The Inland area baseball preview for the 2019 season:
TEAMS TO WATCH
Ayala: A group of young and talented hitters, highlighted by 6-foot-4 slugging sophomore Cole Koniarsky and senior first baseman Joe Naranjo, is up for the Bulldogs and head coach Chris Vogt.
Etiwanda: Eagles continue to run the Baseline League as they head into 10th season for head coach Ron Furnald, who has another stacked lineup a year after scoring 130 runs in 15 league games.
Garey: Vikings will carry just 13 players to start the year, including just four seniors who return from a team that was impressive as it went 15-0 to claim the Miramonte League title last season.
Grand Terrace: Titans are ranked fourth in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 preseason poll after consecutive 20-win seasons and back-to-back appearances in the Division 4 quarterfinals.
Jurupa Hills: This will be defining year for the Spartans, who started the 2019 season with a victory to give Leon Baham the 200th win of his coaching career.
Los Osos: Getting notice for a strong senior class led by Jackson Enright and Kyle Ethridge, the Grizzlies are sixth in the CIF-SS Division 3 preseason poll as new head coach Dominick Copas enters.
Redlands: Terriers likely to go under the radar in the CBL and will be looking for hits and runs to support Marcus Zofrea, one of the most dominant starting pitchers in the school’s long history.
Redlands East Valley: Watch the reloading job head coach Rob Ducey does in his second season with the Wildcats, who will transform from a team that won 20 games with 13 seniors a year ago to a team that wins 20-plus with 12.
Summit: SkyHawks are sixth in the CIF-SS Division 4 preseason poll as sophomore shortstop Gerardo Cruz (.338 avg., 33 RBIs) and junior pitcher Christian Enriquez (6-4, 1.66 ERA) step to the fore.
Yucaipa: All eyes will be on the Thunderbirds, last year’s CIF-SS Division 2 champion, in head coach Ralph Grajeda’s second season. How well the club handles the increased attention will be telling.
