Royal Highlander

Head coach: Dan Maye (16th season) Last season's results: 25-4, 11-3 in league (Marmonte champions) Biggest losses: D.J. Smith, P/1B; Phil Boscarino, SS/P; Clayton Edwards P Notable returnees: Grady Ihnat, P/OF; Kevin Harrington, P/CF; Justin Czyrklis, C/3B Impact newcomer: Tanner Peters, sophomore, P Pitching ace: Tanner Peters Biggest bats: Kevin Harrington, Justin Czyrklis Overview: After winning the league title a season ago, Royal sent nearly its entire starting lineup to college baseball programs across the country. D.J. Smith and Phil Boscarino are at UC Riverside, while Clayton Edwards plays for UC Santa Barbara. The list goes on.

Success for the Highlanders this season will depend upon how quickly the new players adjust to the varsity. Holdovers Grady Ihnat, Justin Czyrklis and Kevin Harrington are the only returnees with significant varsity experience. Harrington, a center fielder and pitcher, continues to recover from a broken arm suffered during football season. He has yet to return to the mound but is back on the field. Czyrklis will start behind the dish. Ihnat plays right field and pitches.

Kyle Wilkerson swings a big stick but has battled ACL problems since last year. If he's healthy, Wilkerson will play second base and designated hitter.

A pair of sophomores, Tanner Peters and Mike Vinyard, should make a big impact. Peters will pitch and play in the outfield. Vinyard has moved from catcher to left field. First baseman Dennis Kelly, third baseman Kenny Lawson, shortstop Ryan Beitz and middle infielder Daniel Darkoski are all seniors over 6-foot tall. They're big guys, but all lack true varsity experience.

Southpaw Brian Priestly will join Peters in the starting rotation. Troy Hunter, Chris Rock, Mike Long and Kyle Zuener are all versatile players who can pitch and play the field. Junior Billy Chase should move around in the outfield, while fellow junior Kenny Walden platoons at designated hitter and first base. Head coach Dan Maye says: "We've got a lot of kids who've been in the program that are now on the varsity. No one in the league really knows who we've got. They just think everybody's graduated."