Prep baseball: Team vanilla

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - The Costa Mesa High baseball team may not resemble

last year’s squad, which matched a school single-season victory record

(16) and produced the Mustangs first two-win postseason since 1962, en

route to the CIF Southern Section Division IV quarterfinals.

But, according to Coach Kirk Bauermeister, this year’s players do at

least mirror one another.

“The thing I’ve been telling our kids is we’re pretty average,”

Bauermeister said. “We’re going to put nine average guys on the field and

play hard. We don’t have any glaring weaknesses and we don’t have any

glaring strengths. But you can compete with that in baseball.”

The Mustangs return four starters from last year’s 16-10-1 unit, which was led by All-CIF performer Ruben Mancilla, the Newport-Mesa District

Co-Player of the Year who virtually rewrote the school’s offensive record

book.

Senior Josh Little was all-district and second-team All-Pacific Coast

League last spring, when the center fielder hit .427 with 38 RBIs and

four homers. Of his 44 hits, 17 were for extra bases and he stole nine

bases.

“Josh had huge numbers last year, but he was hitting in front of Ruben

and we had a lot of guys on base,” Bauermeister said. “Josh is a good

player, our best player. He’ll probably hit third.”

Sophomore Nick Cabico is back after spending the first semester this year

at Mater Dei High. A former Costa Mesa Little League legend, Cabico

finished last season as Bauermeister’s most effective starting pitcher.

Two of his final three starts were complete-game victories, which helped

him post a 4.93 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 54 innings. He’ll look to

improve upon his 3-5 record as the staff ace and will likely play second

base when not pitching.

Junior Carlos Franco, another returning starter, shifts from third base

to first. He will also handle closing duties on the mound, Bauermeister

said.

He hit .250 a year ago (18 for 72), but drove in 21 runs. He won 3 of 5

pitching decisions, but what Bauermeister termed a lack of stamina, led

to an inflated 8.85 ERA.

“We think he’ll be better in short stints, where he can just reach back

and throw,” Bauermeister said. “He should hit more consistently for power

and he’ll either hit fourth or fifth.”

Senior Galel Fajardo was last year’s starter behind the plate, but he’s

currently battling junior Daniel Hunter for the job. Fajardo hit .273

with five RBIs last season and Bauermeister said his intangibles will

make it tough to keep him out of the lineup.

Hunter, who had two hits and two RBIs in just four varsity at-bats last

season, has emerged as a potent offensive threat, whom Bauermeister said

could play in the outfield when he’s not catching.

“(Hunter) swings it pretty well,” Bauermeister said. “He hit some home

runs in winter league and he has good gap power. He’ll probably bat

sixth.”

The Mustangs, who hit .360 as a team with 25 homers last season (a

school-record 10 of which came off Mancilla’s bat), will also count upon

junior Antony Grubisich to provide power.

Grubisich, a first-team All-PCL and all-district defensive tackle last

fall who also wrestles, has dropped 20 pounds from his 260-pound football

playing weight. He can play first or third, but will likely be the

designated hitter.

“(Grubisich) is kind of a key guy for us,” Bauermeister said. “He could

hit some homers. They’re big shoes to fill, but we need him to give us

some of the production Ruben gave us last year.”

Junior Josh Feldman is penciled in in left field and will likely man the

leadoff spot as a left-handed hitter. He is one of several Mustangs up

from the junior varsity.

Junior Evan McGuire, the projected starter in right field, has also

emerged from the JV and Bauermeister terms him the biggest surprise this

year.

“He runs better, swings the bat better and is stronger than we thought,”

Bauermeister said.

Another pleasant surprise is junior lefty Jeremiah Hobrick, whom

Bauermeister said could be the No. 2 starting pitcher.

“He’s the first lefty (pitcher) I’ve had in 11 years. Nothing he throws

is straight and he has picked up about 10 mph on his fastball since last

season.”

Junior Brent Stevens is also being counted upon to pitch and Little is

another mound option.

Sophomore Billy Halverson fills one of five holes left by graduated

all-disctict performers. He’ll take over at short for Rob Gloster and

Bauermeister has been impressed with his glove work.

“(Gloster) was about the best shortstop I’ve had, but I don’t think we

lose a lot defensively with Billy,” Bauermeister said.

Steve Shores, another junior, is the front-runner at third base, while

Lyle Yourex (second base) and Evan Swedleson (first base) will likely see

action when Cabico and Franco pitch.

Seniors Mike Bodgan and Jorge Paredes will also provide depth for a

program which now has 60 players, including 22 freshmen, prompting the

need for four teams.

Bauermeister said University is the clear league favorite, but the other

four league schools are relatively even.

Mesa opens Friday at 3:15 p.m. at Garden Grove High.

Costa Mesa baseball roster

1 Nick Cabico So.

3 Billy Halverson So.

4 Galel Fajardo Sr.

6 Evan Swedelson Sr.

9 Brent Stevens Jr.

16 Mike Bogdan Sr.

20 Steven Shores Jr.

24 Jeremiah Haubrick Jr.

25 Evan McGuire Jr.

29 Antony Grubisich Jr.

32 Josh Little Sr.

33 Carlos Franco Jr.

36 Josh Feldman Jr.

42 Lyle Yourex Sr.

43 Jorge Paredes Sr.

49 Daniel Hunter Jr.

Coach: Kirk Bauermeister