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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Sport
Eric Sondheimer

Southern California's prep baseball players to watch in 2015

Feb. 22--Pitchers

Kolby Allard; San Clemente, Sr.; He's left-handed, throws hard, throws strikes

Solomon Bates; Oak Hills; Sr.; USC signee was 12-0 with 1.04 earned-run average

Tristan Beck; Corona; Sr.; Stanford signee will be tough to beat

Noah Davis; Huntington Beach; Sr.; Went 12-0 with 1.27 ERA

Brian Gadsby; Crescenta Valley; Sr.; UCLA signee doesn't give up runs

Kevin Gowdy; Santa Barbara; Jr.; He's 6 feet 4 and ready for big season

Peter Lambert; San Dimas; Sr.; UCLA signee should be in dominant form

Kyle Molnar; Aliso Niguel; Sr.; UCLA signee is ready for best season yet

Austin Rubick; Buena; Sr.; Arizona signee has nasty stuff

Patrick Sandoval; Mission Viejo; Sr.; Vanderbilt signee is a top pro prospect

Nick Sprengel; El Dorado; Sr.; Left-hander throws in the 90s

Gavin Velasquez; South Hills; Sr. Cal State Fullerton signee was 10-1, 0.67 ERA

Others

Jacob Alcorn; Long Beach Millikan; Sr.; Headed to USC

David Barela; Redlands East Valley; Sr.; Was 8-1 with 0.78 ERA

Ryan Beyer; Glendora; Sr.; Headed to Pacific

Jordan Bocko; Capistrano Valley; Sr.; UC Irvine commit

Zachary Bygum; Golden Valley; Sr.; He's 6-6 and headed to Dartmouth

Erik Cha; Ayla; Sr.; Headed to Cal State Fullerton

Kevin Chandler; Valencia; Sr.; Signed with UC Santa Barbara

Holden Christian; Oaks Christian; So.; Left-hander with improving velocity

Chris Collins; SO Notre Dame; Sr.; Ready to become a Mission League ace

Hans Crouse; Dana Hills; So.; Throwing in the 90s

Marrick Crouse; Dana Hills; Sr.; Signed with San Francisco

Hagen Danner; Huntington Beach; So.; Best in his class

Chris Davidson; Village Christian; Sr.; Was 9-3 with 1.09 ERA

Anthony Donatella; Saugus; Sr.; Had 1.14 ERA as a junior

Josh Garcia; Chatsworth; Jr.; Cal State Northridge commit has lots of ability

C.J. Fernandezees; Gardena Serra.; So.; Ready to be impact player

Trevor Franklin; Mira Costa; Jr.; Already committed to Pepperdine

Anthony Guardado; Nogales; Sr.; Long Beach St. signee is four-year starter

Ryan Garcia; La Salle; Jr.; Committed to UCLA

Gilbert Hernandez; Granada Hills Kennedy; Sr.; 8-0 with 1.38 ERA

Kurt Johnson; Royal; Sr.; Sacramento State signee is ambidextrous

Ben Kaser; Cleveland; Sr.; Part of terrific West Valley League pitching group

Noah Kronfly; Edison; Sr.; First-team all-Sunset League

Matt Lautz; Agoura; Sr.; Ace for Marmonte League defending champs

Tyler Lawson; Rancho Cucamonga; Jr; Had 2.18 ERA

Quentin Longrie; JSerra; Sr.; Left-hander who wins big games

Easton Lucas; Grace Brethren; Sr.; Left-hander signed with Pepperdine

Nolan Martinez; Culver City; Jr.; San Diego State commit touches 90 mph

Brandon Moore; St. John Bosco; Jr.; Showed potential as a sophomore

Jack Moberg; Vista Murrieta; Jr.; One of best in Inland Empire

Kyle Mora; Los Alamitos; Jr.; He's healthy, so beware

Chris Murphy; Granada Hills; Jr.; Left-hander is a star in the making

Jonathan Olson; Damien; Jr.; UCLA commit is finally healthy

Jack Owen; JSerra; So.; Throws strikes and gets batters out

Zack Noll; Great Oak; Jr.; 10-0 as a sophomore

Tommy Palomera; Chatsworth; So.; Ready for an MVP season

Brandon Ponticelli; Alemany; Sr.; Coming off big junior season

Thomas Ponticelli; Newbury Park; Sr.; Headed to Oregon

Jeremy Polon; El Camino Real; Jr.; Left-hander gets outs and wins

Nick Prado; Mater Dei; So.; Could be best in Trinity League

Hazahel Quijada; San Gorgonio; Sr.; Left-hander is strikeout pitcher

Jack Ralston; Hart, Sr; UCLA commit was 7-0

Paul Richan; Hart; Sr.; San Diego commit was 8-1

Jose Rios; Long Beach Poly; Sr.; Headed to Cal State Fullerton

Daniel Rocha; Narbonne; Sr.; Left-hander is one of best in City Section

Adrian Rodriguez; Birmingham; Sr.; Reigning City player of the year

Jay Rohman; Long Beach Wilson; Sr.; Headed to Long Beach State

Jonathan Russomano; Birmingham; Sr.; Throws tough curveball

Felix Rubi; Granada Hills Kennedy; Sr.; 9-3 with 2.08 ERA

Braydon Salzman; Ocean View; Jr.; Went 5-2 with 1.58 ERA

Victor Sanchez; Glenn; Sr.; League MVP

Cole Spear; Orange Lutheran; Jr.; UC Irvine commit is improving fast

Henry Stellwagen; Loyola; Sr.; Made good summer progress

Kenny Vaznell; Moorpark; Sr.; Lefty committed to Fresno State

Paul Versteeg; Gahr; Sr.; Left-hander committed to St. Mary's

Nigel Ward; Servite; Sr.; Cal Poly signee

A.J. Woodall; Bonita; Jr.; Promising left-hander

Jonas Wyatt; Quartz Hill; Sr.; Velocity in the 90s

Justin Yanez; Banning; Sr.; Had string of 31 1/3 scoreless innings

Devin Davis; Valencia; Sr.; Batted .427 with five home runs

Jayson Newman; Taft; Sr.; Has four home runs in three games

Estevan Rodriguez; Granada Hills Kennedy; Sr.; Reigning Valley Mission League MVP

Others

Brandon Alamo; Cypress; Sr.; Solid hitter

Isaiah Flowers; Narbonne; Jr.; Has power potential

John Glenn; Thousand Oaks; Jr.; Hits rockets like the astronaut

Jake Lewis; Hart; Jr.; Came on strong in summer ball

Cooper Moore; Huntington Beach; Sr.; Headed to Utah

Steven Nuno; Warren; Sr.; Consistent, dependable hitter

John Thomas; Harvard-Westlake; Jr.; Committed to USC

Michael Wilson; SO Notre Dame; Sr.; Four-year player

Second base

Bryan Call; Mater Dei; Sr.; Signed with Brigham Young

Tyler Flores; Westlake; Jr.; Arizona commit can hit

Duncan McKinnon; Redondo; Sr.; Four-year standout

Others

Tristan Hanoian; Orange Lutheran; So.; Highly regarded defensively

Kyle Isbel; Etiwanda; Sr.; Headed to UNLV

Christian Koss; JW North; Jr.; Part of terrific double-play combination

Brandon Shearer; Agoura; Sr.; Reliable defensive player

Third base

Cameron Deere; Harvard-Westlake; Jr.; One of best hitters in Mission League

Royce Lewis; JSerra; So.; Hits, runs, fields

Logan Pouelsen; Huntington Beach; Jr.; Lots of power potential

Others

Joey Czarske; Agoura; Sr.; Dependable bat

Frankie Garriola; Pasadena; Sr.; Had 43 hits as a junior

Jaden Fein; Royal; Fr.; Made impact in fall ball

Mitch Hayes; Great Oak; Sr.; Hit five home runs

Jake Hirabayashi; SO Notre Dame; Sr.; UCLA signee has power

Justin Rorick; Birmingham; So.; Has outstanding potential

Jesus Salazar; Gahr; Jr.; Had 27 stolen bases

Owen Sharts; Simi Valley; Fr.; His uncles were good and so is he

Jake Tincher; Newbury Park; Sr.; Had 32 hits

Shortstop

Shane Martinez; JW North; Jr.; Arizona commit is full of talent

Ezra Steinberg; Harvard-Westlake; Sr.; Hits, fields, leads

Chase Strumpf; JSerra; Jr.; The complete player

Others

Willie Aguilar; Fountain Valley; Sr.; Top hitter with strong arm

Josh Bissonette; Orange Lutheran; Sr.; Terrific defensive player

Brendan Davis; Lakewood; Sr.; Batted .381 from a league of good pitchers

Dylan Doherty; Foothill; Sr.; Four-year starter

Bryce Fehmel; Agoura; Sr.; Oregon signee

Kai Gomez; San Fernando; Sr.; Will hit and pitch

Jayson Gonzalez; Bishop Amat; So.; Enough potential that Vanderbilt wants him

Hunter Greene; SO Notre Dame; So.; On path to be a standout

Bailey Holbrook; Thousand Oaks; Sr.; Tough out and top pitcher in Marmonte League

Ivan Lomeli; Birmingham; Jr.; Key defensive player for City champs

Ethan Lopez; La Mirada; Sr.; Headed to Hawaii

Chris May; Crespi; Sr.; Athletic, clutch player

Grant Mona; Verdugo Hills; Sr.; Four strikeouts in 94 at-bats

Haydon Nix; Esperanza; Jr.; Best player on team

Lars Nootbaar; El Segundo; Sr.; USC signee does everything well

Joseph Ortiz; Garden Grove Pacifica; Jr.; Had 32 hits, 21 RBIs as a sophomore

Brandon Perez; Mater Dei; Sr.; Four-year starter

Will Proctor; Mira Costa; Jr.; Ready to be a standout

Jose Ruiz; Warren; Sr.; Cal State Northridge signee

Jagger Rusconi; West Ranch; Sr.; MVP candidate in Foothill League

Sam Shaikin; Chatsworth; Sr.; Four-year starter

Colton Snyder; El Camino Real; Sr.; Key player for City title contender

Dallas Tessar; Chaminade; Sr.; Washington signee

Luke Williams; Dana Hills; Sr.; Headed to Cal Poly

Catcher

Chris Betts; Long Beach Wilson; Sr.; Sets the standard for excellence

Lucas Herbert; San Clemente; Sr.; Bashes balls, makes throws

Blake Sabol; Aliso Niguel; Jr.; Has power, strong arm

Others

Dalton Blumenfeld; Hamilton; Sr.; Loyola Marymount signee has power

Gio Cheecherlian; Cleveland; Jr.; Earning rave reviews

David Clawson; Dana Hills; Jr.; Impact transfer from Mater Dei

Sam Cohen; JSerra; Sr.; Good arm, good bat

Ryan Fineman; Agoura; Sr.; Ready to take charge

Kevin Hwang; Capistrano Valley; Jr.; Returning all-leaguer

Nick Kahle; Chaminade; Jr.; Watch the balls fly off his bat

Matt Kassowitz; Santa Monica; Sr.; Strong defensively

Adam Kerner; Oaks Christian; So.; Showing early promise

Anthony Lepre; Valencia; Sr.; Headed to San Diego State

Griffin Mazur; Moorpark; Sr.; UC Irvine signee

Ryan Mendoza; Birmingham; Jr.; Best defensively in City Section

Kameron Ojeda; St. John Bosco; Fr.; Highly regarded newcomer

Colton Riesen; Bishop; Sr.; Hit .382 with three home runs

Nate Ryngler; Calabasas; Sr.; Headed to Pepperdine

Chris Sandberg; GH Kennedy; Sr.; Terrific defensive skills

Eric Yang; El Camino Real; Jr.; Quality hitter

Outfield

Blake Rutherford; Chaminade; Jr.; Stand beyond fence to catch his home runs

Brady Shockey; JSerra; Jr.; USC commit does lots of skills work

Others

Dillon Brown; Foothill; Jr.; Was clutch hitter as a sophomore

Grant Burton; Mater Dei; Fr.; Another promising young player

Ruben Cardenas; Alemany; Sr.; Has hit well for three years

Matt Cassin; Crespi; Jr.; Did well in Mission League as a sophomore

Kyle Cuellar; La Salle; Jr.; Hit .383, committed to UCLA

Jason Drees; West Ranch; Jr.; Had 20-game hitting streak

Mikey Filia; Irvine; Sr.; UC Irvine signee had 31 hits as a junior

Danny Gelalich; Bonita; Sr.; Headed to Brigham Young

Joseph Hamilton; Rancho Cucamonga; Sr.; Defensive specialist

Dylan Hirsch; El Camino Real; Jr.; Can be .400 hitter

Cal Hodgins; Simi Valley; Jr.; Showing signs of power

Nick Kaye; Glendora; Sr.; Cal State Fullerton signee

Alex Mckenna; Alemany; Sr.; Has power and strong arm

Christian Moya; South Hills; Jr.; Starred for Bishop Amat

Jake Pries; JSerra; Sr.; Headed to UCLA

Dayton Provost; Hart; Sr.; Lots of speed and ability

Anthony Robles; San Fernando; Sr.; Delivers big hits

Sergio Robles; Bishop Amat; Sr.; Tough out in lineup

Josh Stephen; Mater Dei; Jr.; Ready to make bigger leap

Hunter Tidwell; Vista Murrieta; Sr.; Hit .391 as all-leaguer

Brice Turang; Corona Santiago; Fr.; Comes in as freshman phenom

Austin White; Cleveland; Sr.; Ready for All-City season

-- Compiled by Eric Sondheimer from coaches' recommendations

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