PREP BASEBALL 1992 / FREEWAY LEAGUE : La Habra

1991 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 12-9 9-6

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Paul Thomas 57-54

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Jason Johnson Sr. OF R-R Marc Patterson Sr. 2B R-R Mark Picco Sr. 3B-SS R-R Bryan Reed Jr. C R-R Rusty Volkert Jr. P-1B R-R

TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T Steve Busch Jr. SS R-R Dan Evans Sr. 1B-P R-R Mike Palascios Sr. P R-R

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Joe Cosato Jr. P R-R Mike Dominguez Jr. OF R-R Ken Huff So. C R-R Nathan Shadle So. 3B R-R

OUTLOOK

Volkert, a 6-foot-5 junior, could be the best pitcher in the league. He pitched for the Mariners and Yankees winter league teams and had an outstanding summer according to Thomas. “He’s an outstanding prospect . . . the total package,” Thomas said. “He hits as well as he pitches.” Patterson, a skillful second baseman, is another top prospect. He batted second and hit .386 as a junior, but it’s his defensive skills in the infield that impress scouts. “He’s the best defensive infielder in the league,” Thomas said. Johnson, the leading rusher on the football team the past two seasons, will bat cleanup. “We’re real strong up the middle with plenty of speed in the outfield,” Thomas said. “We have the hitting, but we’ve got to find a No. 2 pitcher if we’re going to win the league.” Thomas spent the winter officiating boys’ and girls’ basketball games and hopes to officiate varsity games next year. “I took some abuse,” he said. “But I also got a few good lines for the baseball season.”