle Ammons (Huntington Beach, Sr., OF); Adam Arceneaux (Trabuco Hills, Sr., 3B); Greg Carter (Foothill, Sr., Inf); Sean Clarke (Huntington Beach, Jr., OF); Calvin Drummond (Huntington Beach, Jr., P); Ryan Doyle (El Toro, Sr., P/DH); Beau Graham (Woodbridge, Sr., P/3B); Sam Michaels (Woodbridge, Jr., 2B); Scott Ney (Trabuco Hills, Sr., 1B); John O'Dea (Trabuco Hills, Jr., C); Kyle Ohlwiler (El Toro, Sr., OF); Ben Owens (Northwood, Jr., Inf); James Parr (Woodbridge, Jr., 1B); Sean Parvin (Northwood, Sr., Inf); Nick Porrazzo (El Toro, Sr., SS); Clayton Prestridge (Huntington Beach, Jr., C); Austin Romine (El Toro, Sr., C/P); Mitch Rossi (Woodbridge, Sr., P/DH); Corey Schultz (Foothill, Jr., Inf); Dean Swisher (Foothill, Sr., Inf); Corey Thibault (Foothill, Sr., C); Matt Wagner (Trabuco Hills, Jr., SS); Jordan Watanabe (Northwood, Sr., C)
Notes
Last season's final standings: Foothill (22-4 overall, 14-1 league); 2. Woodbridge (15-10, 10-5); 3. Aliso Niguel (11-15, 7-8); 4. Laguna Hills (11-16, 6-9); 5. Newport Harbor (13-12, 6-9); 6. Irvine (4-21, 2-13). In the CIF-SS Division II playoffs, Foothill won the championship with a 4-3 victory over St. Francis of La Canada in an eight-inning game in the final at Angel Stadium. Woodbridge was eliminated in the first round. Aliso Niguel was eliminated in the wild-card round. The league has different membership this year. Aliso Niguel went to the South Coast League, Newport Harbor went to the Sunset League, and Irvine and Laguna Hills went to the Pacific Coast League. Joining the league are Trabuco Hills, which finished sixth in the South Coast League last season; El Toro, which finished second in the South Coast League; Huntington Beach, which finished fifth in the Sunset League; and Northwood, which finished in the three-way tie for first in the Pacific Coast League. El Toro's Romine signed with Arizona State, and the Chargers' Doyle signed with Arizona. Like them, Ohlwiler and Porrazzo were all-league in 2006. Foothill lost two '06 All-County players, Brad Boxberger and Sean Bonesteele, to graduation. Swisher was all-league last season when he batted .321. He is the only returning starter. Woodbridge's Graham posted a 6-4 record last season, and batted .362. Rossi was 5-2 with a 1.26 ERA. Trabuco Hills' Arceneaux drove in 17 runs while batting .306 in '06. Ney hit .333 with 13 RBIs. Ammons of Huntington Beach hit five home runs with a .367 batting average in '06. Drummond was 3-3. Parvin and Watanabe were all-league at Northwood last season. The Timberwolves are starting a few underclassmen.
