Toughest game: The Wolverines won't be traveling back to the National High School Invitational this year, but they will face plenty of competition locally. Besides participating in the Big League Dugout National Classic in Arizona, Harvard-Westlake will get plenty of competition in its own league against Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), Loyola (Los Angeles), Alemany (Mission Hills) and Chaminade (West Hills). Three of Harvard-Westlake's four losses came in league play last year.
Local outlook: Harvard-Westlake won one of the toughest tournaments in the country last year in winning the Southern Section Division I championship. Coach LaCour expects Loyola, JSerra Catholic, Aliso Niguel, Orange Lutheran and Notre Dame to all challenge for this year's section crown.
Overall outlook: Harvard-Westlake won't have the experienced pitching staff that it has had the past two seasons when it had Flaherty and Max Fried in 2012 and Flaherty and Conor Cruse in 2013. Flaherty will be the workhorse, but Harvard-Westlake is expected to be better at the plate this season, which will help take some of the pressure off its ace and other starting pitchers.
Coach quote: "We should be strong with defense and at the plate."
- Matt LaCour
