GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

* Bolsa Grande: 4-19, 2-10 in 1998. Coach: Doug Euper (second year, 4-19). Prospects: The Matadors finished tied for sixth last season. Euper and staff have to coax some better offense from their five returning starters, including senior third baseman Jose Jimenez (.270) and junior second baseman Mike Johnstone (.272. one home run). Junior pitcher Cavan Curan (0-3, 4.35, 42 strikeouts) is due for some better luck.

* Garden Grove: 12-13, 7-5 in 1998. Coach: Jim Rawls (16th year, 208-178). Prospects: Grabbing one of the league’s three automatic playoff berths might be a bit harder this season for the Argonauts. Rawls has only four returning players: designated hitter Baldazar Diaz, infielder Joe Harkey, catcher Joe Rovirosia and outfielder David Pines. Rawls said he “expects to rely on a lot of sophomores.”

* La Quinta: 30-2, 12-0 in 1998. Coach: Dave Demarest (26th year, 508-182). Prospects: The best season in school history ended in disappointment when La Quinta lost the Division IV title game to Ocean View. The cupboard isn’t completely bare. Back are second-team all-county pitcher Steve Lee (13-0, 1.18), who tied Aliso Niguel’s Drew Parkinson for the county’s most victories; all-league senior shortstop Josue Pena (.436, two home runs, 20 RBIs); and second team all-leaguers senior catcher Willie Keller (.330, seven home runs) and senior second baseman Brian Cisneros (.347). But the talent pool isn’t as deep as it has been, and La Quinta’s streak of six straight league titles might be in jeopardy.

* Los Amigos: 12-13, 4-8 in 1998. Coach: Dave Austin (fourth year, 29-42). Prospects: Austin would like to think the Lobos need one more year of experience to reach their potential. He has six returning starters, including all-league senior pitcher Adam Shaeffer (6-4, 1.72), junior shortstop Jose Rodarte (.367), and senior first baseman Mike Blair (.432). If the Lobos have grown up, they could go up in the standings.

* Pacifica: 19-9, 10-2 in 1998. Coach: Jeff Davidson (second year, 19-9). Prospects: Pacifica was the only league opponent within shouting distance of La Quinta in 1998. This year, Davidson would be thinking of overtaking the Aztecs if he did not have to replace the entire pitching staff. He’ll get back six starters, including senior second baseman Brett Woods, senior outfielder Jon Dorenbos, and senior designated hitter Chris Murray. Also critical to Pacifica’s hopes is whether second-team all-league outfielder Adam Rachlin decides to play his senior year.

* Rancho Alamitos: 9-13, 4-8 in 1998. Coach: Garland McMillian (second year, 9-13). Prospects: The Vaqueros’ 10 victories nearly matched the school’s win total of the previous two years combined. But if Rancho Alamitos is to become a playoff team, McMillian said it will have to do so with speed, because deep threat Tony Serna (11 home runs) graduated. “Our goal is 100 stolen bases this season,” McMillian said. Among those McMillian hopes to turn loose are senior outfielder Anthony Huizar (who also runs track), junior third baseman Jack Acosta, and junior infielder Nathan Freitas (.271). The Vaqueros also hope junior designated hitter Manny Cuevas (.294, four home runs) has some more sock.

* Santiago: 4-17, 3-9 in 1998. Coach: Paul Allen (second year, 4-17). Prospects: Santiago can take heart that it won one more game overall, and doubled its number of league victories from 1997. Any silver lining is good while Allen and staff continue to rebuild the program and the team’s confidence. There are 10 returning players, including senior third baseman Juan Aldana, senior first baseman Jose Mejia and junior catcher Ramon Gomez.