2020 Preseason Preview: JSerra Lions

TEAM: 

JSerra Lions

HEAD COACH (years at school): 

Brett Kay (14)

OFFICIAL TWITTER:

@jserralionsbb

CIF SECTION & DIVISION:

Southern Section / Division 1

CONFERENCE/LEAGUE NAME:

Trinity

LAST YEAR’S RECORD:

18-13

PLAYOFF RUN:

1st Round loss to Mira Costa

# OF RETURNING STARTERS:

5

# OF RETURNING PITCHERS:

5

OUTLOOK: 

The #1 Ranked team in the PBR CA Power 25, JSerra returns a plethora of high level talent including 6 D1 commits and another 3-4 players who could fit at that level. Ready for the challenge that comes with playing in the Southern Section Division 1 and the Trinity League, coach Brett Kay is excited about the direction this team could take and most importantly the culture being established by his young returners. For the Lions to make their run, they are committed to a deep group of pitchers with the top 4-5 matching up against anyone the Southern Section has to offer. Team Defense will be another area of strength and is led up the middle by a group of committed returners who have embraced the teams analytical approach and have worked all off-season to take ownership on the field. Don’t sleep on the Lions offense with the top 5 being locked in and Coach Kay having about 5-7 players who can rotate through the last four spots to turn the lineup over; how consistently they can score runs will determine their long term success. Starting the season as the #1 ranked team in the Power 25 will put some pressure on the Lions, but with the talent they’ve got JSerra is ready to embrace the chase from the remaining teams in the State. 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS:

2021 OF Gabe D'Arcy - 6'4 210. UCLA Commit. Does just about everything: Runs, Throws, hits for power. Worker. He's projectible in every sense. Breakout year expected.

2021 SS Cody Schrier - 6'2 200. UCLA Commit. Team Leader has added good weight in the lower half. Ability to do the special things with this team. Has a mix of some of the greats to have played at JSerra. 

2021 RHP/OF Luke Jewett - 6'3 200. UCLA Commit. Will hit and play RF for us slotting in at the #2 on the mound. Competes and a quiet leader understanding intricacies of the game. 3 Pitch mix on mound. Great athlete, Serious pop in his bat. Can do it all. 

2021 LHP/OF Gage Jump - 6'0 190. UCLA Commit, Electric stuff. Wants the ball, wants to win, and type of mentality to attack other teams. 4 pitch mix and every pitch is above average or better. Will hit as well. 

2020 RHP/1B Jared Glenn - 6'4 205. Boise State Commit. The elder of the group and a team glue keeping players free and easy. Another 4 pitch mix with some filth. Has the most experience on the staff and shows that composure on the hill; doesn't get affected by much. Bat plays, and will hit in the 5 or 6 slot for us. 

2020 RHP Ryan Sveningson - 6'5 190. UC Irvine Commit. Kid has nasty pitch repertoire with everything coming at you hard and in different directions.The command is an issue but he will be huge for us. Will be used in many roles. 

2020 OF Jake Taylor R/R - Led team in hitting in league last year. Fast twitch and fast baserunner slotting into the 2 hole and using skills to execute and do little things. Can play all positions in the outfield and play them very well.

20 RHP Eli Robles R/R - Ability to execute and get outs on the hill. Stuff isn’t overwhelming, but the ability to compete and execute is outstanding. He will be counted on to get us some big outs. 

20 RHP Cameron Cooke - Pitched in some big games for us last year out of necessity and executed with mainly the SLD. Will play a role similar to Robles and come out of the pen when needed

20 3B Colby Canales - 6'3 200. Driven for success athlete that will be a middle of the lineup bat and could be a key cog on offense. Good motor, good power and still learning how to harness it.

21 C Colin Blanchard - 6'2, 190. Looks to be the starter behind the dish and pitchers love his skills back there. Commands the staff with a good feel for the game. I like his bat, and know there is more in the tank. X-factor type of kid. Think he has a high ceiling for what I know he can produce offensively. 

21 UTL Max Imhoff - 6'1 190. Will play C, 2B, and OF for us showing he can play anywhere. Need to see how offensive he can be, which I think is a lot. Team is behind him fully and drive to win.

21 INF Kevin James - 6'1 190. Been a Varsity guy since his frosh year, coming back off an injury last year. Fully healthy now and will be counted on for big at bats for us. Needs to be more detailed on all aspects, but the bat plays, and will play. Like his actions in Infield.

21 C/OF Anthony Aleman - 6'0 190. Worker type kid. Does lots of things well and will has been improving getting hot this winter after an ok Fall. Versatility to play OF or provide some help behind the plate; time will tell on the final position.  

THE FUTURE:

22 RHP/3B Tristan Lamaison - 6'1 170. Pitched a ton for us as Freshman beating some good teams.  Grown a ton and added some strength as a three-pitch guy that knows how to win at this level already. Going to need him in every role after the big guns. 

22 MIF Owen Fuller - 6'0 175. Gamer, and worker, could be our starter at 2nd right now as he is battling with older returners. Smart, Edgy, skill guy and knows how to win. Brick wall kind of kid.