HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PREVIEW : TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE : Strong Pitching Favors Fillmore : All-Southern Section Choice Leighton Heads Strong Staff

The road to a Tri-Valley League title goes through Fillmore.

Since 1975, the Flashes have won 11 league championships, including last season’s.

Coach Tom Ecklund is still searching for some pitching depth, but there is no doubt who is the ace of the staff. Willie Leighton, an All-Southern Section selection in 1987, returns for his senior season.

Leighton, a left-hander, has already shown midseason form. He pitched a complete game, striking out 8 without walking a batter in Fillmore’s first game of the season, a 2-1 win over Santa Clara.

Jamie Allamillo, a 6-3, 180-pound senior with a good fastball, is the No. 2 starter. “If he comes through, that will really help us,” Ecklund said. “He started out well last season, then got beat up a little and lost confidence.”

Allamillo plays third base when not pitching. He batted .485 to lead the team last season. Shortstop Jaime Sandoval is another .400 hitter.

St. Bonaventure has a new playing field, a new coach, new infielders, and potentially one of the league’s best pitching staffs.

Coach Dennis Johnson has three pitchers he can count on in Kevin Zoll, Chris Castro and Eric Tucker.

Wayne McPhail, a junior outfielder, batted .460 last season. Chris Gaston, another junior, batted .400, but is a player without a position to call his own. He will play pitcher, catcher and shortstop. Andy Wagoner, a 6-6 senior, plays first base and provides plenty of power in the middle of the Seraph lineup.

Nordhoff, which has an 11-0 victory over St. Bonaventure to its credit, could be the surprise team of the league.

Jason Savard, the ace of the Rangers’ staff, struck out 8 and walked 3 in a complete game against St. Bonaventure.

Larry Carlton, who set several school scoring records during the basketball season, is one of the baseball team’s top hitters. He had 3 hits against St. Bonaventure.

Oak Park has 7 returning starters, including all-league second baseman Scott Veres, who batted .371 last season.

Scott Ziegler, John Daley and Dave Stephens give the Eagles a solid pitching staff.

Moorpark has only 12 players--8 of whom are underclassmen.

Keith Orford, a 6-2 junior, is the team’s top pitcher. He is backed up by sophomore Robert Hernandez and senior Kelly Kira.

Shortstop Frank Fernandez, a sophomore, batted .328 last season and had 27 steals.