CAMARILLO PRIMED TO FLEX ITS MUSCLES AFTER SUCCESSFUL SEASON IN 2000, SCORPIONS APPEAR EVEN BETTER.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

If a team loaded with underclassmen can bring a program's first berth in the Southern Section quarterfinals in 15 years, surely it can do more when the players are older.

That's what opponents of the Camarillo High baseball team fear. The Scorpions, who went 24-7 in 2000, have the nucleus of last season's overachieving young lineup back to form a team that enters the season ranked No. 1 in the region by the Daily News.

``We have more experience. Everyone's more mature than last year, they've grown and they're stronger than last year,'' said Camarillo sophomore Delmon Young, who is one of the biggest reasons for the Scorpions' bright outlook.

Young is coming off a season in which he batted .460 with 40 RBI. He has added power and is also expected to pitch more often this season. He is joined by fellow All-Ventura County selections Jimmy Alstot, Brad Boyer and Jacob Medina as well as three other returning starters.

Alstot is a senior right-hander who signed with UC Irvine. Center fielder J. D. Peterson is one of the area's fastest players and a reliable hitter in the No. 3 slot. Senior second baseman Davey Kamatsu and senior third baseman Jeff Hamilton combine with Boyer, a junior shortstop, to provide a more experienced infield than last season.

Catching is one of the team's few uncertainties. However, it's hardly a problem compared to last year, when the team had to replace five all-county players from the previous season.

The Scorpions have won at least 20 games five of the past six years. A lineup loaded with .400-plus hitters should ensure another 20-win season for the defending Pacific View League champions.

``These guys are excited,'' Camarillo coach Scott Cline said. ``They're looking to win. They expect to win.''

Among those challenging Camarillo for regional supremacy is defending Marmonte League champion Westlake.

Seniors Tyler Adamczyk and Mike Nickeas are ranked among Baseball America's top 100 prospects in the country and the Warriors are loaded with others who should be among the area's elite.

Senior Ryan McCarthy, who takes over at shortstop, is being recruited by Division I schools and outfielder Luke Riordan has already signed with Cal State Northridge.

Nickeas committed to Georgia Tech and is entering his fourth season as the starting catcher. He batted .422 and threw out 12 of 16 runners last season. He will be working with one of the region's best pitching staffs.

Adamczyk, a right-hander who was the 2000 Daily News Player of the Year and has signed with Cal, returns as the ace of the staff. He went 8-1 with a 1.38 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 56 innings as a junior. Senior Chris White is ready to fill the hole left by the graduation of Jesse Kozlowski. He is joined by returning juniors Justin Blaine and Tyler Carr, who are capable of contributing as starters or relievers. McCarthy is the closer.

``Those five guys will be extremely legit,'' Nickeas said. ``We've got some guys that can hit, but I think our pitching's gonna save us a lot. I think our pitching's the best it's ever been at Westlake.''

The Warriors don't have a monopoly on the league's quality pitchers, though.

Simi Valley is counting on senior right-hander Jered Weaver to anchor the staff in its rising program. Shane Heid emerged as Newbury Park's ace during a solid summer, and Royal of Simi Valley received a boost when senior right-hander Jason Urquidez transferred from Chaminade of West Hills. The Highlanders also have 6-foot-4 senior right-hander Dan Fischer, who was ineligible most of last season. He's capable of being one of the area's dominating starters.

``They've always got the hitting,'' Cline said of the Highlanders. ``Now they've got the pitching. They should be really tough.''

The Foothill League race should be even tighter.

Hart of Newhall's reign atop the league could be threatened by a variety of teams.

Valencia struggled in league play and missed the playoffs last year, although it finished 18-8 overall. A consistent season from senior outfielder/pitcher Richie Martin and a solid core of returnees led by hot-hitting junior shortstop Jimmy Rohan are key for a team determined not to repeat its league woes.

Senior left-hander Chris Seddon is enough to make Canyon a playoff contender; his overpowering fastball and hard slider are that good. However, he's also surrounded by a capable group that will hit for a lot more power than it did a year ago.

This is the season Burroughs of Burbank has been building for and Saugus' first-year coach Casey Burrill has rejuvenated his program, so neither the Indians nor Centurions will be taken lightly.

However, to dethrone Hart, opponents must overcome a deep Indians pitching staff. Senior Eric Pothumus, who went 8-0 with a 1.61 ERA last season, anchors a staff of five returnees. Among the others are senior Phil Tognetti and last season's Foothill MVP Billy Susdorf. The UCLA-bound Susdorf had a school-record 10 saves as a junior. When he isn't pitching, he is a top hitter (.476, 40 RBI) and an outfielder with a strong arm.

``It's gonna be a dogfight,'' Hart coach Jim Ozella said. ``There are four or five good teams. There is a lot of talent. This is only my second year in the league, but there are some people I know who've told me this is the toughest it's ever been.

``That means every game you've gotta be ready, you can't think you're too good.''

In the Mission League, Chaminade has a good chance to end Crespi of Encino's streak of three consecutive league titles. The Eagles are no longer the young, inexperienced club that surprised some with a strong run in the playoffs.

Left-hander Bobby Paschal emerged as Chaminade's ace as a sophomore and continued to dominate while leading the Eagles' American Legion team to the state final during the summer. Right-handers T.J. Franco and Sean Clark can be just as effective.

If senior outfielder Erik Johnson can avoid his usual slow start when he joins the team after basketball season, the well-rounded Eagles will be tough to beat.

Crespi poses the biggest threat but doesn't have the pitching it has had in recent years.

Pitching and a much-improved defense is what gives Calabasas hope it can contend with Santa Paula and Nordhoff in the Coyotes' final season in the Frontier League. Calabasas has eight potential pitchers.

Junior Justin Segal spent the past two seasons as the Coyotes' No. 2 starter behind Tony Sulser. Segal is ready to take over as the ace now that Sulser has moved on to Arizona. Junior Brad Schultz is coming off a 5-0 season and sophomore John Henry Jacobs gives Calabasas a hard-throwing closer.

In the Pacific League, Crescenta Valley will rely heavily on hard-throwing 6-foot-5 junior right-hander Kris Krise. However, how well a young defense behind him develops will determine the team's fate in an improved league. In recent seasons, the Falcons battled defending champion Arcadia for supremacy in the league, but Glendale and Hoover of Glendale cannot be overlooked this year.

The Golden League is also in for a change.

With the graduation of Matt Harrington at defending league-champion Palmdale, a group of sluggers from runner-up Highland, Lancaster and Quartz Hill are set to challenge for the title.

Lancaster has the early edge with nine returning starters. The Eagles also gained one of the league's top pitchers when Jordy Carlin transferred from Antelope Valley.

Quartz Hill counters with a quick and experienced outfield and a pitching staff led by senior left-hander Jeremy Garstka.

``Lancaster will be tough,'' Quartz Hill coach Maury Cauchon said. ``But I think it will be close.''

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Photo: Bobby Paschal, left, T.J. Franco and Sean Clark led the Chaminade American Legion team to the state final during the summer.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News