After losing seven seniors last season, the Anzar baseball team will look to stir some noise in the Mission Trail Athletic League with an influx of youth this year.
With only five upperclassmen and eight underclassmen, including four frosh starters, Manager Andrew Barragan's team will use small ball at the plate and strong pitching in the field to perhaps surprise some squads.
With a rather high amount of graduating seniors last season, Barragan would consider this a rebuilding year under most circumstances, but with what he's seen to date, the coach seems excited about the upcoming year.
"I feel good," said Barragan, whose Hawks team went 2-12 in the MTAL last year, 3-17-1 overall. "These kids can put the ball in play and so far, they haven't been striking out the last four games."
Anzar is already 2-1, pocketing a 9-8 win and a 5-1 victory against Pajaro Valley. Their lone loss came 9-0 to North Salinas.
In the second game against PV, however, Anzar's No. 1 pitcher and sophomore Devon Parrish threw 90 pitches over seven innings, allowed one hit and struck out 12.
In the No. 2 spot, Anzar will use freshman Adam Huaracha.
"My pitching by far," said Barragan when asked what was the strength to his team.
Of Parrish, Barragan added, "He has that natural tail for a lefty. He's got some special stuff as a lefty."
The team's weakness, Barragan said, will be the long ball, so the Hawks will rely on manufacturing runs as the season progresses. Getting the clutch hit hasn't been a problem so far, though, as freshman Justin Borba's game-winning single against Pajaro Valley supplied the Hawks with their first victory of the season.
And with the top MTAL competition not slated until the second half of their schedule, Anzar has a chance to rack up some wins, and confidence, as they enter their last six to eight games.
"If we can win four to five games in the MTAL, I'd be thrilled," Barragan said. "With this core, I think we'll be making some noise in the MTAL."
Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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