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Hardy's Hits: CIF - SS Fall Ball Notebook 11/9/2024

November 12, 2024
Steven Hardesty
Assistant Scouting Director

  

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Ventura, Calif. -  In Southern California the baseball season never really ends it just goes through a variety of different calendar periods. With the calendar turning to November the majority of CIF-Southern Section programs ramp up their fall programs with scrimmage games mainly on Saturdays against other competition from around the region. I kicked off my fall coverage of CIF-SS High School fall baseball by making a trip out to see a pair of programs who are coming off CIF-SS playoff appearances in the 2024 season and each have high hopes for their 2025 campaigns ahead. This weeks matchup featured the Oaks Christian High School Lions playing host to the Simi Valley Pioneers.

In 2024 Oaks Christian made a strong run at winning the Marmonte League title before falling just short and drew a berth into the CIF-SS D1 playoffs where they took on La Mirada in the first round. The Lions return several key pieces of that team who we will discuss later, but feature one prominent addition in the man who fills out the lineup card and handles the day to day operations of the Lions program with former Pepperdine University Head Baseball Coach Rick Hirtensteiner taking the helm of a very talented roster for the 2025 season. 

The Simi Valley Pioneers come off a strong showing in the 2024 CIF-SS season and earned a D2 playoff berth where they pushed eventual D2 champions Hart High to an extra inning affair in the opening round. They lost a few key pieces off that team who are now playing at the collegiate level, but do have an interesting group primed to take a run at a potential Coastal Canyon League title.

I was fortunate on this Saturday to get a rare opportunity to see a program take pre-game batting practice as the Oaks Christian Lions took a 45 minute on field session prior to the Infield/Outfield sessions for each team. Having the opportunity to see batting practice allowed me to get a deeper look at the swings of several likely starters for the Lions, but also to get eyes on a trio of rising '28s in the program who look primed to eventual take key roles in the program.

Below you can check out my breakdown of the standouts of the day with video highlights and click the link to take you to each players Prep Baseball profile page.

(Players can click on their link below to claim their profile or if your profile is not listed below search the Prep Baseball database for your profile. Don't see your profile? You can create a free Prep Baseball profile here)

Oaks Christian Lions:

+ '25 SS Quentin Young (LSU Commit): Young is the current #4 ranked player by Prep Baseball California and sits #9 in the nation. With an impressive projectable frame and some of the loudest tools in the state/country it's easy to see why Young is so well regarded. For me this is my 6th look at Young in the 2024 calendar year and with each separate viewing it has been apparent the steady progress the very talented nephew of a pair of MLB players is making. He took the loudest batting practice of any player on the day starting off working the middle/opposite part of the field with authority then later starting to turn on the baseball where he launched multiple HRs. What was noticeable for me was the way his load, swing and overall operation in the box looks easier and smoother for Young that he is getting to contact with an easier operation in the box. As well, moving around on defense at SS during the INF/OF portion of the day and during the game he is moving with easy actions while simply just looks like his body control/actions are easier to get to for the talented Young. During the game his physical presence in the box drew a steady diet of breaking balls and changeups with very few FBs or any offerings near the zone for Young. In his first plate appearance he drew a 3-2 baseball on balls while driving a foul into RF foul territory on an off speed offering before later in the game getting a FB over the plate which he hammered on one hop up the middle right at the SS, but was on the barrel. While with any SR. in high school there is obviously polish still needed and more work to do for Young to reach is potential, but as someone who has seen him multiple times this year he is headed on the right path with the improvements he continues to make to his game.

+ '26 C Carson Sheffer (Oklahoma State Commit): Sheffer has been on a steady rise over the 2024 calendar year for me and for many in the game. With my looks at Sheffer well over 10+ the 2024 Team California member at the Prep Baseball Future Games continues to be a steady performer who also is showing improvements in his game. A talented and polished defender at the premium spot of catcher Sheffer has always given me impressive looks with what he does behind the dish and today was no different. His pop times were consistently in the 1.84-1.9 range and then he threw out a pair of runners in game including an impressive backhand pick on a ball in the dirt with a runner stealing that he quickly and athletially transferred into a dart to 2B to nail the runner. While the defensive game for Sheffer is probably his present carrying tool don't discount what the potential is for the RH hitter. Batting in the 3 spot on this day and gettin a chance to see him for a 10+ minute period during batting practice the improvement to his bat speed was noticeable as the barrel is moving through the zone and his ability to stay in the zone with the barrel getting to a better finish which produces harder contact in the air during batting practice also stood out. Sheffer was out front on a CHG in his first at bat, but then in his second plate appearance was able to stay on a elevated breaking ball to sting in to CF for a single. The future Oklahoma State Cowboy is flashing an intriguing potential for where his profile can ascend to come his SR. year.

+ '25 LHP Ty Hanley (CSU Bakersfield Commit): The talented lefthander for the Lions will likely slot back into his number 2 starter role in the spring which was the role he held last year on the staff, but what is different for Hanley is he will now do it as a D1 commit with him headed to CSU-Bakersfield come next year. On this look I got to see 2 innings out of Hanley which was pretty consistent with all of my previous looks (3+ at him in 2024), but he also flashed me some improved top end velocity as he reached 89 MPH early in the outing before settling into the 85-87 MPH range showing there is steadily more adding to his tank. He was generally around the zone, but did have some inconsistency with his breaking ball at times during the outing, but when executed properly it was showing sharper bite to the action while also demonstrating more feel for his CHG. He punched out 2 hitters in the 2 innings with no hits allowed.

+ '25 OF/INF Josh Brown (Uncommitted): Brown played sparingly during 2024 for the Lions, but the summer and in the fall he is quickly making it known that while he might have been under the radar before there is plenty to like about his RH hitting offensive profile and defensive versatility. During batting practice he was routinely on the barrel working from the middle to pull side with authority from a swing that has present bat speed with leverage in the path. His HRs from batting practice proved to not just be of the BP variety as he turned on a pitch in his first at bat to launch a pull side 2 run HR about 3/4 of the way up the 50 foot high net almost 350 feet away. In his second trip to the plate he battled a deep 8+ pitch at bat fouling off several pitches before getting just under a ball for a high F-4. With bat speed, impact, bat to ball skills and a sound approach Brown looks the part of a potential middle/top of the order profile for a college program. Then add in the versatility he showed playing very strong defense in CF giving him a potential premium spot to play while adding in very sound defense at 3B on the INF later in the game (with plenty of reason to think he could handle 2B if necessary too). 

+ '25 OF/1B James Latshaw (Uncommitted): Latshaw is a intriguing athlete who has a long limbed wiry athletic frame that has projection to it while showcasing solid present actions. He works from a lower hand set at the plate and like many of the Lions who I have seen several times over the last year is showing improved bat speed with easier actions getting to that bat speed. During BP he was driving the ball in air with authority from the middle to pull side of the field showing an interesting power profile. During the game he didn't have any results to show on the offensive side, but the trending up with his swing and bat speed was an intriguing development for me with Latshaw. As well, he showed his versatility playing a sound 1B during INF/OF and in game before also seeing time in the OF where he made a spectacular catch in RF going towards the line (he played significant innings in CF as JR. too).

+ '26 INF Jack Brinkman (Uncommitted): Brinkman was a strong performer at our Ventura County Summer ID where he displayed a solid overall toolset, but especially with his RH hitting profile and I was looking forward to getting a chance to see how it all performed in a live game look. During batting practice the 5'11 160 lbs. RH hitter showed an easy RH swing with solid present bat speed and an accurate barrel that sprayed hard line drive contact through the middle of the field. Brinkman is presently more hit than power, but his feel to hit is impressive and translates into the game. Brinkman was on the barrel in each of his plate apperances during game play. His actions are solid on the INF with good hands and solid footwork while not a flashy fielder he shows a solid overall profile to defend at either 2B/3B and could likely even play an OF corner if necessary to get his quality RH hitting profile into the lineup. I'm looking forward to get future looks at Brinkman to continue diving deeper on his potential that looks strong with the foundation of tools and game feel I've seen so far.

+ '26 1B/LHP Luke Puls (Uncommitted):

Puls was very sound during the batting practice portion of the day (I didn't collect video of the LH hitters) and his time spent during batting practice facing a LH arm translated to 2 of his 3 plate appearances when faced LH arms in game. Puls has a balanced swing with leverage and the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field while adding in adjustability. In his first 2 plate appearances he was able to stay on an outer half pitch and drill a hard line drive to the opposite field with a compact direct swing. Puls doubled in his first trip and then the CF for Simi made a great play running down his 2nd drive. In his final plate appearance of the day we worked into a 2K count and adjusted to a sweeping breaking ball down and away that he was able to keep the barrel on a flip into shallow LCF and was only denied his 2nd hit of the day on a spectacular diving catch by the Pioneers SS. In the DH spot for the day I only got to see Puls during INF/OF where he looked sound at 1B showing even athleticism you could picture him running around in LF, as well.

+ '26 LHP/OF Connor Sahagun (Uncommitted): Sahagun is a smaller compact framed 2-way player who showed off a sound foundation of what he can do at the plate and on the mound for me in the first look at him. It's shorter swing with bat to ball and a line drive based plane to work the middle of the field which was solid during the batting practice portion of the day and in game. But, for me where the lefthander stood out was during his 1 inning of work on the mound. Toeing the rubber he showcased a sound delivery with body control and feel to repeat his arm action. It's not a ton of stuff for him, but he attacks the zone with some deception to his release. Sahagun worked his FB at 80-82 while peaking at 83 once and has no fear to come inside on hitters where it has life. Adding in a softer 68-70 MPH CB with a vertical 1/7 shape that he can throw for strikes and is tough on LH hitters while flashing some feel for a 74-75 MPH CHG. Picking up 3 whiffs over the 4 batters he faced with 2 Ks and one baserunner on a close 3-2 count pitch just off the corner of the plate. It's more pitchability and craftiness for Sahagun, but there is something here with him that from the LH side could be an interesting one to follow.

+ '28 SS Ryan Sheffer (Uncommitted): The younger brother of Carson, Ryan is not just a brother along for the ride, but rather a player who shows his own impressive profile. Standing out in October at the Ventura County Uncommitted Game this was my first chance to see Sheffer in High School action and what he showed in the one day event translated well to what he is doing to start his high school experience. During batting practice it was line drive after line drive with a short swing that has a flatter plane to it at present which works the opposite gap to pull side line with hard contact. His actions are easy and athletic at SS with confidence in his glove and rhythm to his feet. Being just a FR. in high school his arm is not electric at SS, but it is accurate and he can throw from various slots. During the game he played the final 5 innings replacing Young at SS which is likely his future at Oaks (replacing Young at SS once he graduates) and looked impressive. Making several routine plays, flashing athleticism with a diving stop on a ball behind 2B which he popped to his feet and threw a strike to 1B just slightly to late to get the runner and turned a pair of double plays including a 6-U-3 version. At the plate he took 3 sound plate appearances with a line drive out to CF, hard barrel to RF for an out before finally collecting a hit with a soft single to RCF showing the feel for his barrel, approach and bat speed at present that looks like a future top of the order bat.

+ '28 1B/RHP Oliver Dauskurdas (Uncommitted): Dauskurdas catches your eyes quickly with an impressive 6'3 185 lbs. frame on a FR. who for that size at a younger age has solid present athleticism to his actions. His batting practice was impressive as he routinely elevated the baseball to the middle of the field with carry after contact while showing some feel to turn on the baseball with authority, as well. He is solid present defender at 1B who has good actions while with his athleticism and room to develop could possibly handle an OF corner in the future. During the game he took over the 1B spot for the final 5 innings (while also toeing the rubber for 1 inning) and was equally as impressive if not more impressive with how his tools play in game. His first at bat he just missed a pitch that he launched into the air with almost 6 seconds of hang time at present which is intriguing for the power it takes to get a ball to stay in the air for that long. Then in his next two appearances he showed how that power plays when he catches a baseball on the barrel by lining a hard opposite field double to RCF and then turning on an offspeed pitch for a hard line drive single to LF. His swing is geared to get the ball in the air and could possible have some holes at his younger age, but as he matures and refines the swing, bat speed, feel for hitting could turn into a loud power profile with potential to hit too. During his turn on the mound he showed a present 80-82 MPH FB which peaked at 83 during warmups with a 74-75 MPH CHG and presently loopier 69-70 MPH vertical shaped breaking ball. He gets downhill well with feel to attack the zone (3 balls to start the inning, before throwing 7 of his last 9 pitches for strikes). For a first look I left the yard very excited to get to continue to see this rising '28 for the coming years and where his development will take him.

+ '28 C Kole (KJ) Henrich (Uncommitted):  Another impressive '28 who is just getting his high school career started this early look at the RH hitting backstop for Oaks Christian left me very intrigued for his potential. During batting practice Henrich showcased a whippy RH swing with quality present bat speed for a FR. while adding the ability to leverage the ball through the middle to pull side of the field and get carry to his contact. It's an easier operation in the box with a quiet load and feel for being on time with the baseball. Then getting to see 3 plate appearances for him he showed that it's not simply an intriguing batting practice swing, but one that plays at a solid level during games. He stung a hard grounder to the glove side of the 2B in his first plate appearance who made a good play to take away a hit. Then in his last two plate apperances he drove hard line drives to the gaps one that fell for a hit and one that went for a hit. I didn't get a lengthy look at him behind the plate as he split the last 5 innings with another backstop, but the foundation is there for him to stick at the spot, but will need to get more in-depth viewing to really tell what type of defender he is behind the dish.

Simi Valley Pioneers:

+ '25 3B/SS Jaxson Herron (Uncommitted): Herron is a compact framed lean athlete who will not jump out at you with his physicality, but what the RH hitter does in the box and on defense (while also showing the athletic ability to pitch) will catch your eyes. His swing is compact and direct with a high contact flatter plane that looks to get the baseball in play through the middle of the field which suits his athletic profile. In his first plate appearance he attempted a base hit bunt that missed close to the Lions pitcher which resulted in an out. Then over the course of his last 3 plate apperances he showed his feel to hit by barreling 3 hard hit balls through the middle of the field with one going for a single and the other 2 were turned into outs on good plays by the Lions infield. Herron also plays a sound 3B with enough athleticism to handle SS although his arm may be slightly stretched at SS, but also looks more than comfortable for a move to 2B if necessary. He showed impressive range going back on a flare in shallow LCF to make a spectacular diving catch. The foundation of what Herron possess makes for a very good player there is obviously some polish he can add to his profile by adding strength to frame and polishing his feel to elevate the ball on a line for hard contact, but keep your eyes on this RH hitting INF out of Simi Valley to be a key piece for their success in 2025.

+ '26 OF/LHP Jackson Goshorn (Uncommitted): Goshorn is an athletically built wiry 6' 165 lbs. two-way player who shows potential both as LH hitter and a LH pitcher (I did not get video of him on the mound). With a short direct swing that is flatter through the zone Goshorn has a high contact approach with bat speed to turn on the baseball with authority. Collecting a pair of hard hit balls in game Goshorn turned on a hard double down the RF line and then also laced a one hop shot past the 1st basemen for his second hit of the day. His operation on the mound is solid with a feel to throw strikes and a low 80's present FB while mixing in a softer breaking ball which he can throw for strikes. There is some potential for him on the mound, but what Goshorn showed for me as LH bat with a corner OF defensive profile was slightly higher for me on this day. He will definitely be one to keep eyes on and someone I want to get an additional look at in the future. 

Names To Know:

In a one day look not all highlights are caught or players won’t always have their best results. With that in mind there were several other players who showed interesting tools/potential or futures. The names below are ones to keep an eye on going into the spring and going forward. 

Oaks Christian:

+ '26 RHP/INF Jack Laubacher (Oklahoma State Commit)

+ '25 OF Nick Pacella (Uncommitted)

+ '25 OF/INF Diego Soria (Uncommitted)

Simi Valley:

+ '26 SS/3B Danny Pina (Uncommitted)

+ '25 OF Collin Yamamoto (Uncommitted)

+ '26 LHP/OF Kyle Casey (Uncommitted)

+ '25 OF/LHP Liam Blake (Uncommitted)

+ '26 C Jaden Laufer (Uncommitted)

 

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