SPORTS
PAGE B4 THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013
BASEBALL
POMERADO NEWSPAPER GROUP
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Behind the plate is the No. 1 junior prospect in the nation, Jackson. The right-handed catcher smashed 17 home runs last season. Point Loma Nazarene-bound Preston Sands will shift from right field to center field, and with LSU-bound righty Bugg, Osborne and Henderson on the mound, the Broncos are the favorite in the Palomar League and should challenge for the newly formed Open Division section crown. RB enters the year ranked No. 8 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and No. 3 in the section behind No. 1 in the nation, Cathedral Catholic, and No. 4 in the nation, Vista.
Plantier, Jr.; C, Dillon Kidwell, So. ԎԎ Outlook: The pitching staff took a hit due to graduation, but the Nighthawks are hoping their bats and defense can help them early while they figure out the starting rotation. One thing in stone is the ace of the staff and that will be Werneth. After that, though, Del Norte will have to see which guys step it up during the season. Del Norte returns nine from last year and seven of them will be playing their third year on the varsity. Plantier, son of San Diego Padres hitting coach Phil Plantier, should help at the plate and on the mound. Miller will also provide some pop at the plate. The Nighthawks figure to challenge for the Valley League crown, but Ramona is definitely the team to beat. Valley Center and Oceanside will also compete for the title.
Poway
ԎԎ Coach: Bob Perry, 19th year ԎԎ 2012 Record: 18-14, went 1-2 in Division I playoffs ԎԎ 2013 Division: Open ԎԎ Key players: OF, Kyle Dean, So.; 3B, Tyler Nevin, So.; CF, Joey Fiske, Jr.; P/1B/OF, Sam Godfrey, Jr.; P/Uti., Justin McSorley, Sr.; OF, Chris Lowe, Jr.; SS, Brett Singer, So.; P, Tommy Brunansky, Jr. ԎԎ Outlook: The Titans are young, but have many players with bright futures ahead of them. Dean, who hit cleanup for the 15U USA Team over the summer, and Nevin, a UCLA commit, will bolster the middle half of the lineup. McSorley, the ace of the pitching staff, will also provide some pop at the plate. The lingering question mark — and it has been since last season — comes on the mound. “We are still trying to figure that out,” Perry said. “We have some younger guys that can throw.” Godfrey, Brunansky and Nevin will certainly get their share of time, but after that it will come down to the guys who show the best stuff throughout the season. The benefit of already being in the Open Division playoffs allows the Titans to give everyone a shot without worrying about dropping a few games. “You always find one or two guys that step it up ever y year, and with us already in the playoffs it will allow me to find those guys a little easier,” Perry said. “I can give those kids more chances because we don’t have to worry about how many wins we have or how many more we need to get to the playoffs.”
Maranatha Christian
Sophomore Tyler Nevin, who recently committed to UCLA, will play third base for the Titans. Photo by Beverley Brooks The Titans are an eager, close-knit group and should challenge Rancho Bernardo for the Palomar League crown.
Del Norte
ԎԎ Coach: Rielly Embrey, 4th year ԎԎ 2012 Record: 16-12, missed playoffs ԎԎ 2013 Division: Division III ԎԎ Key players: CF, Matt Miller, Sr.; P, Corey Werneth, Sr.; P, Stephen Xirinachs, Sr.; Inf., Brady Groesbeck, Sr.; Inf., Connor Toor, Sr.; 1B/P, Anthony Hensley, Sr.; P/Inf., Tyler
ԎԎ Coach: Mike Lord, 1st year ԎԎ 2012 Record: 7-14, lost play-in game for spot in Division V playoffs ԎԎ 2013 Division: Division V ԎԎ Key players: 1B/P, Jake Kirby, Sr.; C/P, Corey Adkins, So.; SS, Metro Henning, So.; CF/P, Jacob Secrist, Sr.; P, Harry Neidermyer, Fr.; P, Matt DeWildt, Fr. ԎԎ Outlook: The Eagles do not have much depth with only 14 players on the roster, which could present a challenge for new coach, Lord. Maranatha will be led by two freshmen on the mound, Neidermyer and DeWildt. Seniors Kirby and Secrist could also get some innings. “We have some young pitchers that are good, but they need to grow up,” Lord said. “They are just puppies that have to grow.” Adkins is a solid catcher and pitcher, but will be out with an injury for an undisclosed amount of time. Kirby will lead the offensive attack for the Eagles, which will enter the Pacific League this season. Tri-City Christian is the favorite to win the league title. “Our biggest challenge is numbers,” Lord said. “If anyone gets hurt, then we have to start playing guys at positions they have never played before.”
CERVANTES CONTINUED FROM PAGE B2
contacting me and showing a lot of interest and it made me want to go there,” said Cervantes, who added he has also been in touch with the Naval Academy. “I know the Army is a program that is building up and I want to be a part of it.” The Army is getting quite a grappler and young man. Cer vantes is ver y wellmannered, constantly using the terms “sir” and “thank you.” He is also extremely humble; in fact, he mentioned his coaches, family and friends several times when talking about what got him to where he is today.
“The gave me all the support,” he said. “I could never have done it without them. And I picked a good group of friends that kept me out of trouble. Everything around me is keeping me on track.” Cervantes did his part on the wrestling mat. After finishing seventh in the state as a junior, he came back even stronger with a third-place finish in the 170-pound class at last week’s state tournament in Bakersfield. For his efforts, Cervantes is the Pomerado News Athlete of the Week. Naturally, Cer vantes was disappointed
he did not win the state title, especially since a questionable ruling in the quarterfinals cost him the match. Cer vantes was down 4-3 to Sultana High’s Corey Griego with 10 seconds left. Cervantes thought he scored a reversal or at least an escape to tie the match, but was not awarded any points. “It was a bad call and I just wanted to put my head down for the rest of the tournament, but my coaches wouldn’t let me,” he said. “I was really mad about it because the guy I would have wrestled in the semifinals I already beat four times this year. I
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ended up wrestling him in the third-place match and beat him again.” Cervantes had to wrestle four matches on the second day of the tournament to earn third place. He won them all, and even took a few moments after his final high school match to take it all in. “It was an emotional time for me,” he said. “I saw my mom in the stands after the match and her eyes were watery and it got me a little emotional like that.” “I am happy with the way things ended up,” he added. “I felt good with the way the season ended.”
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