Baseball season preview

El Toro won the CIF-Southern Section Division II championship last season.

The Chargers could be better this season.

They bring back all of their top three pitchers from last season - CIF Division II player of the year Chad Thompson, who signed with Arizona State; Tyler Ziegler, who threw a shutout in the 7-0 victory over Redlands East Valley in the Division II championship game at Dodger Stadium; and T.J. Kendroza, a handy 5-1 in 2008.

Add to the mix Aaron Wirsch, a 6-foot-6 lefty who was 10-2 as a sophomore in 2007. Wirsch, who signed with University of San Diego, did not pitch in '08, because of an elbow injury, but El Toro coach Mike Gonzales said Wirsch is recovered and ready for '09.

The Chargers also return All-County shortstop Nolan Arenado. The only positions to fill were two outfielder slots.

Gonzales' challenge is to make sure the players are pleased with '08, but not satisfied.

"There's always the fear of guys getting complacent," said Gonzales, going into his ninth year as El Toro's coach. "We don't want guys forgetting what it took to do what they did last year. Fortunately, we have a lot of kids who are seniors, so they've been through it and they have a good idea of what it takes to win it all."

Then there is that bull's-eye-on-your-back deal that goes with being a returning champion - and with being the No. 2 team in the nation, according to Baseball America's rankings.

Thompson said last year's experience should make the Chargers ready for anything that comes their way this year.

"The advantage we have, once we get into those tight, pressure situations, is we should be able to handle it a lot easier. That shouldn't be new to us."

The Anderson Bat National Classic always has a strong field, but his year's group could be special.

The tournament, April 13-16, annually draws nationally ranked teams and that happened again this year. Eight teams in Baseball America's national top 50 are in the National Classic.

National No. 2 El Toro is in the event, as are No. 6 Don Bosco Prep of New Jersey, No. 16 Norco, No. 20 Notre Dame Prep of Scottsdale, Ariz., No. 30 Jesuit of Carmichael, No. 31 Mater Dei, and No. 35 Mamaroneck of New York.

The Loara and Newport Elks tournaments are underway. Go to loaratournament.com and knightsbaseball.com (click on the Newport Elks Tournament tab there) for results and schedules. … Edison sophomore Eric Snyder last year tied the school single-season record for hits, with 53, a record established by recently retired Jeff Kent of the Dodgers. … La Habra's new coach, Paul Caffrey, made his mark as a player in football. He rushed for a county single-game record seven touchdowns in 1997 when playing for Heritage Christian. Among his top players at La Habra will be outfielder Jordan Sachs, who led county basketball in scoring this season. … Among the many college signees in the county is Sonora infielder Steven Mancilla, who signed with Cal State Fullerton. Another Titans signee is Tesoro outfielder Anthony Hutting. … Orange Lutheran junior pitcher Bobby Wheatley, the Lancers' starting football quarterback, committed to USC.

Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com