FREEWAY LEAGUE

* Buena Park: 9-14, 4-11 in 1998. Coach: Russ McHale (fourth year, 33-40-1). Prospects: The Coyotes’ inexperience exacted a toll in 1998. With seven returning starters, featuring senior shortstop Bryan Cook (.299, nine RBIs), a second-team all-league pick, and senior outfielder Jesse Rios (.338, 26 hits), experience is not a problem. Scoring could be, though, if Buena Park doesn’t find one or two big sticks. Sophomore infielder Adam Medina (.415, 11 RBIs) has potential. A bigger concern is the pitching; junior Jeremy Tolmasoff (1-2, 4.08 ERA) and senior Andy Maurer (2-0, 5.25) are the known quantities.

* Fullerton: 16-9-1, 10-5 in 1998. Coach: Dave Posthuma (first year). Prospects: Posthuma comes here from Brethren Christian, where he is best known for guiding the Warriors to the 1997 Division V final. Can he work a similar magic for the Indians, whose last championship appearance was the 3-A title game in 1982? To do so he will have to replace the graduated Jeff Cody (12-2, 1.56), league MVP and an all-county second-team pick. In fact, Posthuma has to replace almost everyone; junior second baseman Armando Lopez and senior outfielder John Pate (22 steals) are the only returning starters.

* La Habra: 18-8, 12-3 in 1998. Coach: Mate Borgogno (third year, 34-16). Prospects: The Highlanders won their first league title in 10 years because they had an all-county outfielder in David Cosato (.566, four home runs, 24 RBIs), a potent bat in third baseman Shaun Beutner (35 RBIs) and a gritty pitcher in Ryan Huff (6-4, 3.26). Cosato and Beutner graduated but Huff, a senior, a first-team all-leaguer and one of four returning starters, remains. If La Habra is to defend its title, Huff will need help at the plate from, among others, junior second baseman Al Estrada (.355, 32 runs scored).

* Sonora: 9-16, 7-8 in 1998. Coach: Patt Tellers (ninth year, 109-96-3). Prospects: After enjoying three consecutive playoff berths, two league championships and a section Division II title, Sonora tumbled below .500 last year. But Tellers says Sonora will rebound. The Raiders have five returning starters, led by senior shortstop Chad Burleson, junior outfielder Erik Estrada and senior outfielder Matt Haller. Also enlivening the roster are twins Brandon and Blake Shaw.

* Sunny Hills: 13-14, 8-7 in 1998. Coach: Doug Elliott (15th year, 208-163-2). Prospects: Even on the heels of a so-so year and third-place finish, Sunny Hills doesn’t have to dream about winning the league title. The Lancers have genuine talent. Senior pitcher-first baseman Brad Carmody (.438, five home runs, 32 RBIs), senior catcher George Seargent (.369, 32 hits, 24 RBIs) and senior shortstop Jared Bruce (.333, 28 hits) have all-league first-team credentials. Senior outfielder Brent Templeton (.347, 25 hits) and junior first baseman Nathan Hochgesang (.346, 28 hits) are also solid. The pitching only has to be good, not great, for the Lancers to claim the prize.

* Troy: 8-17, 4-11 in 1998. Coach: Dane Ilertsen (10th year, 117-108). Prospects: Troy is a team that, after going 13-37 the past two seasons, could be much improved. First-team all-league senior catcher Todd Frazier (.375, 26 RBIs) is a good one. Outfielders Matt Curtis (.342, 20 RBIs), Ben Reneau (.342, 18 RBIs, six steals) and Kelly Kravshaar (.385) appear ready for breakout senior seasons. But the Warriors, who batted .344 as a team last year, have always been able to hit. It’s pitching that has eluded them the past two years. Ilertsen thinks the rotation might be ready to get outs instead of getting raked. If that’s true, the Warriors will make the league chase a real horse race.