More L-L League baseball previews. Today, Dave Byrne takes a look at Section 2:

It’s been a watershed year for Elizabethtown High School’s boys athletic programs, with the Bears winning section titles in football and wrestling, and making a huge splash in basketball.

Will baseball be the next frontier to be conquered?

The rest of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 coaches seem to think so, with the Bears being named at least co-favorites, if not the outright choice, on the other five ballots.

“We have a senior-dominated team and pitching staff,” E-town coach Frank Telenko said. “If we’re going to make noise, this is the year to do it.”

E-town has three ace pitchers in Steve Buller, Preston Faith and Erick Baker, an Old Dominion recruit.

The Bears return three-fourths of the infield with second baseman Hayden Gerhart, shortstop Evan Gallagher and the first-base platoon of Baker and newcomer Shane Long.

Faith, Andrew Weller and Nick Reginella return in the outfield.

Junior Conrad Heisey takes over behind the plate for Nate Martin, E-town’s only graduation loss, and senior Austin Rodriguez steps in at third base.

“I like the leadership of our team,” Telenko said. “We’ll be successful if we can eliminate our mental mistakes and play ball the way we know how.”

Here’s a look at the teams in Section 2, in order of predicted finish:

Elizabethtown
COACH: Frank Telenko (fifth season).
2007 RECORD: 8-12 overall, 8-8 Section 2.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Nate Martin, C.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Evan Gallagher, sr., SS (Section 2 All-Star); Andrew Weller, sr., OF (Section 2 All-Star); Hayden Gerhart, sr., 2B; Nick Reginella, sr., OF (Section 2 All-Star); Preston Faith, sr., P-OF (Section 2 All-Star); Steve Buller, sr., P; Erick Baker, sr., P-1B (Section 2 All-Star).
OUTLOOK: With 13 seniors on the team, the Bears are primed to take that giant step to the post-season.

Solanco
COACH: Dave Wimer (fourth season).
2007 RECORD: 20-7 overall, 11-6 Section 2 champ, L-L League champ, District 3 Quad-A champ.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Nate Blough, P-1B; Jordan McMillion, OF; Andrew Gordon, 2B; T.J. Wolle, 1B; Josh Hershberger, P-3B; Joe Bledsoe, C; Dan Ross, OF; Nic Lewis, OF; Mitch Nesbitt, P.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Ben L. Miller, sr., SS-P; Jason Long, sr., P-OF (Section 2 All-Star); Will Rineer, jr., C; Chris Grimsey, sr., 1B.
OUTLOOK: Solanco’s JV team had a strong spring in 2007, and those players will be counted on to fill the holes left by graduation. Shippensburg-bound Ben L. Miller and Long, a Millersville recruit, give the Golden Mules a pair of aces, but Wimer is always looking for more pitching.

Conestoga Valley
COACH: Eric Frey (third season).
2007 RECORD: 16-7 overall, 12-5 Section 2, section champ.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Greg Dissinger, C; Adam Glick, OF; Brent Nankerville, 1B; Josh Miller, 2B; Joe Russo, P-SS; Brad Herr, OF.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Mark Royer, sr., P-1B (Section 2 All-Star); Dan Kreider, sr., INF-OF; Shawn Ober, jr., C (Section 2 All-Star); Chris Leighty, jr., 2B; Corbin Weiler, sr., P-3B; Zach Adams, jr., P-1B; Phil Geyer, sr., OF-SS; Matt Eby, jr., OF.
OUTLOOK: Frey will miss an offense that averaged more than 10 runs per game last spring. However, CV should have enough pitching to keep the Buckskins in low-scoring games.

Ephrata
COACH: Adrian Shelley (11th season).
2007 RECORD: 7-12 overall, 6-10 Section 2.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Reid Martin, SS; Dan Hagey, C-INF; Alex Weaver, 3B; Joel Hertzog, OF.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Matt Wooley, sr., P; Aaron Kujawski, sr., P; Curt Kolp, sr., P; Adam Stahl, sr., OF; Anthony Rinaldi, sr., OF; Chris Adams, jr., 1B; Austin Landis, jr., INF.
OUTLOOK: After winning its third section title in four years, youth and inexperience sent Ephrata in another direction last year. How they build on that adversity will determine how quickly the Mountaineers rebound and return to the hunt.

Garden Spot
COACH: J.D. Stern (seventh season).
2007 RECORD: 7-12 overall, 5-11 Section 2.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Andrew Nolt, P-INF; Jordan Snader, INF; Kyle Martin, C.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Tyler Horst, sr., P-INF; Andy Skiles, sr., OF; A.J. Berstler, sr., OF-P; Joe Strangarity, jr., C; Jarod Garman, so. SS; Elliot Butler, sr., P-INF; Andersen Beamer, jr., OF.
OUTLOOK: Stern lists pitching as a strong point, and with four arms in the fold, that’s a good place to start.

Cocalico
COACH: Daren Myers (seventh season).
2007 RECORD: 2-17 overall, 2-14 Section 2.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Shawn Grube, OF-P; Jimmy Westwood, SS-P.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: T.J. Sinnott, jr., SS; Austin Good, sr., 3B; Austin Lambert, sr., OF; Logan Judesack, sr., C-P; Kyle Rissle, so., OF-P; Phil Leid, jr., P; Travis Renninger, sr., OF.
OUTLOOK: Promoted from Section 3, Cocalico struggled last year. “It’s a whole other level of baseball,” Myers said. With that behind them — Cocalico is headed back to Section 3 next spring in the L-L League’s biennial realignment — the Eagles hope to make their second, and, for now, last year in Section 2 a more pleasurable experience.