Add to the mix Los Gatos and Mountain View, teams that were among the final eight in last year's CCS Division II tourney. And you cannot forget about Milpitas and Los Altos. Considering that teams play each other three times during the league season, there may be no picnicking until mid-May.

But Kawamoto believes his pitching-strong, senior-laden squad has what it takes to finish among the De Anza's top three and improve upon its 8-15 overall record of a year ago.

"We should compete at the top of our league this year," says Kawamoto, in his first year as head coach after serving as an assistant to Jim Priscaro last year. "The strength of our team is pitching."

And after five games, the pitching indeed has backed up the coach's words. Led by ace hurlers Mike Fallert and Todd Fitzgerald, two of the team's 12 seniors, Cupertino yielded just 14 runs--less than three per outing.

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, every game has been a pitching duel. Cupertino hitters have had a tough time, totaling just seven runs against strong-armed opponents from Santa Teresa, Bellarmine, St. Francis, Palo Alto and Wilcox.

After winning their opener 4-1 at Santa Teresa on Feb. 23, the Pioneers have fought hard but lost against four of the CCS's finest teams. In the Bellarmine Tournament they lost to the tourney host 3-1 and to St. Francis 3-2 in eight innings. Then last week, as the 18-game De Anza schedule began, the Pioneers were shut out twice, 5-0 against visiting Palo Alto on March 9 and 2-0 at Wilcox two days later.

Through it all, Fallert or Fitzgerald have been outstanding each time out. Fallert worked six strong innings against both Santa Teresa and Bellarmine, then allowed just two runs in the first five frames to Paly. Fitzgerald, a second-team all-leaguer as a junior, gave up just two runs in seven innings against St. Francis and fired a three-hitter at Wilcox. He also closed out the Pioneers' victory at Santa Teresa, retiring the side in order in the seventh.

Cupertino's offense was working on all cylinders during the third inning at Santa Teresa. After sophomore Aaron Headrick doubled and senior Nate Ardiaz walked, Ali Hussain bunted them over a base. After an intentional walk to Fitzgerald, senior catcher Tai Mitchell lined a single to right, chasing home Headrick with the first run of the season. Ryan Blake also drilled a base hit to right, driving in two more runs.

The Pioneers added another run in the fourth. Ardiaz doubled to left-center and scored on a single by Hussain.

Diving catches by Headrick and Ardiaz and solid infield defense sustained Fitzgerald during his seven-inning pitching gem against St. Francis. After the Lancers broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the eighth, the Pioneers loaded the bases with one out in the last of the eighth. However, Mitchell's sharp line drive was snared by the second baseman and turned into a game-inning double play.

The Pioneers "rose to the occasion against a powerful St. Francis team and were able to walk away with their heads held high," Kawamoto stated proudly.

After hosting Milpitas on March 14, the Pioneers entertain Los Altos March 18 at 3:30 p.m. and travel to Saratoga for a non-league game at noon on March 19. Cupertino resumes division play on March 21 at Milpitas before returning home for a March 23 appointment with Los Gatos.

Joining Fallert and Fitzgerald on the Pioneers' pitching staff are seniors Cole Bridges, David Blomquist and Blake, junior Matt McCormick and Headrick. Blomquist and outfielder Sean Johnson are the only seniors new to the varsity this season. 'Tino all-leaguers

Cupertino's boys soccer team, the SCVAL El Camino champion this winter, received many accolades from the league's coaches recently.

Senior forward Yuki Minematsu was named the division's Most Valuable Player, and freshman Matt Provencher was tabbed Goalkeeper of the Year. Selected to the all-El Camino first team were senior midfielder Kevin Jin and three defenders--senior Tai Mitchell and juniors Dan O'Donnell and Kenny Kim.

Second team selections included senior midfielders Antrom Kury and Kaoru Takada and junior defender Justin Alsamarrai.

Vikings ace Mats

Lynbrook earned its first SCVAL De Anza Division golf victory, edging Monta Vista 174-176 on March 10. Philip Wong of Lynbrook and Philip Lee of Monta Vista were co-medallists, covering the nine-hole Deep Cliff Golf Course in 31 strokes.

In Lynbrook's previous outing at Deep Cliff, Andrew Chow shot 30. The Falcons won the team competition by seven strokes, 168-175.

Boyle 2nd at K-Bell

Cupertino senior Stacie Boyle claimed second place in the 800-meter run at the K-Bell Track Classic on March 12 at Los Gatos. Boyle's two-lap time of 2:21.82 was second only to Renisha Robinson of Archbishop Mitty.

Junior Erica Buchinski (100 hurdles) and freshman Sumika Shiokawa (3,200) earned fourth-place finishes and junior Melanie Boyle (triple jump) placed sixth for the Pioneers.

Sophomore Loretta Zhang of Lynbrook won her 100 hurdles heat, but her time of 17.30 was the third fastest, just .12 better than Buchinski. Another Viking hurdler, junior Elena Moroz, ran fourth in the 300 race. Lynbrook senior Rachel Doughty tied for fourth in the high jump.