Baseball season is underway across Northern California, so it's time to take a look at some of the top teams and players in the Central Coast Section, a section that feels and looks especially deep for 2018.
How deep is the section? Consider the talent for some of the teams which we aren't breaking down in this preview - teams such as Leigh, San Benito, Carlmont, and last year's Division I champion, Westmont, which returns Austin Tremelling, and has three-sport standouts Cameron and Troy Rottler.
With that being said, let's take a look at some of the top teams and players across the section. Even at 30 players deep in this preview, there are quality names not listed. For those names, just check back during the season and you will plenty of mentions.
10 TEAMS TO WATCH (in alphabetical order):
Archbishop Mitty
After losing by one run to Valley Christian in the semifinals of the Open Division last season, the Monarchs have plenty back, and have won their first four games. Sophomore Nick Yorke, junior Jonah Advincula, and seniors Miguel Cebedo and Jared Reupert are all off to fast starts at the plate, while seniors Josh Seward and Luke Tillmann anchor what appears to be a deep pitching staff, including Reupert and juniors Dominic Quinones and Reese Myers.
Bellarmine
With Wes Harper and Joe Ammirato anchoring the pitching staff, opponents might have a hard time scoring on the Bells, who are off to a 5-0 start this season. Harper and fellow seniors Connor Henriques and Nolan Downey are part of a lineup which shouldn’t feel too much pressure with those arms leading the way.
Los Gatos
Coming off a 20-win season, the Wildcats have a cast of experienced returners, led by Luke Short, who should provide a solid presence at the plate and on the mound. Replacing Ryan Wilcox as the staff ace will be difficult, but Short and Tyler Williams will look to limit the drop-off there. Seniors Thomas Moore and Cole Patterson return in the lineup, along with Short and Williams, while sophomore Tommy Troy is someone to keep an eye on.
Palma
The Chieftains should be favored to win virtually every time Sam Stoutenborough steps on the mound, but filling in the rotation will be key for long-term success. Seniors Tom Gugale and Will Van Ruler will be in the mix, and keep an eye on junior Grant Sergent, who plays quarterback in the fall. Vince Flores and Dominic Scattini are solid bats in the lineup, and keep an eye on sophomore Jon Jon Berring.
Palo Alto
Senior Niko Lillios anchors the rotation for the Vikings, while senior Jonathan Gottlieb and junior Hyunwoo Roh provide depth on the mound. Max Jung-Golberg is the lynchpin of the infield and the lineup, while junior Josh Kasevich could be poised for a big year. Also watch for emerging freshman Aidan Berger.
Sacred Heart Cathedral
It is hard to find a better duo of seniors than Martin Chavarria and Marty Cole, who anchor the Fightin’ Irish, as leaders everywhere on the field and at the plate. Fellow senior Matt Palomino could be another player to watch, along with junior Keshawn Ogans. Eric Casillas and sophomore Uday Narottam add to a deep and talented pitching staff.
Saint Francis
It’s no surprise that infielder Ricky Martinez is off to a hot start at the plate this spring, as one of the top talents in the section. Ryan Jeffries and Vungakoto Pakola are also swinging the bat well to start the season, while Cole Sperling and Justin Torres can provide some pop. Gianluca Shinn anchors the pitching staff.
Santa Cruz
Everyone is aware of the two junior standouts, Javi Felix and Glenallen Hill, but the Cardinals are deep and gained experience in the Open Division last year, when they beat Bellarmine. Ricky Parra brings senior leadership and multi-sport experience, joined by fellow senior Anthony Karagiannopoulos, while sophomore Kinsal Plunkett is another underclassman to keep an eye on. Junior Clayton Ray is a potential complement to Felix and Parra on the mound.
Serra
The Padres’ lineup is deep and lethal, headlined by seniors Cameron Barstad, JJ Ota, and Shane Wallace. Meanwhile, Mitchell Scott will be tough to score against, and is joined in the rotation by fellow senior Ryan Sutter.
Valley Christian
After a slow start which culminated in a section title in 2017, the Warriors have wasted no time living up to top billing in 2018. Patrick Wicklander is a staff ace on any staff in the country, and it is hard to find a weak spot in the lineup, which features brothers Dawson and Coleman Brigman, Ryan Belluomini, Steven Zobac, Nick Marinconz, and sophomore Eddie Park. Oh, and keep an eye on freshman Jonathan Cymrot, who might have the inside track to our Freshman of the Year award. And don’t expect much dropoff behind Wicklander on the mound, either, especially with junior William Kempner and Park in the mix.
30 PLAYERS TO WATCH (in alphabetical order):
Joe Ammirato, Sr, Bellarmine
The Cal commit went 8-2 with a 1.59 ERA last season, striking out 66 batters in 61 innings pitched. He was dominant in his first stint on the mound this season, shutting down De La Salle’s lineup while pitching in relief.
Cameron Barstad, Sr, Serra
The Cal commit hit two home runs and drive in 19 runs last season, while registering 85 put-outs from the outfield.
Alex Benavides, Sr, Gilroy
Benavides is committed to San Diego State, with the 6-foot-4 right-hander being ranked among the top 40 righties in the state. He is a two-time Perfect Game Underclass All-American.
Jordan Brandenburg, Sr, Carlmont
Brandenburg can play virtually anywhere for the Scots, and hit .341 with three home runs and 29 RBI last spring. He also threw out 17 would-be base-stealers while playing catcher, and already has established himself as one of Carlmont’s top pitchers this year.
Coleman Brigman, Jr, Valley Christian
The younger Brigman hit .337 and slugged 10 doubles last spring, while also drawing 20 walks, and is verbally committed to Santa Clara University. He committed just one error last year.
Dawson Brigman, Sr, Valley Christian
The 6-foot-1 Santa Clara commit turned six double plays last season, and showed a keen eye by drawing 18 walks to go with 11 RBI. He is off to a fast start this year, hitting .444 in the first five games.
Dominic Cacchione, Sr, Sacred Heart Prep
An Arizona State commit, Cacchione posted a 1.86 ERA in 12 appearances last season, and will be one of the Gators’ key arms which will make the difference if they are to erase the sting of last year.
Martin Chavarria, Sr, Sacred Heart Cathedral
The University of Pacific commit hit .355 with seven stolen bases last season, and is off to a fast start in 2018, hitting .455 through the first four games. He is equally as tough on the mound, going 5-3 with a 1.11 ERA last spring, and not allowing an earned run in his first two starts this spring.
Marty Cole, Sr, Sacred Heart Cathedral
The Niagara commit is one of the top middle infielders in the section, and also serves as one of the top arms for the Fightin’ Irish. Cole hit .289 with 16 RBI and seven stolen bases last year, to go with a 6-2 record on the mound. He has hit .538 in the first four games this season.
Javi Felix, Jr, Santa Cruz
In just a half-season last year, Felix hit .444 with three home runs, while also posting a 4-0 record with a 0.57 ERA, striking out 25 batters in 24 innings pitched and leading the Cardinals past Bellarmine in the first round of the Open Division playoffs last year.
Vince Flores, Sr, Palma
After limited playing time as a junior, Flores is off to a hot start in 2018, hitting .417 through the first four games. He is committed to the University of Washington.
Marvcus Guarin, Sr, St. Ignatius
The Seattle commit committed just one error in the infield last season, and is expected to be a key contributor not only in the line-up, but also on the mound this year. In limited action last season, he allowed just one earned run, and has struck out eight in his first eight innings this year.
Wes Harper, Sr, Bellarmine
The returning All-CCS selection went 5-3 with a 1.68 ERA last year, and completes a lethal one-two punch of arms for the Bells.
Forrest Hays, Sr, Aptos
A returning All-CCS selection, Hays hit .500 for the Mariners last spring, with 23 RBI and eight stolen bases. He can also pitch, going 3-2 with a 2.77 ERA last year, striking out 26 batters in 30 innings pitched.
Glenallen Hill, Jr., Jr, Santa Cruz
The Arizona State commit made an immediate impact after becoming eligible last spring, registering a .457 on-base percentage with seven stolen bases and six extra-base hits, in just 13 games.
Albert Hsiao, Sr, Leland
The Washington commit was our Prep2Prep CCS Junior of the Year last season, after hitting .506 with seven home runs and 29 RBI. He was one of the top catchers at the Perfect Game National Showcase last June, recording the second-fastest pop time among all catchers in the western half of the country.
Ryan Jameson, Sr, San Benito
The Cal Poly SLO commit takes over the top spot in the rotation for the Balers, who won the MBL-Gabilan and reached the CCS Open Division quarterfinals last year. His first start this year was masterful, shutting out Christopher for a 1-0 win.
Max Jung-Goldberg, Sr, Palo Alto
The four-year varsity player and University of San Diego commit hit .394 with 27 runs scored last spring, when he was an All-CCS selection for the Vikings. He is off to another hot start this year, hitting .412 with a home run in the first five games.
Nick Marinconz, Jr, Valley Christian
Marinconz earned second-team All-CCS honors as a sophomore, after hitting .414 with 22 RBI and eight stolen bases. One of the top returning juniors, Marinconz is verbally committed to Cal Poly SLO.
Ricky Martinez, Sr, St. Francis
The Baylor commit and returning first-team All-CCS selection hit .337 overall last year, and .405 in WCAL play, with a home run and nine doubles. He also turned 10 double plays from his shortstop position.
Nathan Martorella, Jr, Salinas
Martorella is verbally committed to Cal, after a sophomore campaign in which he hit .369 with 32 RBI. A standout dual-sport athlete, he also played on the Cowboys’ section championship football team in the fall.
Eddie Park, So, Valley Christian
Named the Prep2Prep CCS Freshman of the Year last season, Park hit .337 with eight stolen bases last year. He also provides another key arm for the Warriors, after going 3-1 with a 0.75 ERA as a freshman.
Alex Reelfs, Sr, Los Altos
The Santa Clara commit went 10-3 last spring, with a 1.11 ERA, including two no-hitters and four complete game shutouts. He finished last spring with 72 strikeouts, and was a second-team All-CCS selection.
Mitchell Scott, Sr, Serra
The Cal commit posted a 1.16 ERA in 13 appearances last spring, striking out 56 batters in 54 innings pitched.
Sam Stoutenborough, Sr, Palma
The Cal commit went 9-1 with a 0.61 ERA last spring, earning MBL-Gabilan Player of the Year honors, and was a first-team All-CCS selection. He struck out 75 batters in 68 innings pitched last year, while also batting .373 with 27 RBI.
Luke Tillmann, Sr, Archbishop Mitty
The Santa Clara commit went 5-2 with a 1.66 ERA, numbers which would have looked even better were it not for two games against Leigh late last year, the only games in which he allowed more than one run.
Angelo Tonas, Sr, Sacred Heart Prep
The senior left-hander and Georgetown commit sparkled with a 0.77 ERA last year, and enters his fourth year as a varsity starter. He was dominant in a 1-0 win over Aragon to start his 2018 campaign.
Chase Watkins, Sr, St. Francis-Watsonville
The 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher for the Sharks is committed to Cal Poly SLO, after a junior year in which he posted a 1.23 ERA with 57 strikeouts in just 28 innings pitched. He also hit .423 with four home runs and 22 RBI.
Patrick Wicklander, Sr, Valley Christian
The Arkansas commit went 8-1 with a 1.92 ERA last season, and was a first-team All-CCS selection after striking out 94 batters in 80 innings pitched. He shined at the Perfect Game National Showcase last summer, and was an Area Code Games selection.
Nick Yorke, So, Archbishop Mitty
Our runner-up for Freshman of the Year last season, Yorke hit .370 as a freshman for the Monarchs, and anchors the middle infield. He is off to a blazing start this year, hitting .667 during Mitty’s 4-0 start.
