Injuries sent the Cabrillo Conquistadores reeling to 2-8 last season after a CIF semi-final berth in 2005, but things are looking up, coach DON CROSS declared today.
“We’re going to be fine if we stay healthy. We have looked at all sides of those injuries. We looked at training and we looked at equipment. We’ve decided it was just a fluke.”
The positive side of all the hospital calls was that plenty of new talent reaped experience. It should come back to pay off beginning on Friday when the Q’s host Pacifica of Oxnard in their season opener at Huyck Stadium.
The strength of the black-and-gold should rest in the enormous offensive line. Center PAUL McNEIL stands a compact 5-10, 230. Guards DAVID KULP (6-1, 265) and JAKE FARLEY (6-3, 290) are gargantuan. All bring a year’s experience though Farley’s came two years ago. He was a casualty in ’06. Left tackle MIKE NELSON (5-11, 210) is also back after losing the season to injury. Right tackle ALEX HURD (6-0, 250) arrives from the undefeated JV team. If you have a calculator you know their average weight of this group is 250 pounds.
Add to that junior CHRIS ZAHUTA who played guard last year at 6-0, 190, and is a fearsome blocker, will be the tight end.
The guys carrying the ball, GREG WATSON and BENNIE GARRETT, are experienced seniors, and speedy. “They have breakaway speed, both of them. They’re track guys. They’re a threat to go all the way from anywhere,” Cross predicted. At wingback is junior BRANDON WHITTAKER. On that 10-0 JV team a year ago Whittaker picked off an amazing13 interceptions. The wide receiver spot will be contested between DAVID PHILLIPS, JEFF ESPARZA and JOSH BOWMAN.
Enjoying this cornucopia of riches will be junior quarterback SEAN ALLEN. Allen was thrown into the varsity fire last season when QB C.J. Simmons was injured.
“He understands the offense,” Cross said. “He knows how to play quarterback. On third-and-five he knows we want to go six yards, not 25.” Cross even compares Allen to his CIF-winning quarterback at Lompoc High ANDREW JONES. “He plays within himself,” Cross said.
The front of the defense will be staffed by Farley, Kulp and Zahuta with sophomore PAT COOK and junior EMMER RUANO at the ends. The linebackers will be MATT ROTONDI and JEFF GONZALES, the corners Garrett and Watson, and the free safety Whittaker. TREVOR WAGONSELLER will be utility man. The strong safety spot will be contested between VINCE MARZULLO and freshman USO TAUA, brother of University of Nevada running back VAI TAUA. “We’ve got speed on defense,” Cross assured.
Esparza will punt and kick field goals. He can punt for 40 and score from 30, Cross estimated. NOAH MOORE will handle kickoffs.
Cross predicted the Los Padres League will be up for grabs between Pioneer Valley, Cabrillo, St. Joseph and Morro Bay. “In the summer the most athletic team was Morro Bay,” Cross declared. “Logan Budd may be the best player in the league. He never leaves the field. It’s gonna be crazy.”
Game time Friday is 7:30. The Conqs have only two preparatory games before they open LPL play at Pioneer Valley on Sept. 21. That game will be broadcast by Pressbox Productions on Comcast Channel 23.
Baseball wraps up
ANDY SHIPMAN’s baseball season came to an end Monday. After a disappointing assignment by the Oakland A’s to AA Midland of the Texas League, his pitching numbers looked good early. They were so good through April and May that a call up back to AAA where he had spent 2006, and maybe even the major leagues, seemed likely. But in June and thereafter the numbers slipped. The Ship, in his fifth pro year, struggled to a 4-7 record and a 5.81 ERA in 117 innings. During July and August his ERA soared to above seven…. CHRIS WHITE went 3-for-5 with two doubles Monday for the Oneonta Tigers of the New York-Pennsylvania League. The trio of raps raised his batting average for his late August stint at Oneonta to .225. He batted .279 for the Gulf Coast League Rookie Tigers before their season ended. White can be seen on TV the next two nights on the web at www.ironbirdsbaseball.com, click MULTIMEDIA, then IBTV, and then CLICK HERE TO VIEW IBTV BASEBALL. Game starts at 4 p.m. California time, 6 p.m. Central. Be on time, White is the leadoff batter.
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