BASEBALL PREVIEW: YOUNG INDIANS LOOK TO ERASE PAST : THEY HOPE PLAYOFF LOSS BEHIND THEM.

Byline: Brian Dalziel Daily News Staff Writer

The postseason expectations were high. Yet when Hart's third-seeded baseball team opened the Southern Section Division II playoffs last season with a devastating 9-7 loss to Villa Park, coach Bud Murray was stunned.

With the 1999 season about to begin, Murray still remembers that game and the date, May 22.

``It's behind me, but it left a bad taste in my mouth,'' he said. ``It was hard to handle.''

Murray hopes this season's young but talented Indians can provide the necessary support to rid him of that haunting playoff game.

``These kids just play,'' said Murray, whose team finished 24-4 overall and captured the Foothill League title in 1998.

``I played a lot of sophomores last year, so the nucleus of the team will be juniors. We have possibly two or three seniors starting and the rest are sophomores and juniors. But the juniors are pretty good athletes.''

Pitching is Hart's strength.

The Indians return five arms - all right-handers - including All-Foothill League selections Justin Wiley and Jamie Sheilds.

Wiley, a senior, was 5-0 with a 2.22 earned run average. Shields, a junior, was 8-2 with a team-best 1.79 ERA. Sophomore Eric Posthumas, who threw just one inning last season, will figure into the starting rotation.

Senior Tim Hutting and junior Matt Friedrichsen may start during tournaments, but will be mainly used in relief.

``They all have pretty good arms,'' Murray said. ``Most of them throw hard and and can change it up a bit.''

Defensively, Hart is solid.

Hutting, who hit .485 and drove in 26 runs, had 47 putouts and 32 assists at third base. But he moves to shortstop to fill the void left by J.T. Stotts, who is at Cal State Northridge.

Junior Ryan Haag, a .393 hitter, returns at second base and senior Tim Barasi, up from the junior varsity, is at third.

In the outfield, junior Marke Horvat returns to left. When they're not on the mound, Wiley and Friedrichsen will be used in the outfield. Sophomore Bill Susdorf will be used as part-time starter.

Junior Brandon Montemayor starts at catcher in place of returning starter John Bourg, who broke his wrist in a snowboarding accident and is out for the season. Montemayor played in 21 games a year ago, hitting .318 with 42 putouts and 11 assists. He will be backed up by freshman Chris Giordano.

Shields and senior Nolan Le Mar will switch off at first base, depending on the game situation.

``We have a nice group of kids and they work hard,'' Murray said. ``I wish I knew our weakness so I could start working on it right away. The more we play the better we're going to get.''

AT A GLANCE

Team: Hart High baseball.

Coach: Bud Murray (22nd season).

1998 record: 24-4 overall, 13-2 in Foothill (first place).

Key returners: Sr. Tim Hutting, SS/P (.485 ave., 26 RBI); Jr. Jamie Shields, P/1B (8-2, 1.79 ERA); Sr. Justin Wiley, P/OF (5-0, 2.22 ERA); Jr. Ryan Haag, 2B (.393 ave., 17 RBI).

Key loses: J.T. Stotts, SS (.429 ave., 26 RBI, 17 SB); Andy Davidson, P (10-2, 1.81 ERA).

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BOX: AT A GLANCE (See text)