Serra gears up for WCAL play

"No one even knows who we are," said Serra coach Pete Jensen.

But on closer inspection, a lot of the players that keyed Serra's run to a league title are back. Doug Hansen, who served as a designated hitter and an outfielder, moves to his natural position of catcher. Jesse Lehane returns at first base, Ken Turner is at second while Jimmy Parque and Giorgio Lavezzo hold down center and left fields, respectively.

Scott Sobczak is slated to be one of the Padres' top hurlers, along with Brian Belli. Those two may have been footnotes who toiled in the shadow of Chuck Lofgren last season, but both took the mound in key games last season. That experience should do wonders for their confidence.

"In our league, any experience is a big plus," Jensen said. "Kids don't really mature until they play in our league. There's nothing that compares to playing in the WCAL. Getting them to pitch in the WCAL as juniors prepares them for their senior seasons."

Both are right-handed pitchers with different styles. Sobczak is the more traditional, over-the-top pitcher, while Belli comes at batters from a number of different arm slots.

Offensively, the Padres have to manufacture runs and can't just rely on the long ball as they have the past couple of seasons. The Serra lineup is filled with guys who can make contact and should do well in the situational hitting department.

Hansen was the team's leading hitter last season and bats in the cleanup spot. Lavezzo, who is coming off an injury, returned to the lineup Saturday against Burlingame and rapped out two hits. Jimmy Parque, the No. 3 hitter, has gap power and the speed to turn doubles into triples if given the opportunity.

"I think we're a different team offensively than we have been in the past," Jensen said. "We don't have a lot of power. Hopefully, we'll execute offensively and score runs more the traditional way - getting hits and moving runners up and moving them over. We don't have the home run potential that we've had."

Two seniors - Martin Riego De Dios and Tim Galvin - will platoon at third base and designated hitter this season. Both saw playing last season and should see a significant increase this year.

Newcomers include shortstop Jon Karcich and right fielder Brett Hart, both juniors.

So, what does Jensen see as the key to Serra's success, which begins today at home against St. Ignatius?

"Pitching and defense. Which is what everyone says," he said. "Defensively, we're probably as good as we've been in a while. If we pitch well, I think we'll win."

Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.