In a league of its own

From Thousand Oaks' bevy of talented pitchers to Westlake's speed on the base paths and Newbury Park's vaunted lineup, Marmonte League baseball has never been better. On the following two pages, Thomas Gase and Stephen Dorman preview all eight Marmonte teams.

PLAY BALL!- Clockwise from above, Newbury Park's 5-foot-4, 107-pound freshman pitcher Jimmy Sherfy delivers a strike. Sherfy is one to watch. Westlake right-hander Alex Gillingham warms up in the bullpen. Gillingham will serve as the Warriors' ace on the mound. Panther senior Andrew Lambo eyes an incoming pitch. Lambo slugged 13 home runs last year and is a top prospect in the upcoming MLB draft. Westlake's Steven Soucy lays down a bunt. The Warriors will look to run early and often in '07. Thousand Oaks' Collin Lavoie is beaten to the bag by Oaks Christian third baseman Jason Brooks. TOHS outscored the opposition 39-3 in its first three games. League play begins March 14.

Photos byBILL SPARKES and JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers