BASEBALL PREVIEW: TALL TASK : ROYAL LOOKING TO 6-6 RICE FOR PITCHING HELP.

Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer

Scott Rice can throw hard. If he can throw near the plate, the Royal High baseball team will be tough to beat.

The senior left-hander characterizes what the Highlanders need if they are to repeat as Marmonte League champions: a good season on the mound.

``We have to find our pitching staff more than anything else,'' Royal coach Dan Maye said. ``A lot of question marks surround our pitching.''

The Highlanders lost their top two pitchers from last season with the graduation of Brett Wayne and Mike Byer. Rice is winless in his career at Royal, but his 6-foot-6 frame and a fastball that's been clocked in the 90s enticed colleges. Rice also plays first base and batted .344 last season. He signed with Arkansas.

``He's a potential kid that could have an outstanding year or go out and have another year to grow,'' Maye said. ``That's putting a lot of pressure on one player.

``If he has control, he can be very dominating, but in the past he's had problems where he's been more of a problem for himself than the batters are.

``It's hard to say what the expectations for him are. If he was a kid that went 7-0 last year, you'd expect him to build on that, but he hasn't won a game for us. You don't want to say he's going to carry our staff, he still has to prove himself.

``Down the line, he's going to be a premier pitcher because he does have all the tools. We'll have to see how long that takes.''

After Rice, the Highlanders pitch by committee.

Junior Doug Humphries is up from JV. The former third baseman started pitching during the summer when he realized the chances of beating out senior Bobby Egan at third were slim. The right-hander has developed faster than most of the staff, according to Maye, whose other pitchers are mainly finesse pitchers. Senior Brian D'Anna isn't overpowering but has good control. Joe Shanahan favors the curveball, and Robert O'Dell can throw batters off with his different windups.

``We've got good pitchers,'' catcher Buzz Byer said. ``We just need someone to step up and take control. I think they can do the job.''

Byer, a junior, is back for his third varsity season behind the plate. He had minor knee surgery in December, but said he's back at full strength.

Second baseman Anthony Gallo also had surgery during the offseason. He had shoulder surgery in the fall but recovered in time to play for the basketball team.

The entire infield had experience as at least part-time starters last season. The outfield is where the Highlanders are unproven.

Seniors Wes Martinelli and Ryan Wilson and junior Casy O'Quinn are slated to start in an outfield that lost all-leaguers Tony Ortega and Tyrone Kimbrough to graduation.

Egan and designated hitter/first baseman Brian Lippman combined for 19 home runs last year. They lead a capable offense, but the Highlanders' trademark is their defense. They believe it is good enough to keep them in the running with teams such as Thousand Oaks, Westlake and Agoura for the title.

``Defensively, I think we're going to be fine,'' Maye said.

``Normally we're not a real fast starting team. We concentrate on catching and throwing the ball a lot at the beginning of the season and the offense naturally comes along.''

ROYAL BASEBALL

Coach: Dan Maye.

1998: The Highlanders went 18-8 overall and won the Marmonte League title. They were eliminated in the second round of the Division I playoffs with an extra-inning loss to Crescenta Valley.

Top returners: Bobby Egan, Sr., 3B; Brian Lipman, Jr., 1B/DH; Buzz Byer, Jr., C; Scott Rice, Sr., P/1B; Derek O'Keefe, Sr., SS; Anthony Gallo, Jr., 2B.

Top newcomers: Doug Humphries, Jr., P; Robert O'Dell, Sr., P; Brian D'Anna, Sr., P.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO (Color) Scott Rice has potential but is winless in his Royal career.

Tina Gerson/Daily News

BOX: ROYAL BASEBALL (See text)