Prep baseball: Tars feature a new dimension

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - The Newport Harbor High baseball diamond has some

new dimensions this spring, but Sailors Coach Jim Kiefer hopes the added

dimension of winning will also be a part of the program’s face-lift for

2001.

“At this time of the year, every team likes to talk about making the

playoffs and winning CIF,” said Kiefer, entering his sixth season. “But

what’s important for our coaches and players is taking the necessary

steps to get to the next level. When I got to Newport, I knew it wasn’t

going to happen in one or two years. It’s taken some time, but we’ve gone

from fielding a team, to being competitive. The natural progression now

is winning. We’ve got to win some games to develop some confidence.”

For the first time in Kiefer’s tenure, there is a basis for that

confidence, with the carry-over of players who enjoyed success the last

two springs at the freshman level.

“We have to get past the legacy of Newport Harbor baseball being the

doormat,” Kiefer said. “Our lower levels the last two years were much

improved and it’s time to start reaping the benefits. In the past, we’ve

had kids come up to the varsity who have never won or had success, so the

expectations were real low.”

This year’s juniors won the Sea View League title as freshmen and last

year’s freshmen finished second.

“Winning is important to these guys,” said Kiefer, who hopes to end a

10-season playoff drought by surviving a typically rugged Sea View

campaign. The Tars were 5-18 a year ago, 2-14 in league.

“The chemistry is better this year and we need to break through that

barrier,” Kiefer said.

The home run barriers have been extended at Harbor, a move loudly

applauded by the pitching staff.

“It was 310 feet down the left-field line and now it’s 326,” Kiefer

said. “And left center has gone from 348 to almost 370.”

The larger park, as well as the new aluminum bat restrictions, figure

to help Kiefer’s little ball approach.

“With the kinds of kids we have, we’re not going to hit 50 home runs,”

Kiefer said. “To get to a championship level, the backbone of the team

has to be pitching and defense.”

Seniors Chris Ward and Joel Brown figure to handle the former, while

senior catcher Garrett Brant anchors the latter.

Ward has gone from an over-the-top delivery to sidearm and posted a

sub-one ERA in the fall, according to his coach.

“Dropping down has given him some movement on his fastball and he’s

throwing a slider,” Kiefer said. “He’s really done an about face from

last year (0-4 with a 5.87 ERA in 22 2/3 innings).

Ward will also play third.

Brown, up from the junior varsity, is “starting to blossom,” Kiefer

said.

Brant, who learned at the heels of former Sailor standout Charlie

Waite, now catching at Mississippi, has Division I potential. He hit .345

(19 for 55) a year ago with one homer and 12 RBIs and Kiefer raves about

his work behind the plate.

“He’s a potential all-league player and I think he could go on and

play in college,” Kiefer said.

Senior Donovan Wong, a returning starter in the outfield, will shift

from left to center and could bat cleanup, behind Brant. Wong hit .303

last spring (20 for 66).

Shane Glenn, a junior transfer from Etiwanda, is a 6-foot-4, 180-pound

pitcher with a nice split-finger fastball.

“We’re very pleased to have him,” said Kiefer, who may be tempted to

use him in closing situations.

Senior Alan Lane returns at second base, where he complemented his

steady glove by hitting .328 (19 for 58) with nine RBIs last spring.

Cody Forsythe replaces 2000 Newport-Mesa District Co-Player of the

Year Nick Langsdorf at first base. A junior, Forsythe will also bolster

the mound corps.

Junior Mike Jones takes over at shortstop, while junior Jon

Vandersloot will play third when Ward pitches.

Juniors Cameron Pemstein, last year’s junior varsity MVP, and Lu

Castillo are slated to flank Wong in right and left field, respectively.

Pemstein hit better than .400 last year, according to Kiefer.

Senior Jim Erickson, as well as juniors Adam Cherry and Ryan

Metkovich, will add depth.

The Sailors are scheduled to open Friday in the Foothill-Costa Mesa

Tournament, hosting Laguna Beach at at 3 p.m.

Newport Harbor baseball roster

2 Ryan Metkovich Jr.

3 Adam Cherry Jr.

4 Mike Jones Jr.

5 Jim Erickson Sr.

6 Jon Vandersloot Jr.

7 Lu Castillo Jr.

8 Donovan Wong Sr.

9 Chris Ward Sr.

11 Alan Lane Sr.

20 Cameron Pemstein Jr.

24 Cody Forsythe Jr.

27 Joel Brown Sr.

28 Garrett Brant Sr.

44 Shane Glenn Jr.

Coach: Jim Kiefer