NBL BASEBALL PREVIEW

A look at prospects for this season's North Bay League baseball teams (1996

records in parentheses):

CARDINAL NEWMAN

(20-7): The Cardinals of coach Joe Filice will be hard-pressed to nail down

their third straight league title, although they have some solid players in

senior outfielder Tye De Grange, a second-team all-leaguer, second-team

all-league pitcher Joe McMackin. Those are the only returning starters.

OUTLOOK: Filice, in his 12th season (165-110) sees the NBL as a typical

battleground, with four or five teams having a chance, and Santa Rosa possibly

the inside track.

ELSIE ALLEN

(2-21): Second-year coach Mike Paul, playing with seniors for the first

time, won only two games last season, but already has three wins this season,

including a 1-0 stunner over Santa Rosa last week. The Lobos have a solid

veteran in pitcher-outfielder Jerome Godsey, an All-Empire honorable mention

last season. Other prospects include senior third baseman-pitcher Nick

Vercelli, whose four hits and four RBIs sparked a win over Montgomery, junior

catcher-pitcher Bobby Wilfong and senior pitcher-utility player Nate Wilson.

OUTLOOK: Paul sees a very competitive, balanced NBL race. ''Santa Rosa may

have an edge,'' says Paul. ''But I think anybody can win.''

MONTGOMERY

(13-9): Coach Russ Peterich, a veteran of 31 years coaching the Vikings in

baseball, has claimed seven NBL titles, but could have a tough time obtaining

No.8 this season. Two players include junior catcher Tony Arnerich, All-Empire

honorable mention last year, and junior infielder-pitcher J.D. Seger,

All-Empire honorable mention as a sophomore and an outstanding all-around

player. The Vikings will miss the services of third baseman Jeremy Seibold,

who broke his wrist playing football, and his return is questionable. OUTLOOK:

''We've been scrambling, trying kids at different positions,'' says Peterich.

''Once we find out who plays best at different spots, we should be better.''

PINER (15-9): The Prospectors, coached by Nate Eisenman, need some clutch

efforts from a few veterans, to make a run at the NBL title. Top players

include senior pitcher Thad Johnson, senior shortstop Nick Blankenship,

hitting over .400, senior center fielder Dan Mazariegos, a three-year starter,

senior second baseman Jason Hanlon and senior catcher Tony Esposti. OUTLOOK:

''We're not as strong as we've been in the past,'' says Eisenman. ''But

there's a lot of balance ... I think any team can win it.'' He sees Santa Rosa

as the favorite, based on the Panthers' depth and experience.

RANCHO COTATE

(5-18): First-year coach Jason Moore says he's trying to instill a new work

ethic with the Cougars, and it appears it might be starting to take hold.

''We're having a hard time, but I can see things getting better,'' says Moore,

a former standout pitcher for Analy. Top Cougar prospects include senior

pitcher Christian Henington, senior outfielder Brett Howard, hitting .357, and

junior catcher Sean Frisch (.313). OUTLOOK: ''We have a great group of kids

... they don't realize how good they can be,'' says Moore. ''We haven't been

catching a lot of breaks -- I've never seen anything like it -- but if we can

manufacture some runs, we should be OK.''

SANTA ROSA

(15-9): Fourth-year coach Mel Arnerich has set a goal of 20 wins for this

year's team and may have the manpower to do it. Top players include senior

left-handed pitcher Matt LeDucq, a first-team All-Empire pick last year,

senior pitcher-first baseman Colin Horning, All-Empire honorable mention,

senior right fielder Kevin Anderson, hitting .409, senior third baseman Jeff

Komar, senior catcher Ray Hill, recovering from an ankle injury, and senior

shortstop Peter Jones. OUTLOOK: ''Our expectations have never been higher,

which comes from being what should be a good team,'' says Arnerich.

UKIAH

(15-8): First-year coach (and new athletic director) Dennis Busse has some

outstanding individuals as he chases his first NBL pennant. Top prospects

include senior catcher Tyson Dickinson (.400), a returning all-leaguer, junior

left fielder Tim Keffeler, senior center fielder Matt Belfanti, an All-Empire

choice last season, left-handed senior pitcher Adam Cabada and senior

right-hander Cooper Henderson and senior lefty P.J. Onori. OUTLOOK: Busse is

from Southern California and doesn't know much about the NBL but calls Santa

Rosa ''very well-coached ... they don't beat themselves.''