Questions for the upcoming prep year

In less than a week, high school athletes will be back in school, as

football, boys’ water polo, cross-country, girls’ volleyball and

girls’ golf teams get ready to kick off the 2005-06 school year.

As is the case this time every year, anticipation for success is

high, and optimism runs rampant among the coaches and athletes who

compete at Burbank, Burroughs, Providence and Bellarmine-Jefferson

highs.

It is a time to look forward with aspirations and a time to set

goals. Before the first athletes hit the courts and the pools, or

take to the running course, anything is possible -- including a

winning season.

But is that overt optimism well placed? Does the area possess the

star athletes and the premier teams to make a run at a CIF Southern

Section -- or even a league -- championship?

It’s time to answer what might be some of the most interesting

questions pertaining to the teams and athletes of the of the upcoming

campaign.

* Will any team win a CIF Southern Section title? No.

However, one team might have the ability to make it to a

championship contest.

CIF crowns have been extremely rare for local teams for more than

a decade. In fact, only one championship -- captured in 1997 by the

Bell-Jeff girls’ basketball team -- has been won the past 12 years.

The Guard girls’ hoops team has gotten closest to a title in

recent years, playing for a Division IVA crown in 2003 and making it

to the semifinals in 2004.

Last season, the closest teams got to a title game was the playoff

quarterfinals, and only two squads from Providence did that.

It is a Pioneer squad that has the best chance at making it to a

final. The boys’ volleyball squad advanced to the Division V

quarterfinals in 2005 and has almost its entire lineup back.

The crazy thing is that Providence’s biggest obstacle to the

championship will probably come from a team in its own Liberty

League: Viewpoint. Viewpoint captured a division title this past

season.

However, the Pioneers should start the season ranked among the top

five -- if not the top three -- in the division.

Providence should be led by senior outside hitter Alex Knopper, a

returning All-CIF first-team Division V and All-Area first-team

selection.

Along with earning All-Liberty League first-team honors, Knopper

was also an all-tournament selection in the Pioneers’ 12th annual

Providence Tournament. He was first on the team in kills (216) and

digs (182) and had a .218 hitting percentage.

* Will any team win a league championship? Yes.

There is even a chance that more than one squad will capture

titles.

The Providence softball team has the best chance. The Pioneers

(19-4) won the title this past season, going 10-0 and not allowing a

single run during Liberty League play, outscoring their opponents,

72-0. The team also enjoyed a 13-game winning streak.

Although Providence lost some key players to graduation, the squad

still will have some outstanding returning athletes, including three

All-CIF and All-Area players.

Leading the way should be senior catcher Danielle Austin, the 2005

league player of the year. Austin hit .475 (28 for 59) with 20 runs

scored, 17 runs batted in, four doubles, three triples and three home

runs. Along with a .537 on-base percentage, she also had a .794

slugging percentage.

In the field, Austin had a .993 fielding percentage with just one

error in 19 games.

The team should also benefit from senior outfielder Lauren

Suedkamp, who led the Pioneers with a .493 average (35 for 70),

scored 24 runs and had 25 RBI, five doubles and struck out just two

times. She was also a terror on the base paths, stealing 16 bases

without being caught.

Also returning is junior pitcher Sara Biggs, who went 12-4 with a

1.44 earned-run average and had 119 strikeouts and 12 walks in 102

innings.

Another team that has a chance at a title is the Burroughs High

boys’ golf squad, which returns almost its entire team.

However, the Indians play in the tough Foothill League, which

might have as many as four talented teams.

* Who will be the next dominating athlete? Burroughs softball

player Kerry Hodgins.

This is a tough one because there are some fine players in a

variety of sports. However, because Hodgins will be just a sophomore,

she has three more seasons to add to the great freshman campaign she

put together in 2005.

Hodgins, a shortstop whose older sister, Ryanne, plays at the

University of New Mexico, hit .359 (28 for 78) with 20 runs scored,

14 RBI and two home runs.

Who knows, I might be wrong, and some players and teams might step

up and make an impact. We’ll just have to wait and see.

* JEFF TULLY is the sports editor of the Burbank Leader. He can be

reached at 637-3245, or by e-mail at jeff.tully@latimes.com.