ON DECK: Plenty of pitchers in town this year

While I was preparing for the baseball season this year, I couldn't help but realize how many solid pitchers are coming back this year.

As I've talked with multiple coaches in the area, they've all the same sentiment: There are going to be some tough games in town.

San Luis already has proven it has a couple of good arms, Kofa brings back its top two pitchers from last year, Cibola's Zebastian Valenzuela has a three-hitter against Dobson, and Gila Ridge's Victor Castro and Irving Lopez are more than solid.

Many of the teams will play each other four times during the season, which means there are bound to be some games where each team is throwing its ace pitchers.

The season is less than two weeks old, so many of the teams aren't into the heart of the schedule. But we saw a little taste of things to come when Castro beat Cibola 5-1 and San Luis nipped Kofa 3-1.

Should be a fun season — except for an area hitter.