Friday, March 18, 2005 | 10:20 a.m.
Basic WOLVES
Baseball
Last year: 17-8, lost in Sunrise quarterfinals Coach: Mike Kazek (7th year)
Past state championships: 1987, 1982, 1956, 1955
Key players: Kyle Bondurant (SS, Sr.); Casey Cochran (P,Sr.); A.J. Montano (OF, Sr.)
Outlook: Kazek has a short bench this year, with just 13 players on the roster. But he returns pitcher Casey Cochran and his 2.92 2004 ERA, and first baseman Zeke Roybal, who hit .407 with nine HR and 37 RBIs last season.
Softball
Last year: 7-19
Coach: Melanie Ust (1st year)
Past state championships: None
Key players: Andrea Parke (1B, Sr.); Amanda Henry (2B/ OF, Jr.); Aaren Fisher (P, So.)
Outlook: Just four seniors will carry this year's Basic squad, which has three players coming off shoulder surgery. The Wolves look very sound defensively but could struggle at the plate.
Canyon Springs PIONEERS
Baseball
Last year: First-year school.
Coach: Cory Ash
Key players: Tony Carrillo (3B, Jr.); Dennis Parker (OF, Jr.); Andy Sadler (P, Jr.)
Outlook: The Pioneers have been error-prone this year, but former Valley coach Ash thinks the team will jell by the end of the season. In this year's Northeast, anything's possible.
Softball
Last year: First-year school.
Coach: Don Norstrom
Key players: Amanda Bowler (P, So.); Geneviev Zupkosfka) (SS, Jr.); Jessica Guerra (3B/P, Fr.)
Outlook: It's a typical first-year effort for Canyon Springs, which will look to build from this year's experiences to succeed next year. Bowler will be the key.
Chaparral COWBOYS
Baseball
Last year: 13-15, lost in Sunrise first round
Coach: Calvin Valvo
Past state championships: 1991, 1980
Key players: Not Available
Outlook: Valvo, a longtime Cimarron-Memorial coach, will try to resuscitate a struggling program.
Softball
Last year: 14-7, lost in Sunrise first round
Coach: Craig Deputy (3rd year)
Past state championship: 1983
Key players: Michelle Ralston (CF, Sr.); Miranda Etheridge (P, Sr.); Chelsea Rickling (C, Sr.).
Outlook: Deputy has some strong seniors, plus junior Kayla Whalen, who is 3-0 already this year. Rickling, with a .979 fielding average, is in her fourth year as catcher.
Coronado COUGARS
Baseball
Last year: 17-13 Coach: Mike O'Rourke (2nd year) Past state championships: None Key players: Matt Plese (1B, Sr.); Carmen Romano (C, So.); Trevor Clausen (P, Jr.) Outlook: The Cougars struggled in league play last season. Despite a young lineup again this year, they're a popular pick among Southeast coaches.
Softball
Last year: 24-10, lost in Sunrise semifinals Coach: Shari Zeigler (4th year) Past state championships: None Key players: Brittany Loisel (2B, Sr.); Nyshele Miller (P, Jr.) Outlook: Zeigler carries just 12 players on a team with a fair amount of youth. Most think the Cougars will be competitive in a tough Southeast Division.
Del Sol DRAGONS
Baseball Last year: First-year school. Coach: Zenon Brooks Key players: Not available Softball Last year: First-year school. Coach: Cindy Dinkel Key players: Erin Miller (C, Fr.); Lisa Kosinski (SS, Jr.); Laurie Kosinski (P, So.) Outlook: Yet another Del Sol girls program won't carry a B or JV team this year. Experience is an issue.
Desert Pines JAGUARS
Baseball
Last year: 8-18
Coach: Clint Huggins (3rd year)
Past state championships: None
Key players: Humberto Rodarte (SS, Sr.); Pat Ricci (1B, Jr.); David Kennedy (P/Util., Sr.)
Outlook: The Jags play this year with a short bench -- just 10 players comprise the varsity lineup.
Softball
Last year: 8-8, lost in Sunrise first round
Coach: Andrew Risheg (1st year)
Past state championships: None
Key players: Alesha Wells (C, Sr.); Kristina Brooks (P, Jr.); Jessica Howard (1B, Sr.)
Outlook: Brooks is one of the city's best pitchers.
Eldorado SUNDEVILS
Baseball
Last year: 22-8, lost in Sunrise quarterfinals
Coach: Anthony Medellin (8th year)
Past state championships: 1990
Key players: Anthony Griffith (SS, Sr.); Michael Jett (P, Sr.); Josh Creveling (P, Jr.)
Outlook: Eldorado has a fair amount of experience, including Northeast player of the year Griffith.
Softball
Last year: 18-16, lost in Sunrise Region quarterfinals
Coach: Tyler McCulloch (1st year)
Past state championships: None
Key players: Jaime Larsen (C, Sr.); Jasmine Pickett (P, Fr.)
Outlook: The Sundevils have a healthy mix of old (nine returning players) and young (three freshmen and five sophomores). Larsen is a top players.
Foothill FALCONS
Baseball
Last year: 18-17, lost in Sunrise championship
Coach: Bill Bainbridge (1st year)
Past state championships: None
Key players: Scott Lamborn (SS, Sr.); Kevin Kreier (P, Jr.); Chadd Dudley (C/Util., Sr.)
Outlook: This is a team with a lot of experience from last year's playoff run, and includes C/1B Matt Sexton, a transfer from Green Valley.
Softball
Last year: 14-21, lost in Sunrise quarterfinals
Coach: Tom Mayes (2nd year)
Past state championships: None
Key players: Vanessa Stevenson (3B, Jr.); Ashley Nill (P, Jr.); Holly Gerhardt (OF, Jr.)
Outlook: A mostly 10th- and 11th-grade team, Foothill did win one game in the playoffs last year and looks for more success this season.
Green Valley GATORS
Baseball
Last year: 24-9, lost in Sunrise Region semifinals
Coach: Nick Garritano (7th year)
Past state championships: 2003, 2001, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993
Key players: Ryan Foley (SS, Sr.); Greg Krause (P, Sr.); Ryan Heroy (1B, Sr.) Outlook: The state's most dominant program of the past decade brings back a great infield, returning four starters, but a less experienced rotation. Senior Greg Krause leads the Gators on the mound.
Softball
Last year: 17-4, lost in Sunrise Region semifinals.
Coach: Mary Scales (3rd year)
Past state championships: None
Key players: Jenn O'Dell (IF, Sr.); Meaghan Haley (P, Sr.); Bonnie Trigero (1B, Jr.)
Outlook: Green Valley squad did very well last year, and has that much more experience this season.
Las Vegas WILDCATS
Baseball
Last year: 22-8, lost in Sunrise quarterfinals
Coach: Sam Thomas (6th year)
Past state championships: 1971, 1968
Key players: Shane Gammon (IF, Sr.); Andrew Pluta (P, Jr.); Josh Chasse (P/OF, Jr.)
Outlook: An inexperienced team. Pluta, their most experienced pitcher this season, was on the mound for just 11 innings last year.
Softball
Last year: 26-10, lost in Sunrise finals
Coach: Kevin Jones (5th year)
Past state championships: 1982
Key players: Alicia Delatorre (SS, Jr.); Giovanna Guzman (P, Jr.)
Outlook: The rest of the Northeast has gained a bit on the team that went 9-1 in league play last year, but Vegas still figures to be the team to beat.
Liberty PATRIOTS
Baseball
Last year: 3-27
Coach: Kris Jensen
Past state championships: None
Key players: Reyn Ohye (SS, Sr.); Anthony Reveles (C, Jr.).
Outlook: Ohye, a second-team all-region shortstop, hit .452 with a .712 slugging percentage. The Patriots might not make the playoffs, but should win 10.
Softball
Last year: 2-20
Coach: Anthony Elliott (1st year)
Past state championships: None
Key players: Melissa Juarez (C/SS, Jr.); Rebecca Winkel (P, Sr.); Megan Lundwall (3B, Jr.)
Outlook: Liberty brings on former Eldorado coach Anthony Elliott as the school looks for its first ever playoff berth in any sport.
Rancho RAMS
Baseball
Last year: 7-18 , lost in Sunrise first round.
Coach: David Anderson (1st year)
Past state championships: 1976, 1974, 1973, 1969, 1965, 1961, 1960, 1959
Key players: Not Available
Softball
Last year: 4-22
Coach: Cheryl Perry
Past state championships: 1980, 1977
Key players: Not Available
Silverado SKYHAWKS
Baseball
Last year: 13-17, won Sunrise championship, lost in state semifinals
Coach: Brian Whitaker (11th year)
Past state championships: 2000
Key players: Kyle Bostick (C/Util., Jr.); Chad Robinson (P, Jr.); Rance Roundy (INF, Jr.)
Outlook: Silverado returns much of the strength that brought it to the state tournament.
Softball
Last year: 24-12, Sunrise Region Champions
Coach: Steve Hodges (2nd year)
Past state championships: None
Key players: Kelly Griego (P, Sr.); Amanda Edmonson (C, So.); Jessie Rivas (P, Jr.)
Outlook: Griego hit .441 with 30 RBIs last year while leading the Skyhawks with 15 wins, 143 strikeouts.
Valley VIKINGS
Baseball
Last year: 8-19-2
Coach: Gary Findley (1st year)
Past state championships: 1989, 1988, 1986, 1985, 1983, 1981, 1970
Key players: Not available
Softball
Last year: 10-12
Coach: Leslie Samson
Past state championships: None.
Key players: Not available
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