HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / LEAGUE PREVIEWS : City Section : NORTH VALLEY

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Jared Mills So. P Brandon Williams Jr. P Max Santillian Fr. 3B Alfonso Hernandez Jr. OF/C Marc Kropfl Jr. OF

OUTLOOK

Seven starters return from a team that struggled in 1994. The Cavaliers' strength is up the middle, with Brignac--who stars in football, basketball and baseball--and Roth. Mills, a transfer from Crespi, is expected to bolster the pitching staff. Santillian will start at third.

Granada Hills

'94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 16-8 11-6

COACH YEAR Darryl Stroh 26th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Jimmy Landress Sr. CF Josh Goldberg Sr. P Jarrett Gold Sr. C Jarrod Penwarden Jr. C Adrian Torres Jr. OF John Bolyard Jr. P Nick Pikor Sr. 3B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Brian MacLean Sr. P/OF Fernando Pattison Sr. OF

OUTLOOK

The Highlanders may go as far as Landress and Goldberg can take them, possibly to the conference championship and deep into the playoffs. Landress, who gave up football after last season to concentrate on baseball, hit .443 with four home runs and 26 RBIs. Goldberg (8-5, 2.49 ERA) and Bolyard (5-2, 1.82) are experienced starters.

Kennedy

'94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 17-11 10-7

COACH YEAR Manny Alvarado 7th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS George Kassis Sr. P/1B Kevin Serr Sr. C David Sato Jr. P/SS Terrmel Sledge Sr. CF Aldo Pinto Jr. 3B Andy Montes Sr. OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Jon Garland So. 1B/P Lino Gonzalez Sr. INF Nick Intenzo Jr. OF Gary Medrano Jr. OF Derek Morse Jr. P Mike Ramirez Jr. 2B

OUTLOOK

The Golden Cougars may be one of the most-improved teams and could challenge for a league title. Serr (.427, four home runs, 41 RBIs), Sledge (.342) and Kassis are all established players. Serr was the only junior named to The Times' All-Valley first team. Kassis pitched only 15 1/3 innings, but is ready to be the ace of the staff. Several players from the junior varsity will help fill any holes.

San Fernando

'94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 6-20 5-12

COACH YEAR Dan Heim 2nd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Javier Barragan Sr. SS/P Carlos Jimenez Sr. C Angel Hernandez Sr. CF Danny Rodriguez Sr. 1B

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Julio Sandoval Jr. P Fernando Martin Sr. 2B Javier Navarro Jr. OF/DH Julian Puentes Sr. P

OUTLOOK

The Tigers have the offense to keep up with the rest of the conference teams but their lack of pitching depth may prove fatal. Sandoval was 6-1 for the junior varsity and Barragan may be used as a closer. Puentes, a transfer from Quartz Hill, may help. Several players will switch positions. Jimenez started at first base last season and Rodriguez was a designated hitter.

WEST VALLEY

Birmingham

'94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 15-14 10-7

COACH YEAR Rick Weber 2nd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Pedro Rodriguez Sr. OF/P Jimmy Uline Sr. C Lionel Villareal Sr. SS Jason Barbanell Sr. 1B Hector Garcia Jr. OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Alberto Flores So. P/1B Facundo Barrera So. 3B Ronny Reynosa So. 2B Henry Salas So. OF Fernando Centeno Jr. P/OF Andres Ycaza Jr. P/UT

OUTLOOK

The Braves will be inexperienced, not a preferred way to begin their first season in the Northwest Valley Conference, even if they were Mid-Valley League champions. Rodriguez stole 18 bases and was an All-City selection. The pitching staff will be bolstered by the arrival of Centeno and Ycaza, exchange students from Ecuador. Flores, Barrera, Reynosa and Salas all excelled for the junior varsity.

Chatsworth

'94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 28-5 16-1

COACH YEAR Tom Muesborn 6th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Rod Daryabigi Sr. 2B Ray Daryabigi Sr. CF/P Harry Kenoi Sr. P Oscar Bocanegra Sr. P Tony Ardito Sr. C Danny Phillips Jr. 3B Kirby Faciane Jr. RF Fred Farzaneh Sr. P/DH

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Jon Tucker Sr. 1B Joe Tillmon Jr. SS

OUTLOOK

The Chancellors return three starters from a team that pushed El Camino Real to nine innings in the 4-A championship game. The returnees will be bolstered by the addition of Tucker (.370), a transfer from Alemany. Kenoi did not pitch last season after suffering an arm injury but he's fully recovered and should be the strongest pitcher. If Kenoi falters, Bocanegra, who pitched five scoreless innings in relief in the championship game, is more than capable.

El Camino Real

'94 RECORD OVERALL LEAGUE 23-7 11-6

COACH YEAR Mike Maio 13th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS Gavin Bible Jr. 3B Roee Meisels Jr. 3B/SS Marvin Jones Sr. OF

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS Steve Nelsojvn Sr. SS/2B Byron Carnes Jr. 2B Matt Cowie Jr. 1B Allan Takagi Sr. P Nick Lombard Jr. OF Shaun Fishman So. P Raymond LeDuck So. C David Rusch Jr. C

OUTLOOK