Local players and coaches are dusting off the horsehide for a
run at a league title
Although league play won’t get underway until March 6, all of
the baseball teams in the Tri County Athletic League kicked off the
nonleague portion of their schedules this week in preparation for
the upcoming season.
And although no one knows how the games will play out, most
coaches agree that Palma, with its nine returning All-League
starters and offensive firepower, is the team to beat
– at least on paper.
Local players and coaches are dusting off the horsehide for a run at a league title
Although league play won’t get underway until March 6, all of the baseball teams in the Tri County Athletic League kicked off the nonleague portion of their schedules this week in preparation for the upcoming season.
And although no one knows how the games will play out, most coaches agree that Palma, with its nine returning All-League starters and offensive firepower, is the team to beat – at least on paper.
“They’ve got four guys that hit over .450 last year,” said Gilroy Coach Clint Wheeler. “We know that they’ll hit. Whether they can pitch and play defense is still to be seen.”
On Monday, the Chieftains proved they could do all three after picking up a 26-0 win over Soledad to kick off their 2006 campaign.
Locally, the defending league Acorns from Live Oak appear to have an edge when it comes to pitching after picking up two private-school transfer students to compliment the team’s already strong staff.
Gilroy High has enough skilled players at the core positions to do well. And San Benito High, with returning pitcher Breyon Canez and second-baseman Karson Klauer should also surprise some teams.
Another local school that will be competing at the varsity level for the first time this year is Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill. Unfortunately for Bulldogs fans, it could be a long season, as Morgan Hill’s newest high school has a roster that is made up of mostly freshman and sophomore athletes.
“It’s definitely going to be a struggle,” said Sobrato High coach Shorty Gutierrez. “It’s a young group that we’re trying to built for the future. We’re on a four-year plan. Our goal is to improve each game and make sure that we don’t end up at the bottom of the tough TCAL division.”
Despite the lack of experience, the Bulldogs have two juniors on the team who will be relied on heavily for leadership on the field – Tim Buich and Bryan Yates. Both stand about 6-foot-3 and show a lot of promise. Yates will play first base and pitcher and Buich will see the bulk of his time at third base as well as on the mound. Both are right-handers.
“Tim is a quality pitcher. He’ll give me steady innings. He does the little things right and has a steady glove,” Gutierrez said. “These two guys are going to be the big sticks in the lineup and will bat three and four. Yates is like a wall defensively. He also plays hockey so he brings that personality with him to the games.”
Gilroy
Gilroy High has finished in second place in the league in six of the last seven seasons. Improving on that will be difficult as the Mustangs lost 11 athletes to graduation last May. But that isn’t discouraging Clint Wheeler, who believes his team has enough skills to surprise a lot of teams this year.
“We’re not getting any respect at all,” said Wheeler, whose teams have lost to Valley Christian the last two years in the opening round of the section playoffs. “But our goal is to win a league championship and go further in the CCS (Central Coast Section) playoffs. I hope to get to the third round. We’re picked to come in fifth but we’ll surprise some people.”
The strength of the Mustangs this year is expected to be team defense.
One player that will be a major factor in Gilroy’s defensive prowess is Drew Andersen. Last year Andersen had an impressive .980 fielding percentage, was a First Team All-League player and also batted .300.
This year, the three-year varsity player will pitch and play shortstop. A year ago, Andersen saw the bulk of his time at shortstop but did get four starts pitching late in the season, and started the team’s lone CCS playoff game.
This season Wheeler wants to keep Andersen at shortstop while utilizing his pitching skills sparingly in save situations.
“We hope to use him as a closer, not a starter, because he’s so valuable defensively in the field for us at shortstop. I personally think that he’s the best shortstop in the league,” he said. “He’s a typical coach’s son. He’s very smart.”
Andersen’s father, Alan, coaches the Gilroy High Junior Varsity team.
When Andersen is on the mound, he will be working closely with another top player for Gilroy High – four-year varsity starting catcher Chris Hernandez.
“He’s a great catcher. He blocks well,” Wheeler said. “He’s got a great arm too.”
And this year Hernandez is also expected to be a team leader in the hitting department. During the off season, the 5-foot-10, 205-pounder has worked out and bulked up, which is why his coach believes that he is poised for a breakout year in the batter’s box.
“I’m projecting him to be our No. 3 hitter,” Wheeler said. “He always hits about .300, but that upset him because he knows that he is capable of more.”
The Mustangs will have speed in centerfield again this season with the return of Josh Sterling. Sterling is a three-year varsity player with the ability to put the ball in play. Wheeler will have him leading off again this season.
“He’s a contact guy but he’s also got some pop,” said Wheeler of his 5-foot-9, 155-pound player. “He can drag bunt and he can go the other way.”
San Benito
The Balers picked up a 6-0 win at Westmont High in Campbell on Monday to kick off their season. But after losing 10 players to graduation last May and with only two returning players on the roster from last season, the Balers could struggle a bit. Last year SBHS tied Gilroy High for second place.
Fortunately for San Benito High, those two returnees are left-handed hurler Canez and Klauer, who will shift from third base to second this season.
Last season Canez went 5-2 on the hill and posted a 2.0 earned-run average in league. He is expected to be the dominant force on the Balers staff again this season.
“He throws in the low 80s, but he has a lot of movement,” said Baler coach Mike Luna. “He throws all three pitches for strikes. We feel good when he’s on the hill.”
Although his pitches aren’t overpowering, his movement and placement of his pitches has drawn interest from St. Mary’s College, San Jose State, and the University of San Francisco.
Klauer, who is expected to also play baseball in college, is shifting to second base because it will help accentuate his skills for potential scouts.
“At the next level, he’s more of a middle guy,” said Luna, who will bat the senior in the team’s No. 3 slot. “He expects a lot of good things and the team expects a lot of good things out of him as well.”
Last fall, Klauer quarterbacked the Balers varsity football team to a CCS championship. Because of his live arm, Luna hinted at the notion that Klauer, who pitched when he played Babe Ruth ball, “may see some time on the hump” this year.
Canez’s younger brother Zach, a sophomore, appears to have broken into the varsity lineup for good this year. Although he’s 5-foot-8 the developing sophomore can throw the ball nearly as fast as his brother and is expected to see some time on the hill as well as at shortstop.
Last year, Travis Ross saw the bulk of his playing time as an outfielder and designated hitter when the Balers needed an offensive spark but this season he will be the team’s starting catcher.
“He caught his freshman and sophomore year,” Luna said. “He’s done a real good job for us so far. I’m pleased by his progress. Heading into the season pitching and catching were my biggest concerns. There’s still a lot to be answered but the progress has been good. We’re still going to compete for a league title. If our pitching shapes up, I like our chances.”
