GORMAN BASEBALL: State berth is Gaels' goal

Team returns only four seniors

Bishop Gorman High's baseball team only returns four seniors from last year's Sunset Region title team, but coach Ken White is confident the Gaels can once again contend for a berth in the state tournament.

"We're a young team this year, but we still have quite a bit of experience," White said. "Our goals are always to make the state tournament. That's what we're shooting for. I think we could be anywhere from the third-best to the sixth-best team on our side of town.

"I think Durango and Cimarron are the top two teams from our side of town, but the third spot is wide open. I think we've got as good a shot as anyone."

Bishop Gorman features a deep pitching staff this season, including a Division I signee and several left-handers.

Daniel Mangiapani is one of the top returnees on the Gaels, who went 7-1 to win their Southwest Division and went 29-10 overall last season. The senior left-handed pitcher/first baseman has signed a letter of intent to play at Duke University next year.

"He's going to be called upon to pitch most of our big games," White said. "Dan is on top of his game pitching. He looks very strong.

"Dan has great movement on his fastball. He throws in the mid-80s, but his movement makes him real tough to hit. He has good command of all three of his pitches and he throws strikes."

White also expects the speedy Mangiapani, one of three team captains, to score a lot of runs this season.

Russ Warthen, a junior right-hander, and Paul Schmidt, a junior left-hander, should also be part of the Gaels' rotation.

Warthen went 9-2 en route to all-Southwest Division honors last year. The 6-footer, who will also play first base and the outfield, is in his third year on the varsity squad.

"We're expecting the same out of Russ as last year," White said. "He can throw his fastball in the mid-80s, he has an above-average curveball and an above-average changeup. He's a polished pitcher as a junior."

Schmidt, also 6-feet tall, went 3-2 last season and made some big strides during American Legion play.

"He had an outstanding summer. He was one of our top pitchers," White said. "We're expecting big things from him this year. He throws in the low to mid-80s and he has great movement on his fastball."

Other players expected to pitch for the Gaels this year include right-handers Anthony Garcia, Chris Siewert, Josh Roberts and Corey Fox and left-handers P.J. Fisher, Chris Brown and John Tagano.

"I think we have enough pitching to hold up in the (Sunset Region) tournament," White said. "I think having all the leftys gives us a little bit of an advantage."

Chris Ortiz, a senior captain who hit .375 last year, returns to start at second base.

"Chris is an exceptional hitter," White said. "He has very, very quick hands and good hand-eye coordination."

Siewert, a junior captain, returns to start at shortstop.

"He's made big leaps and bounds from his sophomore to his junior year and he was a heck of a player last year," White said. "He runs exceptionally well, he has a very good throwing arm and he creates havoc on the bases for us.

"All of his tools are pretty much above average. He should have a bright future and be a Division I player somewhere."

Garcia, a junior switch-hitter, returns to start in center field.

"He has an outstanding throwing arm and he'll probably do a little pitching, maybe as a closer. Both him and Siewert will have a chance to pitch a little," White said. "Anthony's arm is probably one of the top three of four in town."

Brown, a junior, is slated to start at catcher. Brown hit .390 with three home runs last year.

Blake Wilson, a 6-1, 210-pound junior, is expected to start at third base. Joe Stamis, a senior, is slated to start in left field.

Mike Ribaudo, a senior, is set to play right field and pitch. Ribaudo is trying to come back from a broken arm he suffered after his sophomore year.

"He's a heck of a kid to work his way back from that," White said.

Roberts, a 6-4 junior who played for the school's state championship basketball team, is armed with plenty of potential.

"I think next year he'll be one of the top guys in town," White said. "He has a chance to throw in the 90s so we'll use him as much as we can this year, just to get him some experience. I hope he'll be ready for the zone and state tournaments."

Other players expected to see action for the Gaels this season include freshmen Andy Matthews and Cameron Brown and junior outfielder Hank Hymanson.

"Everything is pretty equal right now -- our hitting, pitching and defense," White said. "We only have four seniors, so a lot of it will have to do with leadership. Our juniors have to step up."


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