Follow @PBRCalifornia Follow @LesLukach Follow@Clemmens_PBR Follow @PBRmonkFollow @hardy03bsbl

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - For the third consecutive year, the 2024 CIF-Southern Section high school baseball season will again kick off with the premier spring high school baseball tournament in Southern California, the Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational. The 16 team field will compete in a bracketed, winner-take-all format that will once again feature many of California's top prep baseball teams. This tournament holds massive implications for our Power 25 State Rankings and annually gives pro scouts an early glimpse into how some of the area's top draft prospects perform out the gate.

We continue with the Mira Costa Mustangs, a CIF-Southern Division I school out of Manhattan Beach competing in the Bay League. Led by second year head coach Andy Diver, the Mustangs went 13-17 last year, turning in a first place finish in the Bay League and also making a playoff berth.

Mira Costa enters the 2024 season with returning impact players, led by two-way star ‘24 SS/RHP Maximo Martinez (USC). On the mound, seniors ‘24 RHP Matthew Krause (UC Irvine) and ‘24 LHP Alito McBean (San Diego State) are expected to lead the way, while ‘25 RHP Connor Jones (Loyola Marymount) and ‘25 RHP Aiden Pinn (USC) will also see some quality time on the mound. Offensively, the Mustangs will also rely on names like ‘25 OF Win Gurney (Oregon State) along with a number of others, including ‘24 3B/OF Jake Despain and ‘24 INF Nicolai Arnold to be producers throughout the season. Coach Diver said, “I feel this team has a chance to play high level baseball in the ‘24 season.”

Newcomers to the varsity team looking to make an impact by filling vacancies or platooning with upperclassmen include ‘25 3B/SS Lucas Shermer, ‘26 OF Ace Turango, and ‘25 INF Harrison Belden.

Coach Diver later added, “The goal for us will be to play good baseball early in the season against very good opponents, transition into playing great baseball in Bay League play, and then get hot in the playoffs and make a run. We think this team can be special.”

We will get to see a full range of players and the first test of Mira Costa’s depth at the Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational as the Mustangs look to get off to a hot start to the 2024 high school baseball season.

College Commitments:

’24 SS/RHP Maximo Martinez - Southern California - 6’0 180 lbs. Coach Diver has high praise for Martinez, calling him “a special talent.”

‘24 RHP Matthew Krause - UC-Irvine - 6’0 175 lbs. Krause will bring next level stuff and an ultra-competitive presence to the mound for the Mustangs, according to Coach Diver.

‘24 LHP Alito McBean - San Diego State - 6’2 205 lbs. Much like he said about the aforementioned Krause, Coach Diver is high on McBean and he will play a big role for the Mustangs this year.

‘25 OF Win Gurney - Oregon State - 6’0 205 lbs. Coach Diver regarded Gurney as one of the players who will “lead them offensively” and also said “he is capable of a special offensive season.”

‘25 RHP Connor Jones - Loyola Marymont - 6’1 175 lbs.

‘25 RHP Aiden Pinn - Southern California - 6’4 165 lbs.

Top Uncommitted ‘25s:

’25 3B/SS Lucas Schermer - 6’2 185 lbs.

‘25 INF Harrison Belden - 5’11 150 lbs.

Top Uncommitted ‘26s:

’26 OF Ace Turango

UPCOMING EVENTS

MORE PREP BASEBALL NEWS