2015 METRO-AREA BASEBALL CAPSULES

ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY CHARGERS

Coach: Andy Williams (3rd year)

Last season: 19-11; lost in 4A semifinals to Piedra Vista

Returning starters: 6 Key players: Zeke Long, sr., RHP; Joe Sava, sr., C; Seth Jones, jr., RHP/1B; Jon Saiz, soph., SS; Jake Wyly, jr., 3B/P.

Outlook: The Chargers would seem to have the pieces in place to make a deep run again this season. Led by Long, a tall right-hander who will likely sign with a Division I program soon, Academy has pitching depth. Sava is arguably 5A’s best catcher. The Chargers are new defensively in the middle infield, and this team has some speed. Wyly has the potential to be the breakout offensive star in this lineup.

ALBUQUERQUE HIGH BULLDOGS

Coach: Robert Padilla (3rd year)

Last season: 9-15

Returning starters: 7 Key players: Javier Gonzales, jr., RHP; Phillip Carrillo, sr., P/3B; Robert Herrera, soph., SS/P; Pablo Herrera, jr., 2B; Samuel Martinez, sr., 1B.

Outlook: The Bulldogs nearly snuck into the playoffs last season, and Padilla hopes a productive offseason might get them over the hump this spring. Pablo Herrera is likely the top bat in the lineup, and the pitching staff features some potentially effective guys in Gonzales, Carrillo and Robert Herrera. The big thing? Finding a way past District 5-6A mainstays Rio Grande and Valley, and learning how to beat good teams in close games.

ATRISCO HERITAGE ACADEMY JAGUARS

Coach: Chris Trujillo (2nd year)

Last season: 9-15

Returning starters: 4 Key players: Adrian Alvarado, sr., 2B; Ezekiel Chavez, sr., 3B; Matthew Marquez, jr., LHP/1B/ OF; Luisdiego Quintana, jr., P/ SS/OF; Vicente Trujillo, soph., SS.

Outlook: Alvarado, who hit nearly .500 last year and was first-team all-district, heads up the list of top returners for the Jaguars. It’s a largely inexperienced team — AHA should have two starting freshmen — that will require solid pitching to make any hay this season, especially with an offense that might struggle to score runs.

BELEN EAGLES

Coach: Steve Contreras (8th

year)

Last season: 14-12; lost in 4A first round to St. Pius

Returning starters: 5 Key players: Nick Aragon, sr., LHP/OF; Marcos Gallegos, sr., 1B/RHP; Chris Peralta, sr., C/P; Wyatt Matheson, sr., SS; Brandon Ammons, sr., 3B.

Outlook: One of the big additions for the Eagles is Peralta, who missed the 2014 season due to injury. He’ll give Belen an anchor behind the plate and should offer assistance as a starting pitcher, as well. The pitching must be cleaner this year, Contreras said, with fewer walks. Aragon provides the Eagles with a solid presence at the top of the order. Defense should be a strength.

BERNALILLO SPARTANS

Coach: Richard Sisneros (2nd

year) Last season: 7-19

Returning starters: 5 Key players: Daniel Jaramillo, jr., P/SS; Lorenzo Martinez, jr., CF; Diego Aragon, jr., OF; Isaac Gutierrez, jr., IF; Austin Darnell, jr., 2B.

Outlook: The Spartans have a decent amount of experience returning as they hope to make a playoff push this season. Jaramillo, first-team all-district a year ago, figures to be the staff ace for Bernalillo, which expects to be a more aggressive and more potent offensive team, according to its coach. Martinez gives the Spartans a solid presence in the outfield, and will be needed to spark the offense, as well.

CIBOLA COUGARS Coach: Ramon Gonzales (6th year)

Last season: 9-17; lost in 5A first round to La Cueva

Returning starters: 5 Key players: Hunter Sedillo, sr., C/P; Jensen Lewis, jr., SS; Andres Gallegos, sr., CF/P; Jaesic Olguin, sr., 1B/P; Christian Peery, jr., 3B/P.

Outlook: The Cougars are once again going to be relatively young, and Gonzales hopes his veterans — in particular, Sedillo and Gallegos — can help bring them along. Cibola feels it is steady on defense; Jensen is moving from second base to shortstop this season, and Sedillo is moving to catcher. The main issue is untested arms at the varsity level. Almost nobody besides Olguin has any varsity innings to speak of, which might be a problem in Cibola’s tough district (1-6A).

CLEVELAND STORM

Coach: Shane Shallenberger (6th year)

Last season: 19-10; lost in 5A quarterfinals to Eldorado

Returning starters: 6 Key players: Neil Evans, sr., CF/LHP; Justice Jackson, jr., 3B/1B; Riley Peterson, jr., C; Brandon Larson, sr., P/RF; Vince Aragon, jr., 2B.

Outlook: The Storm could be one of those teams that surprise in 2015. Cleveland’s got some depth on the mound, which is always important, and a more experienced club than it had last season when it started a lineup half full of sophomores. Larson and Evans give the Storm two viable options at starting pitcher. Cleveland ought to be strong up the middle with Evans, Peterson and Aragon, and Shallenberger’s son, Treston, is a newcomer at shortstop. Jackson is being moved from first to third, and his range makes that a good fit.

DEL NORTE KNIGHTS

Coach: Ben White (6th year) Last season: 6-18

Returning starters: 7 Key players: Dom Levy, sr., RHP; Ryan Anderson, sr., C; Josiah Acton, jr., RHP; Alex Cordero, jr., LHP; Nate Joe, jr., 3B.

Outlook: The Knights return their top three pitchers, led by Levy, whose fastball is approaching 90 mph on the gun, according to White. This was a super-young team last year that hopefully has matured enough to make a playoff run, especially in a new district (2-5) that should be more friendly than its old one (5-5A). But Del Norte’s offense must improve after scoring barely 3 runs a game on average last season.

EAST MOUNTAIN TIMBERWOLVES

Coach: David Naylor (11th

year)

Last season: 13-12; lost in 2A first round to Dexter

Returning starters: 3 Key players: Landry Williamson, sr., P/2B/CF; Keinan Dorey, sr., P/C; Derrick Merkey, sr., P/SS/1B; Emilio Ruiz, soph., P/SS; Charlie Meis, jr., 3B/P.

Outlook: The T’Wolves are jumping up in classification this year, which is probably the biggest challenge East Mountain

will face. The pitching looks to be reliable, Naylor said, and the lineup — anchored in the middle by Merkey, who hit five HRs last year, along with Dorey and Williamson — is not a major concern. But to be competitive as it moves up, East Mountain will have to play cleaner baseball.

ELDORADO EAGLES

Coach: Jim Johns (28th year) Last season: 23-7; lost to La Cueva in 5A championship game Returning starters: 6 Key players: Tanner Roberts, sr., SS; Craig Buzzard, sr., 2B; Austin Treadwell, sr., OF; Andrew Stubbs, sr., 1B; Zak May, sr., C. Outlook: The Eagles pushed La Cueva to the limit in last year’s state final, and Eldorado is widely expected to make another deep run. This team is very strong through the middle, with Roberts/Buzzard (the duo who also spark the top of the lineup), plus May and Treadwell, who is moving from right field to center. Stubbs is an exceptional glove at first base, maybe the best fielding 1B Johns has ever had. Watch also for junior Nathaniel Garley, the Eagles’ top pitcher and a solid third baseman. The Eagles are solid in every way.

HIGHLAND HORNETS

Coach: Jesus Villareal (3rd year) Last season: 4-19 Returning starters: 4 Key players: Adam Cogburn, sr., C; Ethan Conley, sr., SS; Jared Butler, sr., SS/CF; Jose Garcia, sr., CF; Aedon Hann, jr., utility.

Outlook: The Hornets move into District 2-6A with La Cueva and Eldorado, which is going to test Highland to the extreme. The Hive lacks pitching depth — it’ll be done by committee — but they hope to overcome that issue with strong defense and some timely hitting. HOPE CHRISTIAN HUSKIES

Coach: Glen Copeland (1st year) Last season: 21-9; lost in 3A semifinals to Silver Returning starters: N/A Key players: Joe Standley, jr., LHP/1B; Casey Karler, sr., OF; Ryan Villegas, jr., OF; Tyler Fickel, soph., C; Tanner Larson, sr., IF.

Outlook: Copeland, who coached the Huskies’ JV last season, is one of two former Cibola coaches who are back as head coaches with other schools this year (the other is West Mesa’s Robert Erp). Hope was ravaged both by graduation and transfer, although Copeland remains optimistic that the Huskies can be competitive. Standley is one of 4A’s top starting pitchers and players, and he’s going to be asked to shoulder a heavy load.

LA CUEVA BEARS

Coach: Gerard Pineda (6th year) Last season: 26-3; Class 5A state champions Returning starters: 6 Key players: Andrew Pratt, sr., C; Caleb McAlister, sr., 1B/P; Jacob Turcotte, sr., SS/P; Jesse Becton, sr., LF; Austin Bell, sr., OF.

Outlook: Here is the team nearly every 6A metro coach is pointing to as the preseason favorite. Pratt and Bell are UNM recruits, and McAlister, expected to be the Bears’ top starting pitcher, signed with Washington State. This is an experienced group that can play defense and swing the bats — led by Pratt — and also run the bases. Pitching depth is perhaps the only real concern as the Bears look to win another blue trophy. To that end, Turcotte, last year’s closer, might be upgraded.

LOS LUNAS TIGERS

Coach: Pete Candelaria (3rd year) Last season: 16-11; lost in 4A first round to Deming Returning starters: 5 Key players: Kenneth Peña, sr., 2B/P; Daniel Jiron, sr., SS; Jake Rivera, jr., P/3B; Thai Ewing, soph., CF; Tomas Romero, sr., LF.

Outlook: The Tigers are coming off a solid 2014, in which they finished as a district runner-up to Valencia. Players of note include Jiron, a slick-fielding shortstop, and Ewing, who started last year as a freshman and hits at the top of the order. If the pitching staff pans out as Candelaria hopes, the Tigers should once again be looking at a playoff bid.

MANZANO MONARCHS

Coach: Matt Hibbitts (1st year) Last season: 11-14-1; lost in 5A first round to Rio Rancho

Returning starters: N/A Key players: Derek Martinez, sr., RHP; Clarence Huddleston, sr., CF; Kyle Chavez, sr., IF/P; Gabe Vigil, jr., SS/2B; Brandon Bray, sr., C.

Outlook: Hibbitts, a former Lobo player and UNM assistant coach to Ray Birmingham, is Manzano’s first new head coach in over two decades. As with most new coaches, the key for the Monarchs is the culture change that comes with a new coach. Hibbitts believes Manzano has enough pitching depth (led by Martinez) to be competitive, but he is still tinkering with lineup options.

MORIARTY PINTOS

Coach: Denny Young (2nd year) Last season: 7-19 Returning starters: 7 Key players: Skylar Pearson, sr., OF/RHP; Antonio Mora, jr., P/C; Nicholas Young, jr., 2B/P; Elijah Tapia, soph., SS/P; Seth Castillo, jr., OF.

Outlook: The Pintos return almost their entire infield, and two-thirds of the outfield. If the pitching can improve (wildness was an issue last year), then Young feels Moriarty might have a chance to compete for second place in district. Mora is the ace of the staff, and there is some depth at the front end of the rotation, but not at the back end. Pearson, Young and Tapia led Moriarty in every major offensive category last season.

RIO GRANDE RAVENS

Coach: Orlando Griego (20th year)

Last season: 13-13; lost in 5A first round to Mayfield Returning starters: 7 Key players: Martin Gallegos, jr., LHP/1B; Matthew Sanchez, jr., RHP/1B; Luis Carlos Gomez, jr., SS/P; Daniel Salas, soph., CF; Dominic Blea, jr., LF.

Outlook: The Ravens lost nine games last season by two or fewer runs, and despite a young lineup — Griego expects to start five juniors and four sophomores — Rio Grande actually is more experienced than last season and hopes it can start winning some of those close games. The Ravens won’t carry a single senior this year, Griego said. Gallegos and Sanchez head up the pitching staff, which might need to be espe- cially sharp since Griego has some concerns about the offense, which struggled a season ago.

RIO RANCHO RAMS

Coach: Ron Murphy (18th year)

Last season: 20-9; lost in 5A quarterfinals to Mayfield Returning starters: 6 Key players: Wyatt Kelley, sr., RHP/3B; Eddy Vasquez, sr., SS; Jared Winter, sr., OF; Chris Carr, jr., C; Mark Dominguez, jr., DH.

Outlook: Like Volcano Vista, the Rams have a stellar No. 1 starting pitcher in Kelley, and Rio Rancho should be very stout through the middle of that defense. Winter is moving from left field to center field, Vasquez is moving from second to short, and Carr is a returner, as well. Usually, pitching is the one area where the Rams have fewer questions than most anyone, but not this year. Aside from Kelley, Murphy will use a lot of young, untested arms early in the season to see who can stand up to varsity pressure. Rio Rancho should be a good offensive team, as well.

SANDIA MATADORS

Coach: John Gunther (4th year) Last season: 9-15 Returning starters: 5 Key players: Michael Holliday, sr., RHP; Tim Barreras, sr., 1B; Drew Gillespie, jr., SS; Jimmy Gallegos, jr., OF; Dom Baca, jr., OF.

Outlook: The junior-dominated Matadors are looking to get back to the playoffs after a rare miss in 2014. Holliday will be Sandia’s front-line starting pitcher, but, while Sandia seems to be set in terms of pitching and defense, the Matadors have to generate more runs this year to challenge for a playoff berth. Gillespie has verbally committed to UNM and could be used on the mound, where he has a blazing fastball. Sandia, Gunther said, must learn how to close out games.

SANDIA PREP SUNDEVILS

Coach: Paul Huitt (16th year)

Last season: 24-7; Class 3A state runner-up to Silver Returning starters: 8 Key players: Mikey Gangwish, sr., C; Harris McConnell, jr., LHP; Mike Snow, jr., OF; Joe Martinez, soph., CF/LHP; Beau Williams, jr., LHP/1B.

Outlook: This might be Class 4A’s most well-rounded team, and the veteran Sundevils are hungry to boot after losing in the state finals a year ago. Sandia Prep has an abundance of talented left-handed pitching, which is so rare, and the Sundevils also have some terrific position players in Gangwish behind the plate and the speedy Martinez in center field.

ST. PIUS SARTANS Coach: Marc Hilton (15th year) Last season: 18-9; lost in 4A quarterfinals to Farmington Returning starters: 3 Key players: Mitch DiLorenzo, sr., P/OF; Mason Martinez, sr., 1B/OF; Miles Hilton, jr., utility; Mitch Buffett, soph., P/IF; Robert Moleres, sr., P/OF.

Outlook: This, Hilton said, is the youngest group he’s coached in his many years with the Sartans. DiLorenzo, Martinez and Hilton are the three returning starters; Buffett is the younger brother of former Albuquerque Academy standout Tyler Buffett and is a big, strong right-handed pitcher. There will be an abundance of underclassmen in the starting lineup. The lineup must be led by those returning starters, who’ll all hit at the top of the order.

VALENCIA JAGUARS

Coach: Carlos Carrasco (7th year)

Last season: 21-8; lost in 4A quarterfinals to Albuquerque Academy

Returning starters: 7 Key players: Carlos Ramirez, sr., SS; Garret Garcia, sr., 3B/P; Daniel Barela, sr., C; Cade Guthrie, sr., OF; Landon Moya, sr., LHP/OF/1B.

Outlook: The Jaguars should certainly be among 5A’s stronger teams in 2015, with the type of experience they have returning. Valencia has a handful of three-year starters, several of whom already have signed with colleges. The lineup, led by Garcia and Ramirez, has almost no weaknesses top to bottom, and the defense looks sound. While the starting pitching appears OK, Carrasco has concerns about the bullpen.

VALLEY VIKINGS

Coach: Chad Kuhn (10th year) Last season: 14-12; lost in 5A first round to Hobbs Returning starters: 7 Key players: Eric Chavez, sr., SS; Paul Tapia, sr., 2B; Elias Roybal, sr., 3B; C.J. Montoya, sr., C; Nick Barela, sr., RHP.

Outlook: The Vikings led 6A in hitting last season, although this is a small-ball type of team that features a handful of threeyear starters in Chavez, Tapia, Roybal and Montoya. Barela is a curveball specialist and the team ace, a kid Valley will look to in key games. The infield should be really solid and the Vikings hope to contend with Rio Grande in District 5-6A. Of note: Projected 1B Ross Montoya is the grandson of Phil Ewing, Valley’s resident historian who played on the Vikings’ 1965 championship baseball team half a century ago.

VOLCANO VISTA HAWKS

Coach: Kevin Andersh (8th year)

Last season: 19-8; lost in 5A quarterfinals to Carlsbad

Returning starters: 7 Key players: Chris Padilla, sr., OF; Tanner West, jr., LHP; Nolan Mulroy, sr., IF; Reyes Kahn, sr., DH; Sal Ware, sr., 1B.

Outlook: Andersh usually plays it close to the vest before a season, but he really is looking forward to coaching this bunch, which he calls “the best team I’ve ever had.” The Hawks have no glaring weaknesses. They can run; they can pitch, led by the outstanding and hard-throwing West; they can swing the bats; and this is a veteran roster with a deep bench. There are 11 seniors on this team. Watch also for Anthony Inge, another very good left-handed pitcher with great stuff. Padilla anchors a super-quick outfield.

WEST MESA MUSTANGS

Coach: Robert Erp (1st year) Last season: 8-16

Returning starters: 6 Key players: Zack Schroer, sr., P/IF; Luis Ledezma, jr., IF/P; Jacob Smith, sr., 3B/P; Christian Ramos, jr., OF/P; Marcos Gonzales, jr., IF/P.

Outlook: Erp, a former head coach at Cibola for six years, takes over a struggling Mustangs’ program that desperately needs a spark. It will be a young group, with only three seniors. Erp’s most immediate challenge is changing the culture at West Mesa and building this program from the ground up. It won’t be a quick fix, he said, rather it could take several years.