CIF High School Preview: North LA – Central Coast – High Desert

February 9, 2026
Steven Hardesty
Associate Director SoCal

 

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Ventura, Calif. – As the CIF High School baseball season rapidly approaches, Prep Baseball California is taking deeper dives into some of the top leagues, teams, and players to know from around the state. We have separated the state into four regions based on the coverage areas of our staff. State Director Les Lukach will be covering the Orange County, Inland Empire, and South Los Angeles regions. Associate Director SoCal Steven Hardesty will be diving in on the North Los Angeles, Central Coast, High Desert, and Bakersfield regions. Northern California Scouting Director Hank LoForte will be taking a look at the Central Valley, Bay Area, Sac-Joaquin, and other parts of Northern California. Finally, Manager of Content & Operations, Vinnie Alfino, will be focusing on the San Diego area and part of the Inland Empire.

Each staff member has selected some of the leagues of interest for them in their regions. Taking a deeper look into the teams of note, players of interest, pitchers to keep tabs on, and any exciting upcoming underclassmen to know. 

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CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION
MISSION LEAGUE

+ PICK TO CLICK: SIERRA CANYON

The Trailblazers have been on a steady upward trajectory for the first two years I’ve been with Prep Baseball California. Now, in 2026, they look like they might have the roster construction to break through the ceiling and claim a Mission League title. Sierra Canyon is stacked with talent across all four classes of the program, with elite players in the lineup and power arms on the mound. The lineup is fronted by some extremely talented LH hitters in Sr. INF Greyson Gullage (Cal Poly SLO), Jr. C Dezi Delgado (CSUN), Soph. INF Theo Swafford (#2 ranked 2028 in California) with emerging hitters like Jr. INF Max Rincon, and Jr. OF Brayden Goldstein. On the RH side, the likes of Sr. OF Teddy Levin, Sr. OF Sam Stoller (Pomona Pitzer commit), Sr. INF Isaias Tirado, Sr. INF Cody Gallegos, Jr. INF Aiden Jhang, Jr. OF Kyas Howard, Sr. OF Carl McMullan, Soph. CJ Garrett and Sr. DH Mikhal Johnson. The depth of talent will make for an extremely difficult day for an opposing pitcher to hold off the Trailblazers offense from scoring runs. As difficult as it will be to keep Sierra Canyon off the scoreboard, being able to get on the scoreboard versus the litany of arms the Trailblazers boast will be no easy task. The rotation is anchored by the extremely talented Jr. RHP Sean Parrow (LSU Commit), but beyond Parrow, there are the likes of Sr. RHP Armando Solorio, Soph. RHP Kingston Monette (#8 ranked 2028 in California), Soph. RHP Milo Benattar, Soph. RHP Lucas Letts, Jr., LHP Mac Kennedy all have experience in the Mission League. As deep as the returning talent is for the Trailblazers, their roster is bolstered by the additions of a pair of extremely talented two-ways in  RHP/INF Jordan Leon (#1 ranked 2029 in California) and RHP/INF Marquis Johnson Jr. (#7 ranked 2029 in California. With talented and experienced upperclassmen, a Sophomore class which got plenty of Mission League experience in 2025, and two elite Fr. the mixture of elite ability, experience, and depth might be the right ingredients to see Sierra Canyon standing atop the Mission League standings when the season concludes.

’28 SS Theo Swafford

’27 C Dezi Delgado

’27 RHP Sean Parrow

’29 RHP/INF Jordan Leon

+ DON’T COUNT OUT: HARVARD WESTLAKE

When we talk about teams trying to break through the ceiling and win a league title like Sierra Canyon, you have to acknowledge the program that presents that ceiling in Harvard-Westlake. The Wolverines have perennially found themselves in the mix for the Mission League title year in and year out under the guidance of head coach Jared Halpert, and this 2026 roster should be anticipated to be in the mix yet again. The Wolverines are accustomed to success and know what it takes to not only compete in the Mission League but also to win it. With numerous players who won the title in 2024 and made the march to a CIF-SS D1 title game appearance now in their Jr. or Sr. seasons, the Wolverines are as loaded as any program in the league. Any discussion of the lineup for Harvard Westlake must begin with Sr. INF/OF James Tronstein (Vanderbilt commit). The former Prep Baseball All-American did not have the Jr. season he hoped for, but with a retooled swing, added strength to his frame, and a move onto the INF dirt, likely “Tronny Barrels” looks primed to have a huge Sr. season. Behind him, the uber-talented JR. OF Ira Rootman (Texas commit/2x Prep Baseball Future Gamer), Sr. OF Ethan Price (Santa Clara commit), Jr. 1B Jake Kim (UCLA commit/Team SoCal Future Game Alum), Jr. C Drew Rico,  Jr. INF/RHP Nate Blum (Cal Poly SLO commit), Soph. Ryan Nestor and Jr. OF Asher Bunnin have experience competing in the Mission League while boasting high-level skill sets to make any pitcher’s day on the mound difficult. On the mound, the Harvard Westlake rotation will be fronted by Jr. workhorse RHP Justin Kirchner (Yale commit/Team SoCal Future Game Alum), who took the ace role in 2025 and has only continued to improve. After Kirchner, the pupils of HW pitching coach Joe Guntz are all very talented in Sr. RHP Evan Alexander (Penn commit), Jr. RHP James Venick (USC commit/Team SoCal Future Game Alum), and Sr. RHP Jake Chung (Brown commit). The rotation and lineup for the Wolverines received big boosts in the Fr. class with a trio of RHP/INF Louis Lappe (#10 ranked 2029 in California), INF/RHP Mateo Mier (#13 ranked 2029 in California), and RHP/INF Nathan Englander (#14 ranked 2029 in California/Team California JFG alum). With the steady hand of Halpert guiding the Wolverines ship, an experienced and deep roster of talent that has been aided by the additions of elite newcomers, once again, you cannot count out Harvard Westlake from claiming another Mission League title. 

’26 INF/OF James Tronstein

’27 OF Ira Rootman

’27 1B Jake Kim

DARKHORSE: NOTRE DAME

I came in very high on the Knights program in the 2025 spring season, as they looked primed to be the class of the Mission League in my eyes. But with the mixture of injuries to the pitching staff and some offensive struggles throughout their lineup, the Notre Dame spring season didn’t quite reach the heights I had hoped for with them. As we head into 2026, the Notre Dame program returns several of those key players from 2025 who are now aided by the experience they gained in the struggles of last year. The rotation is littered with talented D1 commit arms fronted by the likes of Sr. RHP Juju Diaz-Jones (California commit), who assumed the ace role in 2025, Jr. RHP J. Beckett Berg (Texas commit), who had an electric summer and could give them a second ace, Jr. RHP AJ LaSota (Virginia commit) with elite spin to go with emerging velocity. Behind that trio is the strong group of Sr. RHP Patrick Arranaga, who served as their closer before missing time in 2025, Sr. RHP Patrick Johnson (UCSB commit), who missed time with injury, and Sr. RHP Holden Newhouse (LMU commit), another arm who missed time due to injury. Sr. RHP Malakye Matsumoto (Air Force commit). That loaded rotation alone makes the Knights dangerous in Mission League, but their lineup appears talented enough to create noise and put them in contention at the top of the league. Sr. C Jacob Madrid (Oregon commit) will be counted on heavily, and Soph. OF Dru Wilson (#15 ranked 2028 in California) is a dynamic threat at the top of the lineup. With the upward development of players like Jr. INF Sebby Grove, Jr. 1B/OF Bennett Pace, Soph. RHP/INF/OF Jason Taylor and talented Fr. INF Anthony Daniel (#20 ranked 2029 in California/2X Team California JFG alum), their lineup is showing the potential to create noise. If everything can click in Sherman Oaks, we could see the Knights in the mix come May for a Mission League title.

’27 RHP J. Beckett Berg

’27 RHP AJ LaSota

’26 C Jacob Madrid

+ PLAYER TO KNOW: GREYSON GULLAGE (SIERRA CANYON)

While there are more famous players around the Mission League across numerous different classes, Gullage is a personal favorite of mine. His swing can be a bit unorthodox, but going back over the past two years and more of seeing Sierra Canyon in person, Gullage has found the barrel at an extremely high level. His commitment to Cal Poly SLO is one that I love, as the Mustangs have done a tremendous job of pulling lesser-known talents from around my region over the years and seeing them turn into elite players at the collegiate level. With a loaded lineup around him and two-plus years of experience competing in the Mission League, the LH hitting Gullage has the type of profile that could produce a tremendous spring. After earning his way onto the 2nd team All Mission League squad during his JR. season, I’ll be keeping eyes on how the spring goes for Gullage. I would not be surprised if we see him solidly on the 1st team and maybe even in the mix for an MVP-type of year.

+ PITCHER TO KNOW: JACKSON SCHROEDER (CHAMINADE)

A league like the Mission is going to have elite arms littered all over, but the Eagles right-hander has been one I’ve been intrigued by going back to the fall of 2024. He scuffled a bit during his Jr. season, but this fall has been a revelation for the USC commit who has seen his velocity comfortably live in the low 90’s while ticking the 94-95 MPH range in a live look. Schroeder has improved the quality of his offspeed mix, cleaned up the delivery, and shown improvements to his control this fall. If those trends continue for him over the spring, Schroeder should generate plenty of buzz amongst not only the Mission League but also potentially MLB scouts. 

+ UNDERCLASSMEN TO KNOW: DRU WILSON (NOTRE DAME)

Wilson was uber impressive during my one live look at him during the 2025 spring season and then again during the 2025 Area Code Underclass Games as part of Team Breakthrough. He boasts dynamic athleticism, intriguing impact in his bat, elite potential defense in CF, and, for good measure, high-level stuff as a right-hander on the mound. Wilson gained invaluable experience last year playing the full season on the varsity level for Notre Dame and experiencing flashes of success. Now a year older with that experience from 2025 to help boost his elite skill set, Wilson has a chance to be the most impactful player for the Notre Dame team in 2026. As well, he has the potential in his overall game to be amongst the most impactful players in the entire Mission League.

MARMONTE LEAGUE

+ PICK TO CLICK: WESTLAKE 

Westlake has been the class of the Marmonte League for the last few years, either claiming a league title or being right in the mix at the top of the league. The Warriors claimed a share of the 2025 title, an outright title in 2024, and a top 4 finish in 2023. While some of the key pieces of those teams have departed for collegiate baseball, the cupboard is far from bare. Head coach Wally Barnett has three of his top five pitchers in innings from 2025 returning with the rotation ace Sr. RHP/OF Cade Atkinson (UCSD commit), who has shown a tick up in the quality of his stuff, along with his high-level pitchability, returning along with Sr. Micah Cummings and Sr. Rocco Cortell. The lineup for Westlake will be key for them to return to the top of the league in 2026. They lost their top offensive piece from 2025, but if returners Sr. Blake Miller, Sr. Joey Moore, Atkinson, and Soph. C Holden Backus can take forward steps from solid seasons in 2025; they will have the makeup to be competitive again in 2026. Plus, the addition of rising Soph. Dylan Lee can bolster the program. Another who has a chance to make a large impact for the Warriors in 2026 will be Jr. INF Jett Urbas, who transfers in from Chaminade College Prep. Physically well built with impact in his bat to be a strong addition to their lineup, while adding strength to their INF defense. 

’26 RHP/OF Caden Atkinson

‘26 RHP Caden Atkinson
Westlake HS#UCSDcommit

FB: 87-90 w/arm side life
CB: 72-75 downer shape w/command
CHG: 79-81

Athletic operation
Pounds the zone
Easy arm spd w/increasing velo
Starter profile w/M2C
Love the whole profile @PrepBaseballCA / @CadenAtkinson40 pic.twitter.com/9cOo3olsUc

— Steven Hardesty (@hardy03bsbl) January 19, 2026

’28 C Holden Backus

‘28 C Holden Backus
Westlake HS

Physical frame w/future projection
Swing profiles power upside w/uphill path & strength at contact
Clean receiver / blocks well
Arm plays w/online carry
1.93-2.0 pops
CS in game

N2K in ‘28@ShooterHunt / @PrepBaseballCA @holden_backus8 pic.twitter.com/duGVbrETHT

— Steven Hardesty (@hardy03bsbl) January 17, 2026

’26 SS Blake Miller

‘26 SS Blake Miller
Westlake HS@PB_Uncommitted

Hitterish athlete at top of order
Sprays ball line to line
Clean actions at SS w/arm to stick
Runs well
Consistent performer in live looks@PrepBaseballCA / @blakemiller0505 pic.twitter.com/9GVcwEyBN9

— Steven Hardesty (@hardy03bsbl) January 17, 2026

’27 INF Jett Urbas

‘27 SS/3B Jett Urbas
Westlake HS@PB_Uncommitted

Physical RHH backs up strong showings at #LAPSAS / #LAPSID

Stays on 2K offering up the middle for knock
Muscled 1B to LF later in game

Arrow ⬆️ profile @PrepBaseballCA / @jett_urbas pic.twitter.com/ysJuwFiupi

— Steven Hardesty (@hardy03bsbl) January 17, 2026

+ DON’T COUNT OUT: THOUSAND OAKS

The Marmonte League perennially is one of the toughest leagues in my region, boasting programs that have experienced great success over the years. Nearly every year, you can look up and down this league and make a case for almost every team to be in contention for a league title. In 2026, I’m going to plant my flag on the campus of Thousand Oaks, where the Lancers appear ready to reclaim the top spot for the first time since 2021, when the program brought home a CIF-SS D2 title. To accomplish this, the second-year head coach Hayden Cronenbold will need to replace the loss of his ace on the mound, but Thousand Oaks has several high-quality arms ready to impact their success. Sr. RHP Jameson Berigan (Pepperdine commit), Sr. RHP Jackson Auster, Sr. RHP Andrew Albrecht, Sr. RHP Wyatt Turley, and Sr. LHP Luc Forkin are all returning from the 2025 team that made a CIF-SS semifinal playoff run in 2025. Their lineup loses two of the top performers in 2025, but with Sr. C Matthew Magruder (Occidental commit), Sr. DH Bret Warner, Jr. INF Dylan Sax, Jr. INF Gavin Berigan, and Jr. OF/RHP Jake Ange each showing flashes of success in 2025 while continuing to get better, they have a strong core to their lineup. While nothing is a sure thing in the difficult Marmonte League, the ingredients are there in Thousand Oaks for a potential league title season in 2026.

’26 C Matthew Magruder

+ DARKHORSE: CALABASAS 

Since 2021, the Coyotes of Calabasas, under the guidance of head coach Thomas Cassidy, have finished at or near the top of the Marmonte League in each season. In 2023, Calabasas brought home the league title, and while they may not have any one left from that squad in 2026, the feeling of success is ingrained in the program. The 2026 squad will rely on the crafty Sr. RHP Luke Szymanski (DeSales commit) and Sr. RHP Jackson Claudio (Erskine College) to build on their Jr. seasons, but there are high hopes for the rising Soph. RHP Jayden Singer, who boasts high-level stuff, is ready to secure a prominent spot on their staff. Calabasas. Beyond those two, there are plenty of SR. arms for the adept Cassidy to plug into spots on the mound. The lineup has upperclassmen ready to build on their performances from the 2025 spring season. Jr. SS Trevor Chang has adequately stepped into the shoes of back-to-back D1 shortstops out of Calabasas and just continues to get better. With the departure of Matthew Witkow’s presence in their lineup, Sr. OF Nathan Rosenfeld could provide LH thump. How the rest of the lineup behind those two shapes up in 2026 will be a prominent factor in whether the Coyotes can compete amongst the top of the Marmonte League, but Coach Cassidy has mentioned the promise they see in a trio of sophomore position players, INF Auron Blackledge, RHP/INF Cash Wiltgen, and 3B/C Conner Kingston. Plus, Soph. C Tay Fink showed extremely well during his appearance at the LA PSID event.

’27 SS Trevor Chang

’28 RHP Jayden Singer

+ PLAYER TO KNOW: CARSON SHEFFER (OAKS CHRISTIAN)

The Lions were Marmonte League co-champions in 2025, and Sheffer was a key piece in helping claim that spot. An unfortunate appendicitis right before the CIF-SS playoffs ended Sheffer’s JR. season early. Long has been a personal favorite of mine in the region and one of the best catch/throw defenders not only in California, but in the nation. The Oklahoma State commit, Sheffer, is a famous name in this league. But, with a summer/fall spent focusing on retooling his set-up/operation in the batter’s box and went to work on adding strength/athleticism to his wiry athletic frame. That work has paid off loudly over the course of the winter high school scrimmage season/scout baseball, where Sheffer routinely hit baseballs north of 100+ MPH, has run 6.6 60-yard times, and has added significant strength to his frame while still having room to add. Already a high performer over the past few years in the Marmonte League, the polish to his profile has Sheffer looking the part of a potential league MVP candidate. 

+ PITCHER TO KNOW: JAMESON BERIGAN (THOUSAND OAKS)

Berigan announced his presence to me in the spring of 2024, where he earned varsity innings for Thousand Oaks as a sophomore. Then he made a legitimate run at being part of the 2024 Team California Future Games team and capped it with a standout showing at the California State Games. He missed a chunk of his JR. season with an injury that muted his ability to help the Lancers early in the season and hampered his control. This summer/fall has seen Berigan take positive steps with his velocity now routinely in the low 90’s with life through the zone, improved feel for his offspeed arsenal, and added strength to his frame. Berigan has committed to Pepperdine University and is coming into his SR. season with the type of talent to make a run at being one of, if not the best arm in a strong league.

+ UNDERCLASSMEN TO KNOW: DANE DISNEY (OAKS CHRISTIAN)

Oaks Christian is completely stacked in the 2028 class with numerous highly ranked players who either saw significant varsity time in 2025 or are strongly in the mix for the 2026 season. But, even amongst all of that loaded talent, Disney has the type of skill set that could make him one of, if not the best in the group, not only in the long run, but in the here and now. Disney splits his time between the Oaks baseball program and the football program. That provides some rawness to his game, but he is a dynamic athlete who spent a month plus on the varsity level in 2025, experiencing tremendous success in that time. I was able to get a live look at the operation for Disney late last spring and loved everything about what he did immediately. A LH hitter with impact speed, feel to hit, sneaky impact, and discipline in the box, he has the potential to front the Lions lineup this spring for a full season and could put up high-level numbers with a full season of at-bats. I’ll be keeping close tabs on this uber-talented 2028.

FOOTHILL LEAGUE 

+ PICK TO CLICK: WEST RANCH

West Ranch made it back-to-back CIF-SS D2 titles for the Foothill League when they held off Mater Dei in a thrilling game at Cal State Fullerton. The 2026 version will have to replace the likes of staff ace Hunter Manning now at UC Irvine, catcher Nolan Stoll now at Stanford, and OF/LHP Mikey Murr now at The Master’s University. In addition, the team will take on a new look with first-year head coach Trevor Brown (former big leaguer) guiding the team. But, despite all of that, the Wildcats have plenty of talent returning on the position player side that will be bolstered by talented players coming into the program or rising from the JV level. Srs. Ty Diaz (Cal State Fullerton commit) and Connor Clayton (Cal State Northridge commit/Sr. Future Game Alum) have long been favorites of mine. Plus, they have a steady, talented Sr. Caydin Wilson ready to take over behind the dish full-time after a year spent in the DH role, who has plenty of defensive ability to take control of the spot (starter on varsity at Chaminade in 2024). Sr. INF Omar Gutierrez had a strong season in 2025 and will be counted on to take a step forward into a prominent role in 2026, while Jr. Elijah Sim transfers into the program from Notre Dame. On the mound will be the biggest question mark for the Wildcats, with Manning and Murr accounting for a large portion of the 2025 team’s innings. But, Sr. Orlando Gutierrez experienced flashes of success in 2025, and there are several Sr. arms behind him in Aaden LaRoe, Preston Loren, Clayton, Ruben Lemus, and Gio Valles, who could slide into more prominent roles, having seen what it takes to compete in the Foothill League in 2025. It will be a different road to a title in 2026, but I will not be surprised in the least if we see the Wildcats repeat. 

’26 SS/RHP Connor Clayton

’26 C Caydin Wilson

+ DON’T COUNT OUT: HART

In 2024, the now-named Hawks then Indians sent off legendary head coach Jim Ozella with a CIF-SS D2 title. Then, in 2025, it looked to be a tough task for former Hart player Brad Meza, who took over in the head coach role with a large chunk of the standouts on that squad gone. But the first-year skipper, who had experience around the Foothill League as the head coach of Valencia High School, guided his squad to a second-place finish and, in general, is no stranger to competing towards the top of the league. The Hawks did graduate several key components of their second-place squad, but return some intriguing names who showed flashes of their potential in 2025. Jr. Matix Frithsmith, Sr. Joshua Whitson, Sr. Hayden Rhodes, and Sr. Anthony Cavarretta were all solid contributors to the lineup, with the upside to be prominent figures in the 2026 season. On the mound, Hart returns a total of 41+ innings on the mound, but two names really intrigue me as potential impact arms for the program. The first is Sr. RHP Malachi Wobrock (MIT commit), who has seen his velocity climb into the upper-80’s while touching the 90’s at times, but the key will be control of the strike zone and consistency of his offspeed. If it clicks for him in 2026, Wobrock has the makings of a potential ace for Hart. Behind him is the two-way product Rhodes, who tossed 11 innings in 2025 with 11 Ks against just two walks with a deceptive mix from the LH side, and then upward development for Sr. RHP Cayden Kollasch would be a welcome development for the program. 

’26 RHP Malachi Wobrock

‘26 RHP Malachi Wobrock@hart_baseball #MITcommit

FB: 85-88 T89/90
SLD: 75-78
CHG: 79-80

Clean operation w/arm spd
Worked in around zone
Athletic mover
4 IP / 4 Ks
Improved control@PrepBaseballCA / @MalachiWobrock pic.twitter.com/M5mh5WamR7

— Steven Hardesty (@hardy03bsbl) January 17, 2026

+ DARKHORSE: CASTAIC

This was an extremely difficult league to pick a dark horse in because there are three legitimate candidates for this spot in Saugus and Valencia, but I’m going with the Coyotes of Castaic. Now in their fifth year as a school, the Coyotes have finished in 4th place in 2025, 5th place in 2024, 3rd place in 2023 (won the CIF-SS D5 title over Ganesha), and 5th place in 2022 during their first four years. The 2026 team has an intriguing blend of ability on the mound and the position player group to potentially break through the ceiling and make a run at the league title. Returning 67 innings on the mound of experience between two arms in Sr. Andrew Bond, Soph. Orion Gonzalez and the duo have experienced success and are ready to hold down the front end of the rotation. Behind those two, finding competitive arms will be important in making the step towards the front of the league. Gonzalez will be a key part of the lineup after a Fr. season hitting over .300. Sr. Michael Fava posted a .480 average in consistent playing time, and Sr. C Jakob Kerr looked fully ready to take over the starting spot after a strong showing at the LA Preseason ID. The returning crop isn’t deep, but they are talented, and if the pieces behind them advancing to the varsity level are ready to compete, the Coyotes may just be positioned for their first run to a league title.

’26 C Jakob Kerr

+ PLAYER TO KNOW: TY DIAZ (WEST RANCH)

Diaz is another personal favorite of mine, going back to my first look at the talented switch-hitting SS in his Soph. season when he assumed the starting spot. From there, Diaz has steadily gotten better with each look, showing more polish as a defender who already showed the actions to stay at SS and ticked up his offensive value from each side of the plate. He put together an impressive Jr. season, including getting the walk-off hit to propel the Wildcats into the championship game during a wild game against Etiwanda. Now in his Sr. season, Diaz will be the key focus for opposing teams to neutralize in the Wildcats lineup as they look to unseat them from the top spot in the Foothill League, but Diaz has proved to me in the past two years that he is ready for the challenge of being the prominent piece of their lineup. Committed to play at Cal State Fullerton, once his high school career completes the 2026 season can be a springboard for Diaz as he heads off to the next level of his baseball career.

+ PITCHER TO KNOW: ANDREW BOND (CASTAIC)

Bond was a prominent arm on the Coyotes staff in 2025, throwing the second-most innings at 44.2 on the year. He has quality stuff with an FB that can live in the upper 80’s and has flashed low 90’s life to go with an intriguing breaking ball. That stuff helped him pick up 39 Ks on the year, but his ability to control it on a consistent basis will have to improve in 2026, as he walked 20 batters in those 44+ innings. With the two other top arms on the Coyotes staff from 2025 graduated and on to the next steps of their lives this Bond’s opportunity to assume the ace role for Castaic and if he has made the steps forward with his pitchability on top of the quality of his stuff he has the type of profile to compete for a pitcher of the year honor in 2026.

+ UNDERCLASSMEN TO KNOW: ORION GONZALEZ (CASTAIC)

With an older squad fronting Castaic in 2025, Gonzalez was still able to burst on the scene and make a loud statement about his talent and ability to perform at a high level. Assuming a spot in the top to middle portion of the order, the LH hitter was impressive in a live look at him during the 2025 spring season for myself, and backed it up with the numbers he posted on the year. Slashing .329/.404/.500 over 24 games played with 89 plate appearances and 76 at-bats. His seven doubles lead the team while adding two homers to go with a team-leading 19 runs scored, top three RBI total at 16, and top three hits total at 25. While what the talented Sophomore did as a hitter alone would make him my top pick, that doesn’t take into account what he did as the Coyotes fireman reliever/closer with 22.1 innings pitched, 24 Ks, seven walks, just seven hits allowed for an opponents average of .093 and OBP of .181 on the year. He allowed an eye-popping zero runs on the year. Uber talented with a frame that has significant strength added on to it after my look at him during January of 2026, Gonzalez is ready to take the next step in the Foothill League and the SoCal baseball scene.

COASTAL CANYON LEAGUE

+ PICK TO CLICK: ROYAL 

Another team I was very high on in the 2025 spring season, the Highlanders, put together a strong overall spring. But, they missed out on the league title in a heartbreaking loss on the final day of the regular season and then lost another heartbreaker in the opening round of the CIF-SS D2 playoffs. Three of the stalwarts of the 2025 season have departed to play at the NCAA D1 level, but the 2026 version of the Highlanders is still loaded with talent, especially on the mound. The Highlanders rotation will be filled with high level arms who boast D1 commitments yet again fronted by Sr. RHP Dustin Dunwoody (Arizona commit/Future Game Alum), then after him is Sr. southpaw Dean Barkman (UCSB commit) with Sr. RHP/1B Colton Rainer (UCLA commit) and Sr. LHP/OF Isaiah Tillman (San Francisco commit/Sr. Future Game Alum) being the focal point of who will take the ball in a two-game a week Coastal Canyon League schedule. Scoring runs on Royal will not be easy to come by, similar to how it was in 2025, but the ability for Royal to produce runs will be vital to their success. The offense has several experienced pieces from 2025 returning in Sr. C Peyton Visage, Sr. SS Matthew Stout, Rainer, and Tillman. But, they boast some new faces who have the potential to make an impact on how the spring fortunes turn out in returning from injury. Sr. 1B/DH Dayne Peters, Sr. INF Noah Vasquez, Sr. OF Ethan Hall, Sr. OF Ryan Talley and Jr. UTL Tristen Hogan all have the potential to impact the lineup. 

’26 RHP Dustin Dunwoody

’26 LHP Dean Barkman

’26 RHP Colten Rainer

+ DON’T COUNT OUT: SIMI VALLEY

The Pioneers were the winners of the 2025 Coastal Canyon League title when they won back-to-back games thrillingly during the final week of the season, including a walk-off win to claim the title. From there, the Pioneers advanced to the second round of the CIF-SS D2 playoffs, where they lost an extra-innings heartbreaker to eventual runner-up Mater Dei. Simi returns numerous key pieces from their 2025 title team that have a litany of experience and success in Coastal Canyon league play. On the mound, their duo of Sr. southpaws Kyle Casey and Jackson Goshorn each produced eye-popping numbers during their Jr. seasons on the mound. Both arms boast the polished feel of their off-speed arsenal, quality FBs, deception with a competitive nature, and have continued to get better ahead of this upcoming season. Sr. Ryan Whitson added quality innings in relief during 2025 and can be counted on again for this spring. Their lineup lost its leadoff hitter and sparkplug, but returns their top offensive performer in Jr. OF/C Evan Rodriguez (2025 Prep Baseball Team SoCal Future Game alum) and Sr. INF Danny Pina, who was a key performer in their lineup. Whitson can likely be counted on to play a more prominent role in 2026 after experiencing success in a part-time role. Jr. C Andrew Nicklaus is headed for a more prominent role, as is potentially Jr. 1B Devin Medina after each contributing in part-time roles during their Soph. seasons. To repeat as champs, the Pioneers will need similar seasons from their prominent pieces while getting added impact from some role players or new additions to the varsity roster in the upcoming spring.

’26 LHP Kyle Casey

’26 SS Danny Pina

+ DARKHORSE: MOORPARK

Just one year removed from a heartbreaking loss in the CIF-SS D2 title game to Hart, the Musketeers fell on hard times during the 2025 spring season. They slid to a fourth-place finish and were outside the playoffs at season’s end. But the 2026 version of Moorpark presents an intriguing group that could put them back on a playoff course and potentially amongst the competitors for the league title. Sr. LHP/OF Carson Cerny had a sound year at the plate, but scuffled on the mound, affecting their rotation. He appears back on track this fall (more on him shortly) and would solidify their rotation by returning to his high-level form. The trio of Sr. RHPs Blake Guy, Tanner Stotts, and Cody Brossard each threw double-digit innings in 2025, with potential to add more impact in 2026 with their experience and development. Several returning Sr. bats played part-time roles, but AJ Mai will be a key piece of the puzzle if he can build on a decent Jr. season at the dish while continuing to play strong INF defense. The pieces are there for the Musketeers to put together, and head coach Aaron Garcia has proven he knows how to put them together to win, as he did in 2024. I would not be surprised at all by a bounce-back season from Moorpark.

’26 SS/2B AJ Mai

+ PLAYER TO KNOW: EVAN RODRIGUEZ (SIMI VALLEY)

Rodriguez put together an outstanding Soph. season where he was an All-League player, but without the presence of an opposing two-way performer may have had a chance to earn player of the year honors. Evan slashed .421/.513/.547 while still splitting his time between baseball and starting at WR for the Pioneers football program in his Soph. season. Now fully committed to baseball, dropping football this fall, Rodriguez has added strength to his frame. Those strength gains are helping Rodriguez begin to tap into power in his game to go with his dynamic athleticism. In addition, he may shift into CF on a more prominent basis for the Pioneers while still mixing in some catching time, but that move will reduce the wear and tear on his body. With a fresher body and more time to focus on his offensive game, we could see an even bigger year out of Rodriguez to build on his outstanding Soph. year. The middle of the order bat for Simi will be one I keep close tabs on.

+ PITCHER TO KNOW: CARSON CERNY (MOORPARK)

As mentioned before, the 2025 spring for Cerny was likely one he doesn’t want to remember too much of. He put together a sound year at the plate, but pitched to an ERA over 5.00, which was uncharacteristic for the talented southpaw. The 2026 spring will be Cerny’s fourth one on the varsity level, and in 2024, he broke out with an electric Soph. season going 4-2 in 15 appearances with a 1.92 ERA. Cerny threw 53.1 innings in that spring season with 43 Ks and took the ball to start the CIF-SS D2 championship game, throwing five strong innings. The track record of success is there for Cerny, who was at one time a verbal commitment to the University of San Diego, but is now uncommitted ahead of his SR. season. His fall has been a return to form with the life on his FB returning, even ticking up into the low 90s while showing improvements to his offspeed arsenal and control. With a return to his previous form and improvements to his operation on the mound, Cerny has the type of profile to be a big late commit for a college program and put the Musketeers back in league title/playoff contention.

+ UNDERCLASSMEN TO KNOW: TRENTON NELSON (SIMI VALLEY)

In a league perennially dominated by upper-class talent, the Pioneers have one of the more intriguing 2029 names for the upcoming spring season. Nelson is an athletic two-way player who shows an interesting profile as an RH hitter with sneaky strength in the video I’ve seen of him. But, the profile for me that stands out most is how he operates on the mound at present as a low 80’s southpaw with feel for his offspeed and the ability to throw strikes. While innings may be difficult to come by in large numbers with the experienced duo of Casey/Goshorn fronting the rotation, Nelson looks the part of a high-quality reliever in his first year of high school baseball.

CHANNEL LEAGUE

+ PICK TO CLICK: SAN MARCOS

San Marcos had been the class of the Channel League for three straight years, winning outright or shares of the league title from 2021 to 2024. The 2025 spring was a step backward for the program as they fell to fifth place and out of the playoff picture in CIF. The roster in 2025 was extremely young, with just one Sr. in the lineup and three underclassmen taking full-time roles for the Royals. Their top offensive player from 2025, Jr. OF Patrick Foster, returns to sparkplug the offense, while third-year varsity starter Sr. INF/RHP Mason Crang (Fordham commit/Team West Coast Senior Future Games alum) will provide impact in the middle of the order. But, if Sr. SS Miles Herbert, Sr. C/OF Levi Monson, Sr. INF Grant Hoover, Sr. OF/1B Landon Johnson, and Jr. OF Diego Alvarez can tap into their high-level potential and perform at a high level, their offense becomes even deeper with Soph. OF/C Quinn Melton is potentially the most powerful bat on the Central Coast. On the mound, Jr. LHP David Burkholder is a strike-throwing LHP who mixes a quality low-80’s FB with feel to spin a CB and an interesting CHG to be a difficult at bat for hitters, and behind him, Crang has a high-spin breaking ball to go with upper-80’s velocity. The trio of Herbert, Foster, and Johnson could provide quality arms to make this staff even deeper. San Marcos may have fallen in 2025, but the foundation is there for a rise back towards the top in 2026.

’27 OF Patrick Foster

+ DON’T COUNT OUT: SANTA BARBARA

The Dons have picked up a share of the Channel League title (split with Ventura) in 2025 and with San Marcos in 2024, while finishing second or third in 2023, 2022, and 2021. While their team in 2026 will look different from it did in 2025, the Dons have the pieces to run it back for a repeat title. It starts on the mound, where, after last spring, their two primary starters departed for collegiate baseball, but will be replaced by a pair of D1 commits. Jr. RHP/OF Tosh Whitworth (Oregon commit) is one of the most talented players in the league who features a lively low to mid 90s FB to go with the makings of a solid offspeed arsenal. He didn’t see extensive time on the mound in 2025, but will likely take one of the two rotation spots while still providing impact in the middle of their order. A key piece of the puzzle will be Jr. LHP Tanner Wilson, who was on a fast rise over the past summer/fall, including a commitment to UC Davis. There is a chance he misses time with an injury, but if he can get on the mound in 2026, he makes a formidable 1-2 arms for the Dons. Offensively, their sparkplug leadoff hitter and middle of the order impact SRs are playing D1 baseball now, but Sr. OF Jetner Welch (Claremont Mudd Scripps commit/Sr. Future Games alum) is entering his fourth year on varsity, Sr. SS Max Weddle (Chaminade Hawaii commit) is in his third year of varsity baseball, Sr. C Derek Jaye (Whitman commit) all bring experience on the varsity level. But, vital to a repeat title for Santa Barbara will be the acclimation of new faces on their roster to the varsity level on a full-time or role player basis. Talented Soph. INF/C Griffin Arnold sparked intrigue over the summer/fall, but may not contribute much this spring after battling illness. But make no doubt if the LH hitter Arnold finds a way to get onto the diamond his bat can impact the Dons offensive fortunes.

’27 RHP/OF Tosh Whitworth

+ DARKHORSE: RIO MESA

This may be the most difficult league to pick a dark horse candidate in because there are several legitimate contenders for the spot. But I’m going to go with the Rio Mesa Spartans, who are coming off a down year in 2025 themselves. After reaching the CIF-SS playoffs in 2024 with an older group of players, the Spartans fell to sixth place in 2025 while running out nearly an entire lineup of non-Sr. starters with a deep staff of non-Sr. arms and picked up a transfer SS out of Channel Islands who was a standout as a Fr. on the varsity level for the Raiders. Head coach Jacob Regalado is now in his third year at the helm after a stint as the pitching coach for his alma mater and is very intrigued by his squad. Sr. OF Erick Barron (2024 Team SoCal Future Games alum)  transferred in last spring and missed most of the spring due to the sit-out period, which affected his performance. Ready to go from day one in 2026, the talented RH hitter should be a key piece of their lineup. Sr. backstop Aiden Kleffel put together a solid 2025. Sr. 1B Alec Fontyn will be in his fourth season on varsity, looking to build off a strong Jr. season, Soph. OF Jakob Zarate hit over .300 in a full year on varsity as a Fr. and transfer Soph. SS Isaiah Osuna hit .467 as a Fr on varsity at Channel Islands. The mound will be fronted by Sr. Daniel Puebla, who has an upper-80s FB, and Regalado likes the potential depth behind him to keep the Spartans competitive near the top of the league.

’26 RHP Daniel Puebla

’28 OF Jakob Zarate

+ PLAYER TO KNOW: BRODY KAYLOR (BUENA)

Kaylor put together a strong JR. season where he hit .375 with a .483 OBP and slugged .458 on the year. He had an even K to BB rate, scored 10 runs, stole four bases, and, for good measure, provided strong defense at a pair of premium positions in SS/CF. The two-way talent made five appearances on the mound for the year, picking up one win with a 2.10 ERA in 6.2 innings he struck out eight hitters. While those numbers don’t jump off the page at you, it’s the tools Kaylor possesses and how they have progressed over the past 6+ months since the completion of high school season. The RH hitter stands 6′ 2” with significant strength gains to his frame in that time frame. He is tapping into more power, including launching an HR to straightaway CF during a fall look with improved bat speed. While his offensive profile is intriguing, it’s the upside to what he could be on the mound for the Bulldogs this spring and possibly going forward. Kaylor has an easy athletic delivery that lives in the upper 80s while reaching 90 mph during a fall look with an improved CHG/SLD combination to back them up. If Kaylor can continue to trend upwards as both a pitcher and hitter, there is plenty of reason to see a loud spring out of him, which makes him one of the top uncommitted products in the 2026 class for my region.

‘26 SS/RHP Brody Kaylor@_BHS_Baseball

⬆️ two-way profile

Launched solo HR to CF – BB
Solid defense at SS
Arm plays

FB: 86-89 T90
SLD: 75-78 flashes pot.
CHG: 78-81 w/tumble

Ath. mover / quick arm / M2C on bump

N2K @PB_Uncommitted @PrepBaseballCA / @BrodyKaylo42351 pic.twitter.com/pCFjqLXWq5

— Steven Hardesty (@hardy03bsbl) December 20, 2025

+ PITCHER TO KNOW: TREVOR WOODWORTH (VENTURA)

The younger brother of former Team USA 15-U gold medalist and current Pepperdine University two-way Josh Woodworth, 2026, provides an opportunity to step fully into the spotlight for this talented RHP. During his FR. year on varsity in 2025, Woodworth was used in a limited role due to the presence of four SR. arms taking on the bulk of the workload. But, during the time he saw Woodworth displayed high-level stuff with an FB into the upper-80’s from an athletic delivery and the making of a quality offspeed mix. Coming off a fall spent with the Cougars CIF-SS championship football team, he has added some strength to his frame, which has helped tick his FB velocity up with reports of the low-90s coming in. Woodworth will play a two-way role, most likely with the Cougars after spending time in the OF as a FR. primarily, but with his talent and the opportunity to accumulate increased innings in 2026, Woodworth has the type of profile to take off as one of the top 2028’s on the Central Coast and the state of California.

+ UNDERCLASSMEN TO KNOW: MATTIAS DIMAGGIO (DOS PUEBLOS)

While in most leagues I’ve tried to focus on a slightly less famous underclassman than the top one in our rankings for that league, it’s hard not to pick DiMaggio here. With the Chargers having multiple key pieces from their 2025 CIF-D5 finalist team off to college, the uber-talented Fr. will be expected to step into the top-to-middle portion of the lineup and provide immediate impact. DiMaggio is well prepared for this opportunity, boasting a strong frame, natural bat speed, impressive power for any high school class, but especially a FR. and adds strong defensive potential in the OF. While he is likely to be tested by older and more experienced arms with their ability to attack weaknesses in his offensive approach, at present, all the reports I’ve gotten on DiMaggio speak to his work ethic/drive to be great, being well prepared to adapt and succeed against those types of arms. The spring 2026 season should be an unveiling of what could be the best position player products the Channel League has seen in a long time.

GOLDEN LEAGUE (HIGH DESERT)

+ PICK TO CLICK: HIGHLAND

Highland has been historically one of the top teams in the Golden League, including winning the league in 2025 with a 12-2 record, 2024 with a 13-1 record, and  2nd place with a 13-1 record in 2023, 12-2 record in 2022. I wouldn’t expect this 2026 spring to be much different for the Bulldogs, who have seen some of their talent matriculate to the college level off the 2025 team, but still boast plenty of talent for 2026. Fronted by the Srs. on the roster in C Cole Studt (Trinity Tx. commit), Team West Coast Senior Future Games alum OF Colton Booterbaugh, INF Josiah Rodriguez, Hudson Harding, and Landon Manzano coming off outstanding Jr. seasons offensively. Jr. Jacob Aragon will be expected to front the Highland rotation after a strong Soph. season, while Manzano should take up another primary spot on the staff with Harding and Booterbaugh coming off quality years in 2025. If Jr. RHP Victor Hernandez has taken forward steps after a solid Soph. season the Bulldogs present a formidable rotation. In addition, they have picked up transfer INF/OF Ryder Smith, who has shone bright at the Future Games Tryout: Central California and High Desert Uncommitted Games, for our staff to bolster their offense. One should expect the Bulldogs to be right around the top of the league again in 2026.

’26 OF Colton Booterbaugh

’26 INF/OF Ryder Smith

+ DON’T COUNT OUT: QUARTZ HILL

The other half of the perennial top two teams in the Golden League, the Royals, finished second to the Bulldogs in 2025 and 2024 while winning the league in 2023, 2022, and 2021. The five-year stranglehold of these two squads on the top of the Golden League doesn’t look to be ending in 2026, as the Royals will be well stocked with talent again. Their offense should be fronted by Sr. SS Hector Anaya, who had a strong 2025 season and shone bright for our staff at the High Desert Uncommitted Games in October of 2025. Behind him are seven returning Jrs who saw time during their Soph. seasons in 2025 will be anticipated to take steps forward in OF Kayden Smoot, INF Marley Castenada, C Seth Humphreys, INF/C Jason Cowan, OF/INF Cole Gregory, and OF/1B Parker White. Those eight returners should be vital pieces of the Royals’ success in the lineup, and I’m looking towards Jr. OF Jimmy Simmons, who shone at the High Desert Uncommitted Games, to potentially find his way into that mix. Where the Royals have a challenge is replacing their 2025 ace in Christoper Lozano, but they do return 75+ innings of varsity-level experience across six arms. The key ones will be Sr. RHP Brodey Larey, who threw over 35 innings in 2025 with a sub-2.60 ERA, and then rising Jr. RHP White, whom I will dive into here in a bit. Jr. RHPs Smoot and Ryder Perry will need to take steps forward, along with Soph. RHP Chris Quintero to bolster the front end of their rotation and return to the top of the Golden League.

’26 SS Hector Anaya

+ DARKHORSE: LITTLEROCK

While the two-headed monsters of Highland and Quartz Hill have dominated this league, the Littlerock program made a statement in 2025. The Lobos finished 11-3 on the year in third place (technically 2nd place tie with Quartz Hill, but awarded 3rd place). They did drop both games to the league champs, Highland, but were able to pick up a split with Quartz Hill, giving them confidence for the 2026 season. In one of their losses, they were competitive with Highland, dropping it 3-0, and showed resolve in picking up their win over Quartz Hill 4-3 in 10 innings. The roster for Littlerock in 2025 was small, with just 17 players in total, but they return 13 of those players for the 2026 spring who garnered valuable varsity experience last year. It will be no easy task in unseating either Highland or Quartz Hill atop the Golden League, but the Lobos may have the confidence, experience, and, with some development to their returners from last year, the squad to pull off a stunner in the High Desert.

+ PLAYERS TO KNOW: COLE STUDT (HIGHLAND)

The Bulldogs standout catcher has been a force on the varsity level for the Bulldogs for the past two seasons. Coming off a Jr. season which saw him slash .476/.520/.714 on the year with 12 extra base hits (eight doubles and four homers). Studt was tops among the Bulldogs regulars in average, on-base percentage, slugging, hits, RBIs, doubles, homers, and second in runs scored, walks, at bats, and plate appearances. With a summer/fall of development culminating in his commitment to Trinity (Texas), the LH hitting backstop is primed to take another step forward and attempt to repeat as the Golden League Player of the Year in 2026.

+ PITCHERS TO KNOW: PARKER WHITE (QUARTZ HILL)

White is looking to step into the ace role at Quartz Hill with the graduation of Christopher Lozano from the program. White posted impressive numbers during his Jr. season. He took the ball for 35.1 innings of work, showing impressive command with a 29K to 3BB ratio on the season. The right-hander limited runs by opponents both of the earned variety with a 1.25 ERA and in total with just 11 runs allowed all season (6 unearned/5 earned). He had a 5-2 record with one save while throwing a no-hitter and showed the most difficult pitcher to hit or reach base against for the Royals with a .163 opponents average and .194 opponents OBP. A repeat performance of this type of season alone would go a long way towards vaulting the Royals over the Highland Bulldogs in the league title, but it should start to garner interest from college programs.

+ UNDERCLASSMEN TO KNOW: CHRIS QUINTERO (QUARTZ HILL)

The majority of the programs in the Golden League are full of strong upperclassmen, but the FR. Quintero at Quartz Hill made some waves during his first season in the league. While the total amount of work was not extensive, there is plenty to like about the upcoming season for Quintero, who has a FB working into the low 80’s now with sink while controlling a quality trio of offspeed offerings in his CHG/CB/SLD. Quintero tossed 10.1 innings during his freshman campaign, picking up 14 Ks against just three walks himself. He did get roughed up a bit, allowing 10 runs over that span with all 10 being earned, but has been consistent during the fall portion of the 2025 calendar, playing with the SoCal Bombers travel program to prepare himself for a potentially larger role with the Royals in 2026. 

CIF-CENTRAL SECTION
COAST (MOUNTAIN – OCEAN – SUNSET)

+ PICK TO CLICK: ST. JOSEPH’S (Santa Maria)

This may be the easiest pick of all the leagues I’m predicting, as the Knights have been on a two-year tear in the Central Section. In 2024, they made a run deep into the playoffs with a semi-finals berth that ended with a heartbreaking loss to Atascadero. But, in 2025, they took that next step, playing their way to a championship game again, suffering a heartbreaking loss at the hands of Centennial out of Bakersfield this time. The 2026 team will compete in the CCAA-Mountain division, which boasts the top teams of the three different CCAA divisions. The league will be made up of Lompoc, Righetti, Mission College Prep, Arroyo Grande, and St. Joseph’s. With their top bat from the 2025 team off to the collegiate level, the Knights will need one of several strong returners to assume the top spot, whether it is two-talent Sr. INF/RHP Connor Chanley (Cal State Fullerton commit), Jr. Ashton Bluem, who hit over .300 as a Soph. or Srs. Thomas Duggar, Robbie Roemling, and Santana Covarrubias improve on their solid Jr. seasons. The experience and flashes of success this group has had make them a dangerous group if all of it clicks. On the mound, the duo of Jr. LHP Mason Majewski (Cal Poly SLO) and Chanley should front the rotation with their D1-level stuff and experience. It’s going to be no easy task for opponents to post runs against the Knights. They will have a rookie skipper again in 2026, but head coach Tino Estrada has success in the high school coaching world coming off a title run of his own with the Knights softball program. Estrada has a baseball background, then add in his knowledge of what it takes to win, while giving him a roster stocked with talent, and it all adds up to what should be another strong season in Santa Maria for the Knights.

’27 RHP/INF Connor Chanley

+ DON’T COUNT OUT: PASO ROBLES 

Paso Robles will compete in the CCAA-Sunset League with the likes of Cabrillo, Templeton, San Luis Obispo, and Atascadero, which is a strong, competitive mix of teams. They are the defending champions of this league with a 7-5 record in league play and advanced to the second round of the CIF-Central Section D2 playoffs last year. The 2026 versions of the Bearcats return nearly every full-time starter and prominent players on that 2025 team, who all experienced the varsity level, and many found success at that level. Their offense is fronted by talented Jr. Xander Hermanson, who posted a .338/.442/.416 slash line and Sr. Marcus Garcia, who had a .415/.495/.511 slash line. This carries to the mound where the top seven arms on the 2025 return, including Jr. RHP Nate Contreras, who threw 58+ innings with 55 Ks, an opponents average of .207, and went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA for the year. With so much returning talent, experience winning the league, and a varsity skipper, TJ Durfee, entering his second year at the helm, the Bearcats are well-positioned to claim another league title and make a deeper run in the Central Section playoffs.

+ DARKHORSE: ARROYO GRANDE

While being in a league with St. Joseph’s is not necessarily an enviable setup, the Eagles have an interesting roster that, if everything clicks, could make them a sneaky team to compete at the top of the league. While they did lose standout Sr. Judah Hill, the returning group of Sr. Tane Kurth, Tanner Bournonville, Jr. Jackson Ralph, and Jr. Ruben Servin each experienced success in 2025. Then mix returning Sr. arm Jackson Kreowski flashed upside with some polish needed, but if it clicks for him, it gives them a second talented arm behind Bournonville. While the depth may not be what exists at St. Joseph’s or Paso Robles, the top end for Arroyo Grande has the type of talent to carry them through a two-game-a-week league and push St. Joseph’s at the top of their league.

’27 SS Ruben Servin

+ PLAYER TO KNOW: TY BERNAL (MISSION COLLEGE PREP)

Bernal was a two-way force for Mission College Prep during his Soph. season with impressive stats across the board. A LH hitter and LHP who displayed the feel to hit at the plate with high-level impact while showing his high-quality stuff on the mound. At the plate, Bernal slashed .407/.508/.796 over 21 games and 65 plate appearances with 54 at-bats. He had 22 total hits on the year, but nine of them went for extra-base hits, including six homers, and with a nearly even 11 BB – 12 K rate. His 27 RBIs in 2025 lead the Royals by over 10 on the year. The numbers at the plate were impressive on their own, but his 44.2 innings pitched with 46 Ks vs. 16 BBs while going 4-2 with 3.76 ERA fronted the Royals rotation, and one can rightfully expect a potential increase in those numbers. With talent, experience, and success returning for the 2026 season, I would not be surprised to see Bernal standing as the top player in the league at the end of the spring.

+ PITCHER TO KNOW: MASON MAJEWSKI (ST. JOSEPH’S)

Majewski has been an arm I’ve been high on since seeing him the first time during the CIF–Central Section semifinals of his Fr year with an elite delivery, clean arm action, and intriguingly good stuff at the time. From there, Majewski has only continued to get better with his stuff ticking up and the frame filling out. He turned into the ace of the staff, putting up strong numbers, going 8-1 with a 2.76 in 64.2 innings pitched. The deeper dive numbers on his year were equally strong with 68 Ks vs. 22 BBs, allowed only 54 hits (opponents’ average of .220), and just 27 runs allowed all spring in that time frame. His stuff took another step during the summer/fall with FB velocity ticking up, quality of his offspeed ticking up, and a Cal Poly SLO commitment. Majewski should be the likely top arm in the league.

+ UNDERCLASSMEN TO KNOW: ETHAN RENDON (PASO ROBLES)

Rendon didn’t have an electric spring during 2025, but as a Fr., seeing consistent time on the varsity level is what can be expected. But the talented two-way player did show flashes of his present ability last year, and with a year of development, his skill set might be ripe for a big jump. On the mound is where Rendon contributed the most in 2025, with the second most innings thrown at 24.2, with 27 Ks over that span, allowing a .216 opponents average. In addition, he had one save with a 2.55 ERA. At the plate, the numbers weren’t as impressive, but sound for a Fr. on the varsity level with a .231/.318/.282 with two doubles. Having gained confidence in both roles by being on varsity full-time last year, I’m interested to see how the Sophomore year will go. performs this year as part of what should be a strong Paso Robles squad.

BAKERSFIELD (SOUTH YOSEMITE – VALLEY / RIVER)

+ PICK TO CLICK: BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN (VALLEY)

The 2025 version of the Bakersfield Christian Eagles was a dominant force in the Valley League, where they went 12-0 on the year with six of those games being shutout or one-run-allowed wins. In 2026, the Eagles’ lineup will return seven of their nine consistent starters, and several key role players will be back. Srs. London Anderson, Karson Greer, Deakin Brinkley, and McCoy Silicz were several of the top offensive performers on the 2025 squad. They will be back and are expected to carry the lineup again. As well, Jr. backstop Ryan Burgess has been on a steady rise, including picking up a commitment to Cal Baptist, making him another prominent piece of their 2026 lineup. On the mound, three of the four top innings arms return, including Silicz (Ole Miss) as the ace who threw 71 innings with 71 Ks, nine wins, 1.38 ERA, .180 opponents average, and just 21 total runs allowed on the season. The Sr. trio of Cale Nielsen, Zach Hall, and Tristen Garcia (Allan Hancock College commit) each posted solid years, while the Jr. Maddox Garza and Soph. Sterling Silicz looks to build on a quality 2025 season. The overall makeup of the Bakersfield Christian roster looks well poised to repeat atop the league and face the difficult test of a return to the CIF-Central Section D1 playoffs.

’26 RHP McCoy Silicz

+ DON’T COUNT OUT: RIDGEVIEW (VALLEY)

2025 was a bit of an up-and-down season for the Wolfpack, but the group came together at the end of the year to put up dominant playoff performances. Winning the CIF-Central Section D2 title with an electric pitching showing, allowing one run in four games. Then, claiming the CIF-South Region D4 title, allowing just six runs over four games. Their lineup will lose just three full-time players of the 2025 team, but returns Soph. bats in standout Jacob Quintero who slashed .307/.394/.396 in his Fr. season and Edwin Hidalgo who slashed .377/.462/.416. The pitching staff which dominated the playoff run for the Wolfpack returns four of the five top arms in terms of innings pitched, four of the five tops in appearances highlighted by their ace Joel Gutierrez (Fresno State commit) who made twenty appearances with 86.1 innings pitched, 96 Ks, 11 wins, a 1.30 ERA (21 total runs allowed) and opponents hit just .190 against him. Behind him, Jr. Martin Castro and Sr. Adrian Bravo (Fresno State commit) each had solid years in 2025 and looked poised to be even better in 2026. The key for Ridgeview will be the series against Bakersfield Christian if they can continue to play as they did at the end of 2025, all spring long, and especially against the Eagles, they might have the right mix to claim a South Yosemite Valley League title.

’27 RHP Martin Castro

+ DARKHORSE: FRONTIER (RIVER)

The Titans finished in third place in 2025 behind eventual CIF-Central Section D1 champs Centennial and the perennially strong Stockdale program. They got there behind a younger roster which featured six none Sr. regulars. Current Sophs. Ayden Francisco and Johnny Archuleta both had 80+ at-bats, with Francisco slashing .333/.386/.583. Sr. Jaylen Tia was an impact bat in his Jr. season, slashing .385/.524/.885, including 17 extra base hits highlighted by his 11 home runs, drove in 32 runs, and walked more than he struck out over the spring. Sr. Ronnie Machado had a .307/.423/.568 slash line, including 11 doubles and four homers for the year. While the pitching staff wasn’t dominant in 202,5 it does bring back nearly every prominent arm who will have gained valuable varsity-level experience ahead of the 2026 spring. Sr. Landon Nettles topped the team with 49.1 innings pitched as a control artist, striking out 36 against just eight walks, but will need to limit runs at a strong clip in 2026. Behind him, there are five more arms who threw double-digit innings, with Francisco having shown impressive stuff at a pair of Prep Baseball California events, including a sharp high-spin breaking ball and emerging upper 80’s FB velocity from the LH side. As well, I’m intrigued to see the year that Jr. INF Ryan Birks can put up after a strong showing at the Bakersfield Fall ID.

’28 LHP/1B Ayden Francisco

+ PLAYERS TO KNOW: LONDON ANDERSON (BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN) 

While McCoy Silicz does grab a lot of headlines at Bakersfield Christian as an Ole Miss commit, Anderson has the dynamic speed/impact profile that has produced at a high level. A two-time standout on the Prep Baseball California event stage, Anderson is not only an elite metric performer but has posted impressive numbers for the Eagles. In 2025, his .392/.439/.514 slash line speaks to his ability with five extra base hits (two doubles, two triples, and a homer). He was top three on the team in runs scored, triples, tied for the team lead in steals, and top five in hits / RBIs. His athleticism and instincts have shown him to be an impact defender in CF. The combination of his offensive ability, baserunning potential, and defensive upside not only makes Anderson one of the better uncommitted ‘26s in the state but also gives him the chance to impact the success of the Eagles as much as any player on the roster. I’m anticipating another strong season from Anderson in 2026.

+ PITCHERS TO KNOW: ADRIAN BRAVO (RIDGEVIEW)

While both Bravo and his teammate Joel Gutierrez boast commitments to Fresno State, Gutierrez was the ace of the 2025 squad. I had a chance to see Bravo throw a bullpen in the later part of the summer at the Bakersfield Summer ID, and the quality of his stuff from the LH side was impressive. Control has been a bit of an issue in the past, but the talented southpaw seems to be on the right track to controlling his arsenal at a better rate in 2026. Should that change stick for Bravo, he has the potential to be one of the top-performing arms in the Bakersfield region, and we could see loud numbers from him.

+ UNDERCLASSMEN TO KNOW: JACOB QUINTERO (RIDGEVIEW)

Like many players in this preview, Quintero is a personal favorite of mine from the scouting trail. He shone bright at the Bakersfield Summer ID, but really announced his presence with an impressive weekend at the inaugural Prep Baseball West Coast Super Sophomore event. Those two events backed up what was a strong Fr. season for Quintero in 2025 when he slashed .307/.394/.396 while being amongst the team leaders in runs scored, hits, RBIs, and plate appearances, while holding the premium SS spot. Those are all very respectable numbers, but when you see Quintero play, it’s easy to recognize that he has the potential for even greater performance based on the impressive tools he possesses. With confidence gained from a stellar Fr. year and more development over the past year, Quintero posted an elite level season would not be surprising whatsoever.

CIF-CITY SECTION

+ PICK TO CLICK: BIRMINGHAM CHARTER

The 2025 campaign was a strong one for the Patriots, who finished second in the West Valley League of the City Section with an 11-4 record in league play and 18-13 overall. They return two prominent underclassmen who are likely to be vital pieces to this pick in Soph. C Jordan “Bam Bam” Lindsay and INF/RHP Carlos Acuna. Those two are not the only returners from the 2025 squad; in fact, they bring back 10+ players who were on that team, including intriguing Jr. SS Julius Monroe-Truitt, who I really liked on the defensive side of the game during a live look over the MLK weekend. The Patriots are well coached, play hard-nosed baseball with athleticism across their lineup, and look the part of a potential City League title winner if everything clicks for them.

’28 C Jordan “Bam-Bam” Lindsay

‘28 C Jordan “Bam Bam” Lindsay
Birmingham Charter

Strong live look at the talented Soph.
Raw tools translate in game well
Two barrels to CF – RF
Love the actions w/receive – block – throw
1.91-2.0 pops
Athletic across board @ShooterHunt / @PrepBaseballCA @bambamlindsay5 pic.twitter.com/ouqCHLZQAM

— Steven Hardesty (@hardy03bsbl) January 17, 2026

’28 RHP/INF Carlos Acuna

‘28 RHP Carlos Acuna
Birmingham Charter

4-sm FB: 86-89 T90
SNK: 83-86 heavy ball
SLD: 72-75 flashes
CHG: 78-80 deception vs. LHH

Starter profile
Controls 4 pitches to 4 quadrants
Athletic operation w/arm spd
High floor w/M2C@ShooterHunt / @PrepBaseballCA @cbacuna21 pic.twitter.com/lldGwyeVSD

— Steven Hardesty (@hardy03bsbl) January 19, 2026

+ DON’T COUNT OUT: EL CAMINO REAL

While Birmingham may be my pick to click, we can’t overlook the defending West Valley League and City Section Open champion El Camino Real program, which went 14-1 in league play with a 23-9 overall record. They do lose the services of standout two-way Luke Howe, who is now at Long Beach State, along with four more Sr. full time starters who have graduated. But the roster on the 2026 team has plenty of talent returning, especially in the case of Jr. 3B/RHP Jackson Sellz, who slashed .368/.482/.382 in the spring season while throwing three solid innings on the mound. The mound is where the Royals must find innings, as those three innings from Sellz are the only ones returning off the 2025 team. But, they have a rising Jr. RHP Hudson December who has shown high-quality stuff to potentially front the Royals’ rotation.

’27 RHP Hudson December

+ DARKHORSE: SYLMAR CHARTER

In 2025, the Spartans were the champions of the Valley Mission League with a 13-2 record during league play and a 22-7 overall record. They made a run to the semifinals of the CIF-City Section Open Championship, suffering a close loss to Venice there. The 2026 version of Sylmar has plenty of intrigue to not only repeat that type of season but possibly find its way into the Open Section title game. With Sr. Matthew Torres coming off a loud 2025 that included a .420/.500/.566 slash line fronting a lineup filled with Jr. Timothy Sepulveda, who slashed .391//449/.517, and powerful Jr. Rickee Luevano, a Central California Summer ID standout who slashed .295/.500/.754 while crushing seven homers and seven doubles of his 18 total hits. Luevano topped the team with 23 RBIs in addition to being top three with 20 runs scored. In addition, they have a smattering of players back who played roles throughout the 2025 spring to bolster their starting lineup. Where some other pitching staffs have question marks, the Spartans have nearly 120 innings of returning pitching, including their top arm from 2025 in Sr. Alex Martinez, who threw 60+ innings with seven wins, a 1.71 ERA (18 total runs allowed), 53 Ks, an opponents average of .190, and a no-hitter on his resume. With several strong-performing arms behind him to bolster this staff, they may just have the pitching to be the class of the City Section.

’27 1B/3B Rickee Luevano

SMALL SCHOOL SENSATIONS:

+ FOOTHILL TECH DRAGONS 
The Dragons finished second in the Tri-Valley in 2025, just one game behind St. Bonaventure, which won the league. It was their first year back in the Tri-Valley after winning the Frontier in 2024.  The Dragons return nearly their entire starting lineup in 2026, including Jr. C Davin Arth, who led the team with a .404/.490/.607 slash line on the year, including 14 extra base hits (11 doubles, two triples, and one homer). Both Jr. OF/3B Jacory Smith and Sr. OF/RHP Rainen Tolentino had averages over .300, with Smith adding seven doubles and Tolentino four doubles. Four more returners had over 70+ at bats and will look to build on stellar years in 2025 with increased production in 2026 based on their experience at the varsity level. All four of the top innings arms from 2025 are back in 2026 for Foothill Tech, fronted by Sr. Connor Nelles and Sr. Shane White, who both had ERAs below 3.5 on the year while throwing 40+ innings apiece. Behind them is talented Soph. CJ Ebrahim, who threw over 20 innings, as did Sr. Drayden Belitski, to fill out an experienced pitching staff. It will be no easy task to overtake the Seraphs of St. Bonaventure at the top of the Tri-Valley League, but a roster full of experienced players who have flashed success in the league might be the right mix for the Dragons to claim the title.

’27 3B/OF Jacory Smith

’27 C Davin Arth

+ HUENEME VIKINGS
The Vikings are coming off a second-place finish in 2025 in the Citrus Coast League, which has been dominated by Santa Paula (four straight league titles with second place finish in 2021). Their 10-2 record was one game out of first, and there looks to be a crack in the door that might be open for the Vikings to bring home a league title in 2026. With five players returning who hit over .300 in 2025, the lineup is stocked with offensive ability, and 26 doubles return, and four of their five home runs from 2025 return, as does 101 RBIs. The Vikings lost their starting backstop, but have a very talented replacement in Sr. Akira Tamura, who also served as the team’s closer in 2025. Sr. OF Jorge Medina was as good a table setter as there may have been in this region with a .514 OBP that included 31 BBs, 23 hits, 31 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. Sr. SS Allan Rodriguez has shown impact at the plate and will be counted on to maintain or improve on his loud Jr. season stats. On the mound, they lose staff ace George Rodriguez, but return over 120 innings of experience, including their number two from 2025 in Sr. Steven Hernandez. Overtaking the Cardinals of Santa Paula will not be easy, but this group that makes up the Vikings squad might just be the ones to do it in 2026.

’27 OF Jorge Medina

’26 SS Allan Rodriguez

+ PARACLETE SPIRITS
Paraclete moves into the Camino Real League after spending the last several years in the Del Rey League. 2025 was a solid year for the Spirits, who went 17-15 overall, but had a scuffle in league play. But, they were still able to earn a berth into the CIF-Southern Section D3 playoffs and a run to the Quarterfinals ended with a loss to San Dimas. They lost five key starters, but the 2026 squad will be bolstered by players moving up from the lower levels at Paraclete and one impact transfer who, once he is cleared to play, should create a dynamic presence in their lineup. Sr. INF Noah Schneir has committed to play at Fresno Pacific after high school and looks the part of a middle-of-the-order impact bat. Jr. Nick Gonzales joins the Spirits after an electric season at Highland in 2025. Soph. Julian Trejo put together a sound Fr. season playing on varsity full-time and Soph. Gavin Gorman has been a consistent performer at Prep Baseball California events and on the fall/winter scrimmage circuit ahead of his first varsity season. Three main arms return from the 2025 squad who threw over 20+ innings each that should give them experience on the mound to replace an extensive amount of innings. The fortunes of Paraclete will be determined by the growth of the returning players from the 2025 varsity squad, the acclimation of the JV players advancing to the varsity level, and the impact of Gonzales’s presence in their lineup once he is eligible to play after the transfer sit-out period. 

’26 SS Noah Schneir

’28 3B Gavin Gorman

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