Boys' Latin Lakers

1993 record: 12-3. Coach: Jack Blinke.

Top players: Sean Gruver, Sr., P/SS; Bryan DeVaney, Sr., 1B; Myron Hayes, Jr., P; Alex Hill, Jr., 3B/P; Lev Galitzen, Jr., C/CF.

Outlook: The Lakers, last year's MSA B Conference champions, return six starters, including Division I prospect DeVaney (.500, five HRs) to this year's MIAA B Conference. Hayes (6-0, 1.60 ERA), Gruver (6-1, 1.80) and Hill comprise the pitching staff. "Gruver is four-year veteran and a position pitcher who finds the corners. Hayes blows 'em by you, and Hill's a good contact hitter," said Blinke.

Carver Bears

1993 record: 11-5. Coach: Terry Thomas.

Top players: Broderick Wooden, Jr., SS; Brian Jackson, Jr., LF; Danye Bell, Jr., 2B; Delvin Wells, Sr., P/3B; Izell Miles, Sr., 1B.

Outlook: Only two starters return from last year's regional finalist squad, which beat Walbrook in the first round before falling in the final. Wells (3-1 on the mound) and Miles (17 RBI) form a solid base. "If we can maintain our focus," said Thomas, "we can win some games."

City Knights

1993 record: 5-8. Coach: Bill Walker.

Top players: John Hamilton, Sr., P/SS; Pat Mowray, Jr., P/OF; Harry Martin, Sr., P/DH; Jesse Schreier, Sr., C; Chris Ryon, Sr., IF.

Outlook: Six starters return, including Mowray (.308 hitting) and Martin (.310). Akins Clark, a left-hander, will help with pitching. Gerard Franze bolsters the infield. "It looks like we'll be very good in pitching and defense. We're optimistic," said Walker.

Curley Friars

1993 record: 2-14. Coach: Al Frank.

Top players: David Baynes, Sr., OF/3B/2B; Joe Cristy, Sr., P/SS; Chris Schwoy, Sr., C; Felix Guinto, Jr., OF/C; Ryan Hax, Jr., SS.

Outlook: Curley will compete in the former Maryland Scholastic Association's A Conference, now called the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association. And with eight starters back, Frank says his team has nowhere to go but up. "With nine seniors, four juniors and four sophomores, we're looking for a big improvement," Frank said. "We have the entire infield back, four pitchers, plus a left-hander up from the junior varsity. The outfield will be a question mark."

Dunbar Poets

1993 record: 9-3. Coach: Gregg Branch.

Top players: Robbie Johnson, Sr., CF; Carlos Harrison, Sr., OF; Sean Lipscomb, Sr., LF; Gary Smith, Jr., 3B/P; Dante Jones, Jr., SS/P.

Outlook: The Poets, who reached last year's playoffs, have four returning starters and lots of depth, so Branch is thinking big. "Last year was experimental. This year, we're ready to play with the big boys. We're for real. We're the truth." Johnson (.300) and Smith (.340, 15 RBIs) are solid offensively for a team that split victories with Southern. This year's Poets have a tougher, 18-game schedule, including Edgewood, Poly and Mervo. "We have plenty of speed, and the offense and defense will come," Branch said.

Edmondson Redskins

1993 record: 7-7. Coach: Tai Thompson.

Top players: Robert Duckett, Sr., P/C/3B/1B; Michael Brock, Sr., SS/P/C/OF; James Rodgers, 1B/OF; Jesse Ratkin, Soph., OF/1B; Patrick Leach, Jr., C/P/1B.

Outlook: Seven players are back, including six starters from a team that led Patterson, 14-3, before the game was called after four innings because of darkness. Brock hit .500 with a team-leading four home runs, Rodgers and Leach each hit .450. "I'm satisfied that I have two strong pitchers with Brock and Duckett, and we should have more offense than last year," Thompson said. "Our problem last year was errors, but hopefully, we'll cut down on those."

Forest Park Foresters

1993 record: 0-10. Coach: Laney Prioleau.

Top players: Brandon Smith, Sr., CF/P; Steven Wells, Sr., C; Arthur Johnson, Sr., P; Darrell Robinson, Sr., 1B/P.

Outlook: Just five starters are back, but Prioleau hopes that Smith -- whom he calls the city's hardest thrower -- Wells (.425 batter) and Johnson (27 strikeouts in 28 innnings) will be players he can build around. "We had a turnout of 38 players," Prioleau said.

Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders

1993 record: 9-11. Coach: Rod Cameron.

Top players: Kevin Dukes, Sr., RF; Rocky Keener, Sr., OF; Brian Sanders, Sr., 2B; Josh Wilkerson, Jr., SS/P; Dennis Chesgreen, Jr., P/1B.

Outlook: Keener and Wilkerson were .300 hitters, and Chesgreen (3-1 last year) should be the Crusaders' ace. "It looks like we have a lot of speed, so we can run, but it's a matter of plugging everyone in," said Cameron. Gibbons plays in the tough A Conference.

Gilman Greyhounds

1993 record: 9-11. Coach: Marty Meloy.

Top players: Peter Bogue, Sr., C; Sean Tyszko, Sr., 2B; Jason Goeller, Sr., CF; Luke Suchy, Sr., LF; Lenny Kagan, Sr., DH/1B.

Outlook: Nine starters are back, including three-year veterans Bogue, a second-team All-City pick, Tyszko, Goeller and outfielder Jamie Biddison. Bogue (.367, 18 steals), headed for Yale, led the team in RBIs, and hurlers Brad Mowbray (three wins), Misha Goberman, Greg Dobbyn and Jason Nitzberg combined for seven victories. "We're a solid team that can make things tough four you," said Meloy.

Lake Clifton Lakers

1993 record: 3-7. Coach: Russell Williams.

Top players: Carlos Clavon, Sr., SS; Andre Murray, Jr., 3B/P; Edward Weaver, Jr., P; Kenneth Williams, Jr., C; Gregory Hemsley, Jr., RF.

Outlook: Williams' five returning starters include Murray (.300 hitter) and Kenneth Williams (.305, three triples, three HRs). "The kids are really working hard to improve. At worst, we should go .500."

Mervo Mustangs

1993 record: 9-8. Coach: Andy Corbett.

Top players: Wayne Ridenour, Sr., SS/3B/P; Demond Wilson, Sr., C/OF; Joe Laumann, Jr., LHP/1B; Curtis Pope, Soph., C; Julian Robinson, Fr., P/3B.

Outlook: Six starters return, including Laumann (20 strikeouts), who had a one-hitter in a 1-0 loss to Patterson. Speedster Pope (.375, 10 RBI, one HR) is 6 feet 1, 190 pounds and hits with power. Wilson (.308, 12-for-12 steals) and Ridenour (.360, 2-0 pitching) add to a solid base for the Mustangs. "We only missed the playoffs last year by half a point," said Corbett. "This year, we have a good mix of players and a lot of versatility and depth. I'll feel comfortable going to the bench."

Mount St. Joseph Gaels

1993 record: 19-5. Coach: Dave Norton.

Top players: Steve Matcuk, Sr., P/SS; Ryan McGonigal, Sr., P/OF/; Ryan Kenealy, Sr., 3B; Tom Rainier, Sr., LHP; Mike Couser, Sr., OF.

Outlook: The Gaels were champions of the inaugural private school state title game, but lost six key starters -- including second-team All-Metro Buddy Edmond -- to graduation. Second-team All-Metro Matcuk, the team's top hitter last year, -- returns and will lead a pitching staff that runs six deep, and none had losing records. "It's a better staff than last year's, one that throws in the high 80s," said Norton.

Northern Vikings

1993 record: 5-8. Coach: Damian Hinton.

Top players: Reginald Molock, Sr., P/2B; Adrian Clay, Sr., LHP/C; Kwesi Moreland, Jr., CF; Lloyd Jones, Sr., 1B/LF; Marion Sterrett, Sr., OF.

Outlook: Four starters are back, with left-hander Clay -- the ace -- being assisted by promising sophomore Hartsel Covahey. "We look a lot better than last year. There's serious improvement," said Hinton.

Northwestern Wildcats

1993 record: 6-8. Coach: Larry Smith.

Top players: Ralph Forrest, Sr., 3B; Brad Luby, Sr., SS/P; Jason Lohr, Jr., P; Gerald Goode, Jr., 2B.

Outlook: With a nice balance of upperclassmen and underclassmen, Smith is optimistic about the season. "The majority of the players have Little League experience. We've got pretty good pitching and I think we'll be competitive."

Patterson Clippers

1993 record: 14-5. Coach: Roger Wrenn.

Top players: Earl Smith, Sr., IF/OF; Gus Karanikolis, Sr., IF/P; Will Strzegowski,Sr., C/DH; Willie McGirt, Jr., CF; Mike Burrows, Jr., SS/P/3B.

Outlook: Seven starters return from last year's playoff qualifier, including All-City second baseman Smith (.444, 15 RBIs,

15-for-16 steals), who scored 28 times and runs a 4.5 40-yard --. Smith (1-0, 19 strikeouts), Burrows and Karanikolis had a combined 7-2 pitching record. "We don't have a go-to player this year like [All-Metro John Sauer,]" said Wrenn. "The responsibilities are more distributed, but we've got a lot of experience."

Poly Engineers

1993 record: 14-7. Coach: Mark Schlenoff.

Top players: Charles Wilhelm, Sr., SS; Kevin Roycroft, Sr., P; Will Smith, Sr., C; David Green, Sr., OF; Stefan Foster, Sr., OF.

Outlook: Poly was last year's City-Wide champ and reached the playoffs, losing to Dulaney. It returns All-City player Wilhelm (.428, 26 RBIs, 17-for-17 steals) and four other starters. "I had to convert some kids to different positions, but I'm happy with our defense and our excellent team speed," said Schlenoff, who replaced Charlie Sullivan. "I think we'll be better at making the plays."

Southern Bulldogs

1993 record: 16-5. Coach: Bill Parker.

Top players: Jimmy Lutz, Sr., LF; Dave Schoppert, Sr., CF; James Benton, Jr., 3B/P; Ken Tolodziecki, Jr., SS/P; Billy Thomas, Jr., C/3B.

Outlook: The Bulldogs, last year's City-Wide runner-up to Poly, carry plenty of power from the 3A to the 4A league this year. Benton (.474, 28 RBIs, 28 runs) was an All-City player and went 5-1 on the mound with 46 strikeouts. Tolodziecki (6-2 pitching) hit .360 last year, and Lutz (.405), Schoppert (.400) and Thomas (.300) are contributors. "Benton and Tolodziecki played during the summer, and we also have a freshman, Billy Calvert, who can pitch," said Parker.

Southwestern Sabers

1993 record: 4-6. Coach: Terry Leverett.

Top players: Joseph Fish, Soph., 1B/P; Terrance Wheeler, Sr., C/P/3B; Clifford Martin, Jr., CF/LF; Dwight Burley, Jr., 2B/1B; Michael Galloway, Jr., OF.

Outlook: With six of eight returning players being starters last season, and a turnout of 40, Southwestern seems primed to improve. "We scored a lot of runs last year, but we also made a lot of errors," Leverett said. "We should be competitive, and with Patterson and Southern next week, we have two early tests."

Walbrook Warriors

1993 record: 10-6. Coach: John Turpin.

Top players: Donyae Fowlkes, Sr., 3B/SS/P; David Merritte, 3B/C/P; Alvin Williams, 2B/P; Sean Simms, Jr., P.

Outlook: Turpin, The Sun's 1993 City Coach of the Year, returns eight starters, including second-team All-City player Fowlkes (more than 100 career strikeouts). Fowlkes (.533 hitting, 7-0 pitching), Merritte (.400, 4-2) and LF Kevin Muldrow (near-.600 hitter) pack power on a squad that has reached the postseason six of the past seven years. "We have all three starting pitchers back," said Turpin. "We'll go as far as the pitching takes us."