CENTURY LEAGUE

Canyon

Coach: Lance Eddy

1999 record: 18-13-1

League record: 6-4

Once again, Canyon is the primary challenger to Foothill with eight returning starters and great depth. Key contributors should be Wendy Takehara, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, and first baseman/catcher Amber Boeg, who batted .256 with 14 runs batted in after a knee injury. Like Boeg, outfielder Lisa Hatter (.271, 12 RBIs, 22 runs) is a four-year starter. Sophomore infielder Megan Welch would have started if not for a knee injury, and sophomore Lindsey Klabacha (12-7, 1.32 ERA) and third baseman Britany Crine (.193) should be better this season.

El Modena

Coach: Rhonda Weyer

1999 record: 16-12

League record: 6-4

Few teams will be as young as the Vanguards, whose oldest players are two juniors, outfielder Morgan Scott, a second-team all-league player, and infielder Kathleen Galbreath, the team’s most improved player. Infielder Ashley Van Boxmeer also returns, as does sophomore pitcher/infielder Andrea Pastiglione. Five talented freshmen--Tara Henry, Jessica Henja, Lauren Smith, Lindsay Klein and Jennifer Butenschoen--set a strong foundation for the future.

Foothill

Coach: Joe Gonzalez

1999 record: 29-4

League record: 10-0

Nine consecutive league championships are testament to Foothill’s dominance, and seven starters return from last season’s Division I quarterfinalist. First baseman Kristen Mann (.276, 22 RBIs) and pitcher Courtney Fossatti (15-2, 0.20 ERA), both Times’ Orange County first-team players as juniors, are among the returners. Pitching shouldn’t be a problem; Elizabeth Bendig was 12-1 and Fossatti (who also batted .389) is looking to make up for lost time after not pitching in the playoffs because of an ankle injury.

Orange

Coach: Lacee Collins

1999 record: 8-14

League record: 2-8

The league is tougher than last season, top to bottom, so the Panthers won’t catch many breaks. Coach Lacee Collins (second year) will probably rely on a freshman pitcher, Vanessa Zboril, but at least she’ll have the benefit of a senior catcher, Janice Hall. Returning starters Courtney Winger and Crystal Zboril are back at first and third, respectively.

Santa Ana Valley

Coach: Terry Orabona

1999 record: 13-14

League record: 3-7

Hoping to take a step up to third or fourth place, the Falcons will attempt to do so with only one player with travel ball experience, pitcher Arlene Newton (2.68 ERA), who batted .348 and led the team in most offensive categories. The team’s success could depend on who works out at catcher. First baseman Christine Melendez and Tiffany Oviedo are testing at catcher, but the hope is that Melendez proves competent, allowing Oviedo to play shortstop.

Villa Park

Coach: Jim Bollinger

1999 record: 12-14-1

League record: 3-7

Coach Jim Bollinger was on the staff at Mater Dei a few years ago when the Monarchs rivaled Foothill for county supremacy. Now, he takes over a program that competes against Foothill for a league title. He inherits seven starters, including senior pitcher Alyson Hannigan (6-11, 0.98) and the Knights’ other first-team all-league representative, junior catcher Jill Sandoval. Corner infielder Ashley Rivers, up from junior varsity, could add offensive punch, and three freshmen might make an impact, shortstop/outfielder Leslie Green, second baseman/outfielder Leslie Daniels and pitcher Kindal Kincaid.