Ray Conner
Sports Editor

Having seven quality returners, and still having three large holes to fill, gives Kern Valley’s varsity baseball squad that half-empty,half-full quandary.

Head coach Mike Genthner, in his 19th year, likes his team’s chances to be very competitive, but also knows that filling the holes will be a huge obstacle. Assisting Genthner will be Frank and Wes Woody.

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Genthner said, “We have seven returners coming back, but we have three holes we’ll have to fill.”

The Broncs return seven in seniors, Kyler Emery, Jordan Lawson, Kevin Mixon and Warren Pappas, juniors, Coady Bulgarelli, Robbie Fisher and Austin Kennedy. Newcomers to the squad include, seniors Ronnie Grannan, Chris Elwood and Sundy Scott. Juniors include, Josh Powell and Mitch Smith. The three sophomores on the team are Aaron LaFarga, Kevin Little and Steven Strahl.

Kern Valley finished last season with a record of 19-9, 4-4 HDL (3rd place) and played two CIF playoff games.

In the non-league portion of the schedule, Genthner would like to see a successful won/loss record and improvement in the quality of play from the players.

Genthner said, “It’s a chance to give the players the opportunity to succeed or fail. To see if we can go forward or go back. It’s also competition for players on the field and for pitchers to separate themselves. The game experiences allows us to know the starters, it’s also a chance to know ‘who’ we are.”

His goal for the High Desert League is to win the championship. Rosamond and Bishop look to be the teams that will be right in there competing for the league title according to Genthner. He said, “You always expect to win the league championship and to compete for the league championship.”

Genthner sees the strength of his team in the three senior pitchers with plenty of experience and all are also position players. He also likes the infield play. He said, “We return a number of quality infielders from last season.”

Genthner sees the biggest challenge of the team in his two underclassmen competeing at catcher and the outfield.

The secondary goal, for lack of a better term, is for Kern Valley to make the CIF playoffs and go deep into them.

This despite playing the level of competition that they see along the way.

Genthner said, “The biggest challenge we face is that you are competing with kids from L.A. County and Orange County, the city. Kids with more exposure to their individual sport for longer periods of time during the year.”

In closing Genthner said, “We’re looking forward to the season. We get excited as the winter sports comes to an end and we get to get out on the field and start practicing.”

Come the end of May, coach Genthner will know if his team was full (meeting the goals) or was there a leak that allowed it to go empty.