2024 Preseason Preview: South Torrance
February 8, 2024
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The 2024 California high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across California.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective CIF Section Championship Game, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across California. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action and the Third Annual Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across California. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, Podcasts and much more.
Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.
High School: South Torrance Spartans
Head Coach: Grady Sain
CIF Section: CIF-SS, Division 3
Conference League: Pioneer
2023 Record: 19-11
Team X Handle: @southhighspartanbaseball
Team Strengths: Pitching, above average hitting and speed
No. of Returning Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Areas of Improvement: Defense
COMMITTED PLAYERS
+ ‘25 RHP Mason Tymick - Ohio State
TOP UNCOMMITTED SENIORS
+ ‘24 OF Kyle Brown
+ ‘24 3B Caden Lewis
TOP UNCOMMITTED JUNIORS
+ ‘25 LHP Peter Broughton
+ ‘25 RHP Cody Pierson
+ ‘25 SS Dane Rhodes
+ ‘25 1B Ryan Stowe
+ ‘25 OF Tyler Dow
TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS
Class of 2026
+ ‘26 OF/LHP Logan Sain
+ ‘26 1B Derek Peters
+ ‘26 LHP Jonovan Talavera
Class of 2027
+ ‘27 OF Leland Ingraham
TEAM OUTLOOK
After a successful 2023 season in which the Spartans logged a 19-11 record and a CIF-SS Division 3 Quarterfinals appearance, the Spartans are looking to do more of the same in 2024. Leading the way for the offense will be ‘24 Caden Lewis who brings back a .426 batting average, a 4.92 OBP, and three home runs from last year - all of which were team highs. Fellow senior, ‘24 Kyle Brown is another veteran to note on this squad as he played in all but one game last year and returns a steady, well-rounded profile.
As for juniors, expected shortstop ‘25 Dane Rhodes is an experienced returner for the Spartans and will be looking to build off a quality sophomore campaign. Fellow juniors ‘25 Ryan Stowe and ‘25 Tyler Dow are a pair of others that will look to make some big contributions on the offensive side of things this year, too. Underclassmen, ‘26 Derek Peters, ‘26 Logan Sain, and freshman ‘27 Leland Ingraham are three to know, with Sain also expected to see some time on the mound, too.
Highlighting the Spartans pitching efforts will be Ohio State commit ‘25 Mason Tymick, who will look to build off an up-and-down sophomore campaign. Juniors ‘25 Peter Broughton and ‘25 Cody Pierson are some upperclassmen expected to make some big contributions on the mound, with Broughton returning some valuable experience from last year. ‘26 Jonovan Talavera will look to earn his innings on the mound during his first season at the varsity level.
Coach Grady Sain’s Expectations: “League Champions”