Above: La Habra’s Zack Ferreira, left, and Aaron Porter are expected to be two of the better players
in the area this season and should keep the Highlanders in the hunt for the Freeway League title.
(Staff photo Leo Jarzomb)

As a baseball hotbed, the Whittier area has more than held its own over the years.
It’s the area that spawned the Major League careers of Mark Kotsay, Rod Barajas and Todd Burns of Santa Fe; El Rancho alums Ron and Randy Flores; Anthony Reyes of California; David Stevens of La Habra; Willie Adams of La Serna and Nomar Garciaparra, who grew up in Whittier before playing at nearby St. John Bosco.
This season’s future star might be La Habra’s Aaron Porter.
Yes, that Aaron Porter of football fame. The UCLA football recruit also happens to be a very good baseball player.
The senior, who is expected to play baseball for UCLA as well, is a big reason why the 2012 season could be a big one for La Habra, which figures to challenge in the Freeway League and make some noise in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs come May.
“I’m definitely excited about the season,” said La Habra coach Paul Caffrey, whose Highlanders are expected to improve off last season’s 17-10 record and second-place finish in the Freeway League. “This is one of our most experienced groups. We return four pitchers and our entire outfield.
“We have some holes to fill in the infield, but I’m pretty excited about the season.”

BASEBALL TOP FIVE RANKINGS
1. La Habra (17-10 in 2011)
2. La Mirada (15-15)
3. Whittier Christian (23-6)
4. Montebello (18-9)
5. El Rancho 14-11)

Porter, who will patrol center field and pitch for the Highlanders, ranked among the leaders in the Freeway League with a .457 batting average and 23 RBIs last season.
He will be joined in the outfield by junior Sean Sparling in left field and Josh Staumont in right. Sparling hit .290 last season.
The infield will be anchored by Zack Ferreira at short, with Chad Ferreira at third base. Zack Ferreira hit .329 with 16 RBIs and scored 18 runs in 2011.
The pitching chores will be handled by Porter, who was 5-2 with a 2.02 ERA, and Spencer Long.
“Our focus, and I know it sounds cliche, but our whole concern is as one,” Caffrey said. “By that I mean we look one game at a time, one inning at a time and one pitch at a time.
“We’re not looking ahead to winning league titles, but just trying to improve every day. You’re going to have goals, but we understand the rest will take care of itself.”
Here’s a brief look at the rest of the area’s top five:
NO. 2 LA MIRADA (15-15)
The Matadores (15-15) traditionally set the table for the area. It should be no different this season for La Mirada, which again is expected to be in the thick of the Suburban League race after sharing or winning the crown outright 12 out of the past 14 seasons.
Pitching should be the Matadores’ forte with the return of Ali Anthony and Cody Kruip.
Anthony was 5-4 with a 2.23 ERA, with Kruip going 3-1 with a 2.02 ERA. The duo also limited the opposition to batting averages of .215 and .216, respectively.
Senior Austin Rojo, who had a 2.15 ERA, also is a key member of the staff.
Offensively, Kruip, Rojo and sophomores Jeff Murray Blake Wilson are expected to lead the Matadores.
“Our goal hasn’t changed,” La Mirada coach Kim Brooks said. “The preseason will get you ready for league, which gets you ready for the playoffs.
“Our goal is what it is every year and that’s to win the Suburban League and make a run in the playoffs.”
NO. 3 WHITTIER CHRISTIAN (23-6)
The Heralds (23-6) are looking to repeat as Olympic League champions.
Whittier Christian is led by Grant Escobar, who should provide production on the mound and in the outfield.
The junior hit .319 and scored 20 runs. He also was 4-1 with a team-low 1.81 ERA.
The Heralds, again expected to be the favorites in the league title chase, also feature shortstop Steven Krecker, who hit .341 with 18 RBIs, and Cody Bronkar, who hit .319 and had 14 RBIs. He also scored 19 runs.
NO. 4 MONTEBELLO (18-9)
The Oilers (18-9) are expected to challenge defending champion Alhambra in the Almont League.
Montebello’s strength lies in three-year starters Daniel Lopez at shortstop and pitcher/outfielder Silver Sanchez.
“After losing seven starters, we have a lot of kids at different positions,” Montebello coach Rafael Gutierrez said. “But the kids who we have back have filled in (during practice) and have looked good. We still have a lot of work to do.
“But we have the pitching and are fundamentally sound to keep us in games.”
Sanchez, who was 0-1 with a save and a 1.14 ERA last season, is recovering from a broken leg but is expected to get the call when the Oilers host Paramount in Friday’s opener.
“If he gets medical clearance, he can start on Friday,” Gutierrez said.
Sanchez was one of the top hitters in the league last season with a .341 batting average. He also had 17 RBIs and scored 18 runs.
Lopez hopes to improve on his .267 average and 13 RBIs.
Montebello is expected to challenge in what some think might be a balanced Almont League.
No. 5 EL RANCHO (14-11)
The Dons (14-11) shared the Del Rio League title with Whittier (15-11) and the league race is expected to be close again.
El Rancho’s strength is in the return of four key players who give the Dons some balance in the field and at– the plate.
The group is led by junior Julian Vizcarra, who hit .359 and had 14 RBIs last season. He was also 4-2 with a 1.56 ERA on the hill.
The Dons also will look to junior pitcher/infielder Joe Sanchez, who hit .339 with 11 RBIs, and Victor Garcia, who was 7-3 with a 1.09 ERA.
The league appears balanced with five of the six teams finishing within two games of each other last season.