The echoes of a somewhat quick winter season have faded, and with them, basketballs and soccer cleats have been exchanged for the timeless allure of diamonds, as well as the cheers from fans that follow a variety of other spring sports.
Looking at prep baseball in our area, the Southwestern League usually boasts the most overall talent, but a new layout of games will bring about some challenges. Finally, after 20 years, the league has gone to a 3-game format during the week, so now the challenge for coaches will surround how to manage their pitching staffs. This approach mimics a true next level schedule and will be more like a strategic game of chess. With teams starting their series on Monday and ending on Thursday, a starting pitcher’s rest period will matter now more than ever.
Currently, the early season standings reflect a collective strength among the teams, with none having lost more than a single game leading up to the start of this past week. Murrieta Mesa (7-0) leads the charge with an undefeated record, the Wolfpack fell in a Saturday game to San Juan Hills, but looking at the stats, the question hanging in the diamond-dusted air is straightforward – Is Great Oak (7-1) the giant among the contenders? It’s not only about how these teams start but how they adapt, endure, and possibly, outrun the marathon towards the postseason.
Great Oak appears the most formidable on paper, thanks to a couple of their nationally ranked players and an emerging coaching philosophy, but in a league swarming with talent and the unpredictability of sport lurking, it’s anyone’s game.
Amidst the league’s talent pool, coaching transitions in the league are making waves, especially for Great Oak’s TJ Salinas, who has recently taken the helm. Salinas is inheriting a legacy from Eric Morton, and a first-class baseball knowledge that came with a brief showing from former MLB player Tony Tarasco last season, as well as the insights from his six-year tenure within the program. Salinas’ connection with the players and his vision for a winning culture could be the foundational stones for a compelling season.
Salinas speaks with gratitude and deference to his coaching mentors, stating, “I will forever be indebted to him [Coach Morton] for helping me develop into the coach I am today.” Such homage to experience (and the promise of continuity with returning staff) suggests a seamless transition, potentially leading to the quick establishment of a successful team culture.
“The relationship that has been established between the players and I should help and with Ryan, Wally, Tony, and Kevin returning to coach, the players will have a lot of familiar faces to help bridge the gap as we move forward.” Being branded the team to beat is a flattering nod to past achievements, but as Coach Salinas and his contemporaries know, each game is a fresh seven innings where past achievements are just that – past
Ranked No. 21 in the latest LA Times poll, and cracking the PBR National rankings at No. 23, Great Oak flaunts commendable firepower in its roster with key players to watch. That list includes top-ranked junior Reagan Ricken, who has an arm destined for LSU with roots tracing back to the New York Yankees; The Fien Brothers, both top-ranked: Dylan, with UCLA in his sights, and Gavin, a USA Baseball alumnus headed for Texas, both carry a family legacy as rich as the dirt on the diamond. University of Hawaii bound Kaysen Raineri, who has sat down 25 batters so far this season, and freshman Roy Kim (13 K’s) should fill any voids in the pitching rotation for the Wolfpack. This season Great Oak will compete in the Division 2 post season brackets, if all goes accordingly, and are ranked No. 6 in the current CIF coaches’ polls.
Breathing down Great Oaks’ neck, ranked No. 22 in the recent LA Times poll, stands Vista Murrieta (4-2; Division 1; Ranked in the Top 15 of the current CIF coaches’ polls). While the Broncos’ preseason strength of schedule far surpasses that of those ahead of them in the current standings, this squad isn’t lacking in star quality. Vaughn Neckar, a junior that is also committed to LSU, is an alumnus of USA Baseball’s 18U National team, and brings heat to the hill every time he’s on it.
Other key players include Kardiff Black, a sophomore sensation proving himself with a hot bat, DC Ruth (a University of San Diego commit) and Ryland Duson, who are both painting a hopeful future for the Broncos. With an entire spread of promising and committed players that decorate the rest of the league, here are some players to watch:
Murrieta Mesa (Division 5; Ranked No. 5 in the current CIF coaches’ polls) – While the Rams don’t necessarily have top-ranked players, their lefty artillery on the mound is backed up with an offense led by SDSU commit CJ Moran. As the Rams chase excellence with an unblemished record thus far, their lefties have done an excellent job at keeping teams at bay early in the season, although with no stats on MaxPreps, it’s hard to say who the players to watch are.
Chaparral (6-1; Division 3; Ranked No. 9 in the current CIF coaches’ polls) – The Pumas will be displaying high velocity with their ace Braylon Doughty, who brings along a gallery of MLB scouts to every outing. The Oklahoma State commit tops the radar gun in the upper 90’s at times and is primed for the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft in July, assuming he stays healthy. Brady Pavlosky is another top hurler for Chaparral, the senior is committed to San Jose State next season while Kayden Winfrey, Masaki Brey, Chase Blackwell, and Darin Osterloh are all putting up offense numbers worth noting.
Murrieta Valley (6-1; Division 4; Ranked No. 2 in the current CIF coaches’ polls) – The Nighthawks are another team that might not have much in the top-ranked player department, but former Division 1 championship coach Bryn Wade, who won it all with Murrieta Mesa in 2016, has this scrappy team built for combat. A unique face to this year’s lineup includes one highly recruited quarterback in Bear Bachmeier, who is hitting over .500 this season so far. Other standout players to watch include Jesiah Generoso and Jacob Loving. As for which pitchers to focus on, it’s still too early to gauge who their top performers will be.
Finally, Temecula Valley (2-1-1) has a promising lineup with Logan Long and Cody Liscio being names to watch when they take the mound for the Golden Bears. While Temecula Valley has no current college commits that have been announced out of their senior class just yet, offensively some names to look for include Conner Christie and Will Bandel, who seem to be leading the way with their sticks.
Could any of these teams be a David to Great Oak’s Goliath? Can Vista Murrieta win a third straight title? Or, will another team rise to the occasion when the Southwestern League dogfights get under way next week? Only the play on the fields will ink the definitive story. Week one matchups, starting March 18, include Great Oak vs. Murrieta Valley, Murrieta Mesa vs. Chaparral, and Vista Murrieta vs. Temecula Valley. So, get the popcorn ready as the season’s script is still being written.
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