Sailors seeking Urban renewal

Barry Faulkner

Though he has exhausted his eligibility, Joe Urban, the leading home

run hitter in Newport Harbor High baseball history, is once again

boosting the Sailors’ offense this spring. After one year coaching

the freshman team, Urban, who belted 20 dingers from 1994-97, is head coach Joel Desguin’s hitting instructor.

Urban and former Sailor head man Jim Kiefer have joined Desguin

and returning assistant Evan Chalmers to form a varsity staff that

will attempt to shepherd the Tars to the CIF Southern Section

playoffs, a destination they have not reached the last 13 seasons.

“With the addition of the coaches [which include junior varsity

instructors Tim Butler and Jacob Levi, as the varsity and JV practice

together due to the shortage of field space during campus

reconstruction], we’ve been able to do a lot more with the kids,”

said Desguin, who enters his third season coming off an 8-18

campaign. The Tars were 3-12 in the Sea View League last year after

going 0-16 in league in 2002.

“[Urban] is working with the hitters, [Kiefer] is handling all the

pitchers, Chalmers is working with the outfielders and I’ve got the

catchers,” Desguin said. “At this point, this group is as far, or

farther along than we have been in the past. They’ve taken a lot more

quality cuts in the cages. I think they’ve taken more swings in the

[preseason] sixth-period P.E. class than they did all of last year.”

Last year’s results showed a lack of batting practice as the

Sailors hit a paltry .224 as a team and had more strikeouts (166)

than hits (155).

But, in addition to senior Joey Cantarella, who led the team with

a .314 average and was also a quality pitcher en route to first-team

all-league and All-Newport-Mesa recognition, the Sailors should

benefit from senior Cypress transfer Brandon Jasper.

“Jasper [set to start at shortstop and also anchor the bullpen as

a potential closer], is a pretty good athlete who is a switch-hitter

and could be a good power guy,” Desguin said.

Community college coaches have told Desguin Jasper may have a

collegiate future as a pitcher.

Cantarella earned half of the Sailors’ pitching victories last

season, as well as a save.

He posted a 3.28 ERA to belie his 4-8 record, fanning 43 and

yielding 73 hits in 70 1/3 innings.

“Joey is a kid who could play all nine positions for us,” said

Desguin, who plans to utilize Cantarella in the outfield when he’s

not pitching.

Junior Matt Erickson will also pitch, play second base, and lead

off. He may also see some time at designated hitter. He should be a

regular in the starting pitching rotation, Desguin said.

Junior Jeff Sanchez, whose nine RBIs last season lead all

returners, is the catcher.

Senior Mike McLean will also pitch and play the outfield and

Desguin has penciled him in to bat third.

Senior Karo Makserjian is set to start in center field and likely

hit fifth, behind Jasper. Makserjian had one of the team’s three home

runs last season, while collecting eight RBIs and a team-leading six

stolen bases. The other two home run hitters from the 2003 team have

graduated.

Greg Miner is the frontrunner at first base, while fellow junior

Taylor Young, a standout in football and basketball, should

contribute at first, third, designated hitter and eventually on the

mound.

Junior Patrick Keehan adds depth in the middle infield and could

take over at short when Jasper is on the bump. He will also pitch,

Desguin said.

Senior Andre Pinesett, as well as juniors Tim Bodenhoefer and

Bobby Ward are additional options in the outfield

Junior Sean Rowe is another potential pitching contributor, while

senior Kenny Knight provides still more depth to the infield.

“I think we’re much deeper this year,” said Desguin, who believes

the strength of this year’s team is pitching and defense.

“We’re really working on getting more hits,” added Desguin, who

watched last year’s team strike out in nearly 24% of 692 at-bats.

Desguin said he expects some strong competition in the Sea View,

most notably from Foothill, Woodbridge, Aliso Niguel and Laguna

Hills.

“We try to set realistic goals and making the playoff is

realistic,” Desguin said.

The Sailors open today at home at 3 p.m. against Tustin in the

first round of the Newport Elks tournament.