PREP BASEBALL 1992: CENTURY LEAGUE

Santa Ana Valley

1991 RECORDS: OVERALL: 10-16 LEAGUE: 7-8

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL Herschel Musick: 269-228-2

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Rick Crosby So. P-1B R-R Armando Cueva Sr. P-OF L-L Brian Lee Sr. C R-R Martin Ortega Jr. 2B-SS R-R Jose Sandoval Sr. SS-2B R-R

TOP RETURNERS: None

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Jose Bernal Sr. OF R-R Cesar Correa Jr. OF-3B R-R Frank Castro Jr. 3B-P R-R Noel Manzo So. OF R-R

OUTLOOK

The Falcons could challenge for the league title this season; they have a good group of returners and some talented newcomers, plus a veteran coach. The infield is solid, with three returning starters. The pitching is strong, with Cueva, a first-team all-league selection, and Crosby, a talented sophomore. Crosby was 5-2 with a 2.81 earned-run average last season. “If those two guys stay healthy, we’ll be strong,” Musick said. There also is plenty of experience in the field and at the plate. Lee, a third-year starter, hit .324 with 14 runs batted in last season. Ortega drove in 19 runs and was a second-team pick. Sandoval, a first-team pick, had a .333 batting average and led the team with 22 hits. Cueva hit .386 and had 17 RBIs. But the outfield is questionable, as Cueva is the only returning starter. Correa, the most valuable player on the junior varsity; Manzo, the MVP of the sophomore/freshman team, and Bernal, a first-year player, will compete for starting spots. “If they come around, we’ll have a solid team,” Musick said.