HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION PREVIEWS : ALPHA LEAGUE : L.A. Baptist

COACH: Mark Bates, 3rd year

LAST SEASON: 11-12; tied for 3rd in league, 4-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Knights have seven key players returning, and most of them are juniors. Right-hander Matt Hernandez, a junior, will anchor the pitching staff and play outfield again. Hernandez had 49 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings and posted a 3-3 record with a 4.65 earned-run average. He hit .322 and had 11 stolen bases. The other key pitchers will be junior right-hander Nate Laufer (3-4, 4.08), who threw a two-hitter against Mary Star last season, and junior left-hander Greg Wells, who pitched for the junior varsity. Returning position players are led by junior first baseman Trenton Mooney, who hit .343 primarily as the designated hitter. Catcher Ryan O’Connell, who played every game and hit .318, returns. Junior Dana Berg (.327) again will start in center field. Up the middle, junior Zack Hernandez, Matt’s twin, returns at shortstop. Junior Matt Barker, who played for the junior varsity, will start at second base.

OUTLOOK: The Knights will be the primary challengers to Village Christian for the league title. “We have a lot of guys who saw a lot of action last season,” Bates said. “Our weakness would be (if they can’t) develop into full-time varsity players.”

Village Christian

COACH: Mike Henzie, 6th year

LAST SEASON: 13-10; 2nd in league, 5-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Right-handed pitcher Jason Robitaille is coming off an impact freshman season. Robitaille was 7-1 with a 2.17 ERA. He allowed 39 hits and struck out 52 in 51 1/3 innings. Robitaille will play second base when not pitching. He hit .362, primarily as designated hitter, last season. The other key pitchers are senior left-hander Mike Rieger, who had four saves and a 2.83 ERA, and senior right-hander Jeff Deal, who had control problems, walking 39 in 20 1/3 innings. Deal, who also will play first base, hit .366. Senior center fielder Brett Borden could be the Crusaders’ top offensive player. He hits for power (four homers last year) and average (.310) and led the team with 22 runs batted in. He also has good range and a strong arm. Junior Mike Agnor (.345) will start in left field. In the infield, junior Mike Spielman is moving from second base, where he did not make an error, to shortstop. The catcher will be junior Newt Wimer or sophomore Mike Wertz. Both are solid defensively and the majority of the playing time will go to whoever hits better, Henzie said.

OUTLOOK: With so many returning players, the Crusaders are favored to win the league title now that Montclair Prep, which was 10-0 in the league last season, has been kicked out.