What is expected to be a three-team race begins Friday for the San Gabriel Valley League baseball teams.

Paramount High School has won at least a share of the last three titles and Downey shared the crown with the Pirates a year ago. Gahr has an outstanding offense and should push those two.

The best of the 3:15 p.m. openers Friday has Downey (3-4) at Gahr (4-2). Paramount (3-2) is at Lynwood (2-1) and Warren (2-1-2) is at Dominguez (0-0) in the other matchups.

For Paramount to repeat as champion, it must overcome the graduation loss of pitcher Eddie Magallon, now playing at Long Beach State.

Jessie Miranda and Jose Lopez will attempt to fill that void.

Offensively, the Pirates figure to be led by senior shortstop Mark Silva, junior catcher Jaime Valle and sophomore outfielder Gabriel Aguilar. Others being counted on are third baseman Jesus Caporal and outfielder Steven Espinoza.

Downey suffered heavy graduation losses, most notably pitcher Chris Munoz, outfielder Ivory Thomas (now at Cal State Fullerton) and Michael Mazzara.

But the cupboard is hardly bare for the Vikings.

Senior pitcher Jeremy Ruiz returns after a season in which he went 7-1 with a 2.37 ERA. He is 1-1 with a save and a 3.07 ERA so far this season.

Other pitchers being counted on are David Espindola  and Jared Gibson, who are each 1-0.

Senior shortstop Alex Jimenez, who batted .413 a year ago, and first baseman Anthony Roller, who hit .462 with five home runs, are other key returnees.

Junior center fielder Joshua Guerra is batting .318 and  sophomore third baseman Yamel Delgado is hitting .292 in the early going.

Gahr returns senior pitcher Sonny Burgueno, the league MVP in 2009. He was 8-3 with a 2.93 ERA last season and will again anchor the staff.

Providing him with hitting support is UCLA-signee Brenton Allen, who batted .392 and stole 25 bases a year ago. Senior outfielder Michael Lugo provides another big bat after hitting .457 with six homers and 41 RBIs in 2009. Senior outfielder Alex Newman and senior second baseman Josh Cabula both are coming off seasons in which they batted .404.

Warren, trying to improve on an 11-14 record of a year ago, has a number of returnees from 2009.

Senior catcher/outfielder Derek Garcia, who batted .400 with 14 RBIs, and senior outfielder/pitcher Daniel Catalan, who hit .333 with 17 RBIs and was 2-1 on the mound, are two of the key veterans.

Others include junior catcher/infielder/pitcher Christian Rodriguez, junior first baseman/pitcher Andre Conde, senior pitcher/first baseman Adan Cabrales and pitcher Gene Gonzalez. Cabrales was 3-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 41.2 innings a year ago.

SUBURBAN LEAGUE
Defending champion La Mirada (3-3) again looks like the team to beat in the Suburban League, which begins play March 24.

The Matadores, 18-12 a year ago, return two outstanding pitchers in Daniel Poncedelon (5-3, 2.33) and Kyle Harper (7-5, 2.03).

They also have plenty of offensive support with the return of Nick Mandry (.391, 19 RBIs), Andres Rodriguez (.289), J.T. Torres (.347) and Mike Piazza (.279).

Mayfair, 3-1 in the early going, also brings back a solid arm in Austin Henderson, who was 9-3 with a 2.65 ERA in 2009. Derrick Garcia, who hit .385 with 14 RBIs, is one of the league’s top returning offensive threats. He is a four-year starter.

First baseman Ray Patchen, second baseman Bob Webb and Jacob Roper all hit better than .300 a year ago for the Monsoons.

Bellflower, 5-1 so far, will be a threat any time fireballing pitcher Tony Amezcua is on the mound.

Offensively, the Bucs lean on All-Suburban League catcher Sergio Barboza and third baseman Josh Ancona. Others to watch include shortstop Cesar Castillo and pitcher/outfielder Sebastian Frutos.

Norwalk, which is 4-3, returns its top player from a year ago, Johnathan Villalpondo, who was 6-3 with a 2.37 ERA and batted .344.

Shortstop Moises Acosta and pitchers Chris Hernandez and Steven Mendoza also return for the Lancers.

Glenn, 2-3, has pitcher/outfielder Juan Vera and outfielder Davon Foggie to build around. Vera hit .398 and was 5-3 on the mound a year ago. Foggie batted .386 and earned all-league honors.

Joining Vera on the pitching staff are Joseph Guerra and Andy Aguirre.

Sophomore shortstop John Lemos figures to improve after hitting .265 a year ago.

The March 24 openers have Cerritos at Bellflower, Norwalk at La Mirada and Glenn at Mayfair.