PREP BASEBALL 1992 / SMALL SCHOOLS : St. Michael’s

1991 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 0-8 0-8

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Jack Dignan 0-18

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Steve Dullack Jr. INF R-R Ken McEvoy Jr. C-OF R-R Francisco Ruiz Jr. P R-R Chuck Sesma So. INF R-R Jocques Wright Sr. C-INF R-R

OTHER TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T None

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Jon Grobler Sr. INF-P R-R

OUTLOOK

If there ever was a team facing an uphill battle, the Pioneers are it. The team, which didn’t play nonleague games last year, was winless in the five-team Academy League, and some of the same problems that plagued the Pioneers last year remain. Dignan said the team lacks adequate practice facilities and equipment. “I’m not using that as an excuse, but we have to get a regular field in order to compete,� Dignan said. “Our field is on a hill and when you stand at third base you can’t see first base. We also don’t have a pitching machine, which would be a big help for our hitters.� On the positive side, Dignan said that juniors and seniors make up the nucleus of the squad, led by Wright (.267 batting average last season), the school’s standout basketball player. “I’ll be able to field a true varsity because a lot of our upperclassmen are coming out for baseball,� Dignan said. He added that the Pioneers will feature more power at the plate and that the pitching appears improved over last season. “Last year I got a little inkling that our pitching would be more solid this season,� Dignan said. Right-hander Ruiz is slated to be the No. 1 starter. “He can make the ball move and put it over the plate,� Dignan said.