NORTH BAY LEAGUE BASEBALL

CARDINAL NEWMAN (12-3 league, 16-9 overall): Coach Joe Filice's Cardinals

have the 1995 NBL player of the year in senior catcher Travis Oglesby, who's

hitting over .400 this season. Other top players include all-league senior

outfielder Kelly McCarthy (also a closer on the pitching staff), pitcher-first

baseman Tom Jordan, a senior lefty, right-handed senior pitcher Tim Escobar

(3-0 with an 0.92 ERA so far), seniors Brad Carlson and Paul Lefebvre and

newcomer Joe McMackin, a junior pitcher-outfielder. OUTLOOK: Pitching is

Newman's strength, along with the presence of Oglesby, who has four homers

already this season. If the pitching holds up, look for the NBL co-defending

champs to be in the chase for a championship.

ELSIE ALLEN (did not play varsity last year): Coach Mike Paul has some

talent but not much experience. Top players include freshman second baseman

Jeremy Lopez and junior pitcher Jerome Godsey, who may be one of the area's

better throwers. OUTLOOK: The Lobos will have four sophomores and three

freshmen seeing a lot of time, so it could take a while for the team to round

into shape and start winning some games.

MONTGOMERY (6-9 league, 10-12 overall): Veteran coach Russ Peterich has a

young team, but Peterich's teams usually have a way of learning in a hurry.

Top players include pitcher-shortstop Ian Jobs, senior infielder-DH Nick

Galvan, sophomore catcher Tony Arnerich, junior outfielder Brian Widen

(hitting .428 this season), senior outfielder Brian Facendini and senior

infielder Kris Campion as well as pitcher J.D. Seger, who already as a

one-hitter (vs. Rancho) to his credit. OUTLOOK: Long schedule (18 league

games) could wear on the Vikings, who are not deep in pitching. Look for

Montgomery to pull some upsets along the way this season.

PINER (12-3 league, 16-8 overall): Co-champs (with Newman) last year, the

second-year coach Nick Eisenman has some solid players back again, including

senior all-league outfielder Dustin Green, all-league pitcher-infielder Casey

Olenberger, outfielder Dan Mazariegos, All-Empire catcher Damien Matteri and

shortstop Nick Blankenship. OUTLOOK: Prospectors are 5-1, with one loss to

Casa Grande and a tie (to be completed) with Newman. NBL will get better but

so will Piner and Newman, who should battle it out for the top spot again.

RANCHO COTATE (3-12 league, 6-14 overall): Cougars are off to a slow start

(1-7, 1-5) and may be facing another long season. Top players include senior

shortstop Ivano Harris, junior second baseman Jared Erwin and sophomore

catcher Sean Frisch. Missing is veteran Clint Church, who decided not to play

his senior season. OUTLOOK: With just two seniors, eight juniors and two

sophomores, Cougars could take their lumps in the NBL.

SANTA ROSA (6-9 league, 10-13 overall): Coach Mel Arnerich has a young

team, but the Panthers could end up being the surprise team in the NBL. Top

players include junior left-handed pitcher Matt LeDucq, pitcher-first baseman

Colin Horning (who has given up just one run in 12 innings), junior shortstop

Peter Jones (.379), sophomore second baseman Ryan Smith (.368), sophomore

center fielder Jeff Narduzzi and outfielder-first baseman Steve Dubois,

leading the team with 7 RBIs. OUTLOOK: Arnerich is a good coach with good,

young talent. Panthers should make the playoffs.

UKIAH (6-9 league, 10-11 overall): Wildcats have some talent in junior

shortstop-pitcher Sergio Cabada, junior outfielder Matt Belfanti and junior

outfielder Jesse Halstad and one of the Empire's top pitchers in senior Mark

Short. OUTLOOK: Pitching is the key for coach Bill Heath's club, with six

players scheduled to see mound time. But the team is young, with 13 juniors, a

sophomore and just four seniors.