The high school baseball season has officially kicked off.
As we wrap up the first week of action, the rankings remain fairly stable, with a few notable changes: Oaks Christian and Great Oak have fallen off, while Chaminade and Villa Park have made their entrance.
Several programs have yet to hit the field, suggesting there’s plenty of movement ahead as all teams gear up for competition.
Here’s the most recent Top 25 rankings as of February 24.
California Southern Section High School Baseball Rankings: Feb. 24
1. Corona (1-0)
The reigning CIF-SS Division 1 champions and mythical national titleholders are back, led by Seth Hernandez (Vanderbilt), Billy Carlson (Tennessee), Brady Ebel (LSU), Trey Ebel (Texas A&M), and Anthony Murphy (LSU). New additions include Ethin Bingaman (from Arrowhead Christian) and Jason Gerfers (Aquinas).
Coach Andy Wise is adept at handling lofty expectations. Can he pull it off once more?
2. Huntington Beach (0-0)
There’s a notion that HB holds more talent compared to Corona, but the question remains: can this talent convert into a CIF title? Only time will reveal the answer.
Key returners featured include Trent Grindlinger (Mississippi St.), Ethan Porter (Oregon St.), Trevor Goldenetz (Long Beach St.), CJ Weinstein (LSU), John Petrie (Oregon St.), and Jayton Greer (San Diego). Standout pitchers Tyler Bellerose (Oregon St.) and Otto Espinoza (Cal) are also back.
3. Harvard-Westlake (2-0)
A decade in, coach Jared Halpert sees the Wolverines yet again anticipated to contend for a D1 title, albeit with a different roster.
Top field players this season are expected to be Ethan Price, James Tronstein, Jack Laffitte, and Cade Goldstein, while the mound will feature Jackson Alex and Jake Chung.
Harvard-Westlake secured the D1 runner-up position in 2024.
4. Santa Margarita (2-0)
The Eagles welcome back eight field players and four pitchers, along with impactful newcomers such as Chase Marlow (San Diego) and Jacob Wicker (LMU). The reigning Trinity League MVP, TCU commit Brody Schumaker, is a standout performer.
5. Orange Lutheran (1-1)
The Lancers are guided by seniors Josiah Hartshorn (Texas A&M), Wyatt Hanoian (Air Force), and Cole Peterson (Stanford), alongside juniors Gary Morse (Tennessee), Grady Murrietta (Texas), and Gavin Hottle (TCU).
6. La Mirada (1-0)
Aiden Aguayo (UCLA) plays shortstop, while Maverek Russell (UCLA) holds down first base. Key pitchers for LM include Travis Friend (LMU), Win Gurney (Oregon St.), and Donald Murray.
7. Notre Dame/SO (2-0)
With over 30 years at the helm, Tom Dill continues to lead the Knights in pursuit of Mission League titles. Look out for standout players Logan Berenson (Boston College) and Dom Cadiz (UCLA).
8. Vista Murrieta (3-0)
The talent pool is impressive. RJ Holmes (Duke), Taytum Reeves (Texas Tech), Ryland Duson (Prairie View A&M), and Brady Luyben (San Francisco) return to contribute, while Oklahoma commit Vaughn Neckar stands as the top pitcher.
Despite their athleticism, the team might encounter depth challenges, according to coach Michael Tousignant.
9. JSerra (2-0)
Entering his 20th year, coach Brett Kay is a seasoned leader at JSerra, boasting 369 wins. His roster, once again, is filled with talent.
Returning players include Jordan Marian, Tyler Dunning, and Blake Bowen. On the mound, the Lions can count on Josh Hollis, Max Reimers, and Gavin Flores, all of whom are D1 college commits.
10. Crespi (3-0)
The Celts are poised for a strong season with a senior lineup including Landon Hodge, Diego Velazquez, Josh Stonehouse, Nate Lopez, and Troy Miller.
Tyler Walton is expected to lead as the ace in 2025.
11. Villa Park (3-0)
Nate Lewis has kicked off the season strongly at the plate, boasting five hits and seven RBI, while Jake Nobles has achieved 12 strikeouts in one outing this year.
12. Sierra Canyon (1-1)
Tom Meusborn continues his long tenure with the team.
The Trailblazers bring together a promising group of young talent including Dezi Delgado, Cody Gallegos, Andrew Nelson, Mikhal Johnson, and Greyson Gullage. Sean Parrow and Armando Solorio lead the pitching staff. Look out for Isaias Tirado, a transfer from Crespi, who is set to make an impact after the sit-out period.
13. Cypress (1-1)
John Weber is embarking on year 20, fresh off an 11th consecutive league championship. Returning players include Wyatt Rosales, Noah Johnson, John Short, Spencer Kwon, Jake De Laquil, and Connor Artaserse, with sophomore Gary Hennessy predicted to have a standout season.
14. St. John Bosco (0-0)
As the Division 3 runner-up in 2024, this season’s squad is enriched with exceptional players Jaden Jackson, Micah Taguiam, Noah Everly, and Julian Garcia.
15. Maranatha (0-1)
Last year’s impressive 22-7 record returns top field players Josh Proctor, Eric Zdunek, and Gabe Barragan, while key returning pitchers include Zach Strickland, Matthew Vazquez, and Dylan Hoang. Keep an eye on freshman Jayden Morales.
16. Royal (2-1)
Royal boasts strong pitching depth, especially with talents like Caden Sramek (Oklahoma St.) and Dustin Dunwoody (Arizona). Infielder Zachary Nagy (San Francisco) is also a top player to watch.
17. Aquinas (1-0)
The team finished last year with a solid 24-7 record and sees the return of nine players committed to collegiate programs. Leaders include Mason Greenhouse, Trevor Busby, Damien Casas, Jacob Bitonti, and Jonathan Tena.
18. West Ranch (3-0)
The Wildcats are set to challenge for a Foothill League title, featuring experienced players like Nolan Stoll (Stanford), Ty Diaz, Landon Hu, and Hunter Manning (Irvine). With a robust roster of three-year starters, they didn’t lose any key contributors, according to coach Ryan Lindgreen.
19. Chaminade (3-0)
Following up on last year’s success, the Eagles have jumped out to a strong start with three consecutive wins.
20. Mater Dei (2-0)
Despite significant departures, the Monarchs have reloaded with new talent, including Brandon Thomas, Dylan Wetzel, Lawson Olmstead, Ezekiel Lara, and Bradley Beaudreau. On the mound, Jackson Campbell and Kai Bratton are two D1 commits.
21. Foothill (2-1)
Returning from a Division 1 playoff appearance, Gavin Lauridsen (USC) is set to lead the Knights, accompanied by impactful pitchers Adam Ujiie and Kyle Telson. Additionally, Ezekiel Vargas is anticipated to have a strong season at the plate.
22. Gahr (0-2)
Andres Gonzalez (USC), Jake Ourique (LMU), and Bryce Morrison (USC) are players to keep on your radar, with Ourique and Morrison taking on pitching roles.
23. Millikan (2-1)
Anthony Pack (Texas commit) is a stand-out lefty with remarkable speed. The Rams also see the return of Ben Keisler, Andre Perez, and Conner Patton.
24. St. Francis (3-1)
The Golden Knights were runners-up in Division 4 last season, and they carry a wealth of experience into this spring.
Leadership comes from seniors Jordan Lewallen, Dane Shepard, Jackson Pratt, and Sam Rodriguez, with Aiden Mahoney being the ace of the team as only a junior.
25. Torrance (1-0)
Torrance is returning from a Division 1 playoff run, bolstered by the presence of Mateo Rickman, a two-time All-CIF selection.
DROPPED OUT: Oaks Christian, Great Oak
