Story Created:
Mar 18, 2009 at 1:35 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 18, 2009 at 1:35 PM PST
The two teams expected to battle all season for the San Gabriel Valley League baseball title test each other right off the bat.
Two time defending champion Paramount High School hosts Downey at 3:15 p.m. Friday in what could be a preview of things to come in 2009.
Warren is at Lynwood and Dominguez is at Gahr in other league openers Friday.
Paramount might be 1-4 in the preleague, but the Pirates still feature the league’s top pitcher in senior Eddie Magallon, 18-2 with a 1.10 ERA during his career. He was MVP of the league as a sophomore.
Osbaldo Magallon, Eddie’s brother, will also pitch.
Offense will come from catcher Jaime Valley, third baseman Jose Lopez and outfielder Gabriel Lopez.
Downey, 5-2 in the preleague, returns the SGVL’s top position player in All-CIF outfieldre Ivory Thomas, who is batting .538 thus far. He hit .429 with 28 RBIs a year ago.
Pitcher/infielder Michael Mazzara, Cesar Valtierra and Bryant De La Campa are also back for the Vikings.
Warren, off to an 0-6 start, looks to pitchers Gene Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Christian Rodriguez, Alex Solis, Daniel Catalan and Chris Cota to make a run at a playoff berth.
Gahr, 4-1, should push Paramount and Downey in the race.
Michael Lugo, hitting .500 with three home runs and nine RBIs in the early going, and Daniel Lack, batting .417, have paced the Gladiators.
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Watch for Norwalk to challenge the likes of favorite La Mirada, Mayfair and Glenn in the Suburban League race this year.
The Lancers, currently 4-0, made a statement with their 6-4 victory over Glenn in the championship game of the Montebello Tournament.
Jerry Gonzalez and Johnathan Villapando have each pitched two complete games to keep them undefeated. Gonzalez was the winning pitcher against Glenn.
Catcher Nick Landeros and outfielder Randy Garcia are expected to be the top hitters for Norwalk. Another player to watch is shortstop Moises Acosta.
For Glenn (3-1), pitchers Juan Vera and Efrain Ramirez carry their hopes.
Catcher Enrique Medina and middle infielders Davon Foggie (shortstop) and Josh Carr (second base) are returning starters who will lead the way offensively for the Eagles. Medina hit .369 as a sophomore in 2008.
Another Glenn player to watch is first baseman Luis Ruezga.
La Mirada is the overwhelming favorite to take the Suburban title.
A strong pitching staff featuring the likes of Adam Inzunza and Mike Piazza is the main reason.
Another is shortstop Andres Rodriguez, who batted .333 with 27 RBIs as a freshman.
Mayfair, the defending league champion, returns four starters, so it can’t be counted out.
Junior shortstop Derrick Garcia, who batted .345 a year ago, is the top returnee for the Monsoons. First baseman Raymond Patchen batted .325 in 2008.
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