ROYAL COULD RULE MARMONTE; TEAM LOADED WITH BIG HITTERS.Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer Royal High coach Dan Maye is well aware of the predictions. He's just not sure it's possible to predict this season's Marmonte League The Marmonte League is a high school sports league primarily made up of schools from Ventura County. The Marmonte Leauge is part of the CIF Southern Section. Click here to view the league schedule. baseball champion. ``It's hard to hear the rumors For other uses, see Rumor (disambiguation). Rumors is a farcical play by Neil Simon. At its start, several affluent couples gather in the posh suburban residence of a couple for a dinner party celebrating their tenth anniversary. ,'' he said. Westlake is picked as the favorite to take the title, but Maye's Highlanders are among those capable of posing a serious threat in a league rich with talent. ``Each team's got different components and it's own little weaknesses,'' Maye said. ``I think it will come down to who can be above average in their weak spot. ``I think there's three to four teams that could end up in first place. But the other four teams aren't like cellar cellar Portion of a building beneath ground level, used for utilitarian and storage purposes. It is often called a basement, especially when constructed as part of a foundation. A cellar used for food storage (e.g. dwellers. Our league has a history of the bottom four teams making the biggest impact on who finishes first. ``Whoever fills that weakness will win.'' One area the Highlanders aren't worrying about is their offense. As a team, they hit over .300 last season. Senior Mike Byer, who hit .339 last season, provides consistency at the plate, while senior shortstop Brett Wayne, senior outfielder Tony Ortega and junior third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker Bobby Egan provide the power. ``Those are our big rally, big RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in hitters,'' Maye said. Egan drove in 21 runs to go along with a .347 average last season, while Ortega hit .359 with 12 RBI and Wayne batted .333 with 25 RBI. ``We have five guys returning who hit over .300, and we added three of the top JV hitters,'' Maye said. ``That right now is our strength. ``And our defense, year in and year out is a strength.'' Pitching, however, could be Royal's downfall. ``I wouldn't really say it's a weakness, but it's an uncertainty. We have two returning pitchers, but we have a few guys who haven't pitched at this level. That right now is our telling sign - how our pitchers who haven't pitched for varsity do.'' Byer, who plays first base, should be Royal's top pitcher, although he does not have overpowering o·ver·pow·er·ing adj. So strong as to be overwhelming: an overpowering need for solitude. o speed. The left-hander went 7-3 with a 2.63 ERA last season. ``Mainly he's a control pitcher A control pitcher is a pitcher who succeeds mostly by using accurate pitches, as oppose to a power pitcher who relies on velocity. By issuing a below average number of bases on balls he exhibits good control of his pitches. ,'' Maye said. ``He has good location. He's got a good change-up. He gets a lot of guys out.'' The rest of the staff includes senior Jason Bowers Bowers is a surname, and may refer to
The success of the bullpen lies in the untested hands of Rice. The 6-foot-5 left hander pitched for the junior varsity team For the American rock band, see . In sports, usually at the high school and college levels, members of a team who are not the main players in a competition (such as a football or basketball game) are called junior varsity players. last year and is looking to realize his potential. ``He's got one of the strongest arms in the area,'' Maye said. ``We're just waiting for him to mature into one of the top pitchers in the area. He's got all the tools.'' The Highlanders' 18-9, 11-3 record last season gave them a second-place finish Noun 1. second-place finish - a finish in second place (as in a race) runner-up finish finish - designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the behind Camarillo. With 10 seniors and six returning starters, Royal is capable of doing at least as well this year. ``Like I always say, it's Camarillo and Royal,'' Westlake coach Chuck Barrington said of the league's perennial top teams. ``This year, I'd have to go with Royal first.'' PROGNOSIS prognosis /prog·no·sis/ (prog-no´sis) a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disorder.prognos´tic prog·no·sis n. pl. prog·no·ses 1. : ROYAL Head coach: Dan Maye 1997 record: 18-9, 11-3, second place in Marmonte League. Players to watch: Sr. P/1B Mike Byer; Sr. SS/P Brett Wayne; Sr. OF Tony Ortega; Sr. OF Tyrone Kimbrough; Sr. 3B Bobby Egan. Analysis: Royal should provide the biggest threat to favored Westlake. The Highlanders are strong offensively and defensively, but their pitching is questionable. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos, Box PHOTO (1--2) Marmonte League coaches are picking Royal to win the title, in part, because, top left, from left, Tony Ortega, Mike Byer, Brett Wayne, Bobby Egan and Tyrone Kimbrough lead a team that batted over .300 last season. Wayne, above, batted .333 and drove in 25 runs. Evan Yee/Daily News (3) ``We have five guys returning who hit over .300 and we added three of the top JV hitters. That right now is our strength.'' - Dan Maye, Royal baseball coach BOX: PROGNOSIS: ROYAL (see text) |
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