Skyline ready to be elite program

It's just the way Nomicos envisioned it when he took over the program.

"If you look at our wins in the last five years, we've won a lot more than Skyline has ever won," Nomicos said. "We're getting to be one of the better teams in the Coast Conference. People are a little more afraid of us.

"The bottom line is, we're developing our kids and sending them on to four-year colleges. We're turning guys away now, which we never used to do. We're making a name for ourselves."

The last several years the Trojans were known as a team that could bash the baseball offensively, but usually had to out-score teams to be successful. This season, Nomicos believes the Trojans' pitching will take center stage. Joe Dieterle (Capuchino) and Danny Orlick (San Mateo) return. They will be joined by freshman Greg Gonzalez (Capuchino), Jesse Orozco (Capuchino), Taylor Larson (Serra) and Aaron Bjorkquist (Sacred Heart Cathedral), who has already signed a letter-of-intent to play at Niagra University next season.

Orozco was the Peninsula Athletic League's Bay Division Player of the Year last season and was a dominant high school pitcher. He is slated as only the Trojans' No. 3 starter. The biggest surprise is Gonzalez, who played mostly shortstop for the Mustangs last season. He has already added about 3 mph to his fastball since September, touching the low 90s on the radar gun. He will start Skyline's opener against Barstow Friday.

"I was hoping he would (be No.1)," Nomicos said. "I think he is going to be one of the premier pitchers in the next couple of years."

Orlick redshirted last year and is slated to start the first game of a doubleheader Saturday against Barstow. Nomicos said Orlick has gotten bigger and stronger. That combined with the wicked movement he gets on the ball with his sidearm delivery has Nomicos believing Orlick is ready to take the next step.

Matt Maggiolo (Serra), Nick Gorman (Riordan), Sam Matulich (Santa Rosa), Sergio Contreras (South City) and David Parshall (Marshall-SF) round out the pitching staff.

"I think we'll be able to use seven to eighth pitchers consistently, which I haven't been able to do before," Nomicos said. "I think we've always been one of the better hitting clubs over the years and we play pretty good defense. We just haven't had the depth at pitching."

Skyline should again be solid defensively. Catcher Matt Lucchesi returns to anchor the pitching staff and provide leadership. Newcomers include Jimmy Parque (Serra), who takes over in right field, Jarrod Esquibel (Bellarmine) mans center field and left field will be patrolled by Rashad Taylor (Riordan), who redshirted last season. Parque will also see some time on the mound in relief appearances, but Nomicos doesn't plan on using him every day.

"I need him more defensively," Nomicos said.

The Trojans have experience at the corners with Matt Andreoli (Concord) returning to man third base while Ricky Molina (El Camino) takes over the first base duties. The middle of the infield is manned by freshmen -- Geoff Downing (Half Moon Bay) is at shortstop and Yuta Miyamoto, a transfer from a junior college in Texas, is the new second baseman.

"We have a really solid defensive unit this year," Nomicos said.

The Skyline bench is also as strong as Nomicos has had in his seven years, saying most of the guys can play multiple positions.

"We have quality guys on the bench that can help us out," Nomicos said. "I don't have any problem putting any of them in at any time."

Nomicos knows the Trojans' reputation precedes them and they know that they get the best shots from their opponents. Nomicos relishes the situation his team is in and is ready to take the next step.

"I took over a program that was 2-42 before I got there. You weren't even getting second-tier kids," Nomicos said. "Now, out of the 10 kids I went after, we got eight.

Now I think we can consistently be one of the best teams in the state. It's easy to be in the top 25. We want to be a top-10 team."