Lake teams looking to move up

The following is a look at the local teams and their chances of success this season. Non-league records are in parentheses.

Hillsdale (3-3)

After playing in the Bay Division two years ago, the Knights find themselves down in the Lake Division this season after a stop in the Ocean last year.

First-year coach Bobby Paul, a 1988 graduate of Hillsdale, is hoping to lay the foundation for the Knights to return to the top of the PAL pile.

"[I] heard that there were players here and a ton of potential," Paul said. "We can compete in the division we're in but you have to go out and prove to everyone that you're not that doormat. You have to prove you belong in those other divisions."

Hillsdale has six returning starters from last season and have a strong, experienced pitching staff. Senior Danny Murcia gives the Knights a legitimate No. 1 starter and when he's on, he can dominate.

"His experience and command of his pitches (makes him our top starter)," Paul said. "He's a smart pitcher."

When not pitching, Murcia plays in the outfield.

Yo Miamoto, a senior, starts games at shortstop but is also the first guy to take the mound in relief. He pitched well at times last year and like Murcia is at his best when he gets the ball over the plate.

Kevin Dunn is slated as the Knights' No. 2 pitcher with Jeff Outzen getting some time on the mound and Nick Alexander closing games.

Casey Gradwohl, a junior, gives the Knights some grit from his second base position.

"He plays the game the old fashioned way," Paul said. "He plays it hard, plays it fast and plays it 100 percent."

The biggest question mark comes at catcher where sophomore Chris Schindler has been tabbed to start. He's already making an impression.

"He's a young sophomore with a lot of pressure on him," Paul said. "So far, he's performing above his years. We see a lot potential."

Mills (1-2)

The Vikings' pitching staff should keep them in just about every game. They return two all-league selections in seniors Andrew Fanaika and Mark Pacheco, giving Mills a potent one-two combination.

"We have two pretty good pitchers," said first-year coach Tony Adornetto. "[Fanaika] gives his all every time he goes out. He's around the strike zone a lot. goes out and gets the job done."

Pacheco is also an imposing figure at the plate, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall.

Albee Filous is another all-league performer and the senior can play infield or outfield.

"This team has a lot of seniors," Adornetto said. "But our sophomore and freshmen class are pretty strong. The future looks bright."

That future is now with three sophomores and a junior cracking the starting lineup. Gary Hoem, a junior, takes over the second base job while sophomores Chris Del Bianco (center field), Lucas Hagberg (shortstop) and Tony Loeffler (catcher) are getting used to playing at the varsity level.

"They're pretty much full-time already," Adornetto said. "They're getting adjusted to a different (varsity) level, but they're doing very well."

The Vikings have played only three games during the non-league portion of their schedule so they're still trying to get their offense going.

"Our bats are a little slow right now," Adornetto said.

But he believes they'll be OK once the offense gets in gear.

"Our pitching should be (our) best (asset) and defense should be solid," Adornetto said. "If our hitting comes around, the team should be pretty good."

Sequoia (3-4)

The Cherokees could have the deepest pitching staff in the division. They have three quality starters in juniors Ben Maudlin, Ben Edelstein and Wade Reynoso, along with another handful of arms.

"We probably have six or seven guys that can pitch," said first-year coach Tink Reynoso.

Maudlin and Edelstein are the top two throwers, with Wade Reynoso giving the Cherokees a player that could be a No. 1 guy on other teams.

Edelstein and Wade Reynoso are also good with the bat. Edelstein is hitting in the No. 2 spot while Reynoso anchors the middle of lineup in the cleanup position.

"[Edelstein] is batting real well this year," Tink Reynoso said. "[Wade Reynoso] is the big stick."

When not pitching, Wade Reynoso plays the left side of the infield - third base or shortstop.

Senior Kyle Perry gives Sequoia a guy that can play a multitude of positions, though he'll concentrate on playing in the outfield and batting at the top of the order.

"He's a good, all-around athlete," Tink Reynoso said.

Will Klein is only a sophomore but he's already taken over at second base and blossomed early in the season, leading the Cherokees in hitting and blasting the team's only home run.

"I knew he played baseball," Tink Reynoso said. "The first day I saw him on the baseball field, I knew I had to bring him up (to the varsity)."

Two other seniors give the Cherokees some leadership and depth. Both Scotty Bassett (center field) and Steven Paulazzo (first base) shunned baseball last year to play golf, Tink Reynoso said.

"I'm glad they came out this year," he said.

Much like the Sequoia football team, the baseball squad suffers from a lack of bodies. Reynoso said he started out with 20 players but is now down to 13.

"I'm just hoping to get to .500 or better," he said.