Scorpions still the team to beat in PVL
Defending league champs can swing the bats, but pitching is a question mark
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers BETTER GET BACK- Camarillo High first baseman Andy Yingling, right, awaits the ball on a pickoff play against Calabasas Tuesday afternoon at ACHS. The Scorpions, CIF-Southern Section Division II finalists a year ago, will once again field a potent offense in 2008.

After being one win away from a CIF baseball championship last season, the Camarillo High Scorpions hope they haven't lost their sting.

Featuring 10 seniors- including eight returning players- on a roster of 13 should avert most growing pains for Camarillo this year.

"I don't want to say we won't skip a beat," said fifth-year head coach Richard Jaquez, "but we should have the ability to continue winning."

Three Scorpion players have already signed college scholarships.

Second baseman Jacob Mahan will play at UC Santa Barbara in the fall. Outfielder Kenny Wise is heading to Fresno State. Bryan Willson, a batboy for the 2002 Camarillo team that won a section title, will suit up for Chico State.

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers THE WAITING GAME- Scorpion infielder Thomas Reilly charges a ball during Tuesday's 6-0 Camarillo victory over Calabasas.

Jaquez expects at least one more player to sign, and that could be senior catcher Nathan Johnson. Mahan, Willson and Johnson are three-year varsity players.

Camarillo, 2-1 at press time in the young season, finished 28-3 in 2007 and appears poised to make another strong regularseason and postseason run.

"We're pretty excited about this year," said Michael Catalano, a senior outfielder and first baseman. "We had a good year last year, and a lot of kids are back. We rebounded from the first loss with two wins."

Jaquez said the Scorpions should remain potent offensively but must fill in a couple spots defensively and solidify their pitching staff.

"I think our pitching staff is not as established," Jaquez said, "but offensively we're similar to last year's team. We are lucky. We have a number of kids who swing the bat well."

The most notable absence is pitcher and shortstop Garrett Rau, who pitched 10 scoreless innings but settled for a no-decision in a 1-0 loss to Vista Murrieta in the CIF-Southern Section Division II final at Dodger Stadium in May.

Seniors Kevin Ball and Willson have picked up the slack on the mound thus far.

Ball, who suffered an elbow injury as a junior and has pitched sparingly in his prep career, threw a complete game shutout in a 6-0 win against Calabasas on Tuesday in the Easton Tournament.

The Scorpions resume play in the Easton Tournament Saturday against an undetermined opponent.

Camarillo will begin defense of its Pacific View League title on Tues., March 11 at Pacifica of Oxnard at 3:15 p.m. Three of the final four CIF-Southern Section Division II playoff teams in 2007 play in the rugged Pacific View.

"It's great for the league, but for coaches, it's a concern," Jaquez said.

The skipper said Oxnard, Rio Mesa and Hueneme can create havoc in the Pacific View League this season.

Mahan is the top returning hitter for the Scorpions after batting .526 with 35 RBI, 11 doubles, five triples and three home runs a year ago.

Wise (.375 batting average), Johnson (.368), Willson (.337), Ball (.333) and Brett Chamberlain (.333) all had solid performances at the plate in 2007.

Third baseman Thomas Reilly is the squad's only junior.

Jaquez was an assistant coach at Camarillo for seven years before guiding Pacifica's program for two seasons. After that, Jaquez returned to the Scorpions- and now he never takes winning for granted.

"It's a pleasure to coach this team," said Jaquez, a biology teacher who has worked at Camarillo High for 13 years and in the district for 19 years in all.

"It's fun to have a chance to win every day. I've been on the other side of the coin. At Pacifica, we took our lumps. It makes you appreciate winning."