From 1993 to 1995 the Westport High School baseball team, led by future Major Leaguer Allen Levrault, captured three consecutive Mayflower League championships. It was thought by most that record never would be broken.
Think again.
The 2008 Wildcats have an opportunity to top that fete. Led by the pitching of Scott Borges, and Tyler White, Westport won the 2005 and 2006 league titles. Last season, paced by hurlers Dan Noonan and White, the 'Cats made it three straight.
Now, with White and Noonan gone, this year's Westport squad will have to turn to a new group of mostly untested varsity pitchers if it wants to earn a place in school history.
"We're trying for a 'fourpeat.' We're trying to beat the Levrault Era," said Westport coach Glenn Lincoln. "They know the 1994 team is getting inducted into the hall of fame. Hopefully it will drive them extra hard. Besides the usual goal of making the tournament, we're going for something special."
The 'Cats will be using a large group of pitchers in trying to accomplish their goal. Leading the group will be seniors Ryan Sousa and Jordan Carvalho and sophomore Nick Friar.
"For a little guy Sousa can really throw," Lincoln said. "He just has to keep his confidence. Nick should handle himself very well. Jordan, when he's ready, can throw all kinds of junk. He just needs some time before he pitches. He'll be our No. 3 hopefully."
Junior Jim Cawley and sophomores Steve Araujo, Chris Rosa and Matt Medeiros all will be tested on the hill. Pitching time may be determined by who can throw strikes and who can be consistent.
Offensive weapons
Corey DaSilva, a sophomore last year who came out of nowhere to lead the team in batting, will be in charge of handling the pitchers.
"His sophomore year was unbelievable," said Lincoln. "We started getting him in more and more as the year went on. He ended up batting .415. The year before he hit zero."
DaSilva wasn't the only player to leave a lasting impression with his bat. Freshman Rosa broke onto the scene and earned a starting outfield position, one he no doubt will hold onto this season.
"Hopefully he'll continue," Lincoln said. "He went to a lot of camps, including one in Tampa. He'll hit third for us. If they want to pitch around him they'll have to deal with Corey."
Senior Bill Bird, who along with classmates Nick Jagoe and Carvalho is a tri-captain, will get the Westport offense in motion from the leadoff spot. Araujo will bat behind him to give the 'Cats a dangerous one-two punch at the top of the lineup.
"Bill is so fast. Once he gets on, he's on the next base already," said Lincoln. "He's got a lot of confidence.
"I just need Steve to get on base as much as he did last year. He had a .509 on-base percent."
Carvalho, Jagoe, Friar, Cawley and Medeiros, the leading jayvee hitter and pitcher last year, will follow the top four hitters in the lineup in no particular order.
Look for Josh Lebreux to back up DaSilva catching, for senior Ryan Camara to play some outfield and for Zach Lebreux to get some playing time.
"Zach really came along last year," said the coach. "He can hit. He played a lot because of his bat."
Lincoln has numerous pitchers and a bunch of athletes who can play more than one position. It's just a matter of waiting for the pitching to come around and mixing and matching until the right combinations are found to learn if the Wildcats can truly make a run at establishing a new school record.
"We've got a lot of interchangeable people," said Lincoln. "Pitching, I'm just looking for positives. "I'm looking for pitching to keep us in the games. Hopefully our batting strength will carry us."
By Steve Rogers
srogers@eastbaynewspapers.com