NorCal Game of the Week: 3/11 - 3/16
March 13, 2024
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Ventura, Calif. - As the entirety of the of the California High School sections are fully underway including the Northern sections all playing games Prep Baseball California will be highlighting a weekly game of the week.
This weeks match up from NorCal will feature a pair of Central Section programs that are off to strong starts in the 2024 season in Bakersfield. Highland features a powerful offense which is presently averaging over 8 runs a game while Independence has a pitching staff which has been dominant on the mound allowing no extra base hits to this point while allowing less than 1 earned run per game and just 15 runs against them in 7 games this year.
Highland Scots vs. Independence Falcons
+ Date: 3/14/24
+ Time: 4:00 PM
+ Location: Independence High School (Bakersfield, Ca.)
+ Highland HS 2024 Record: 6-1 Overall
+ Head Coach: Mike Garza
+ Independce HS 2024 Record: 6-1 Overall
+ Head Coach: Chad Shelton
+ Key Players (Highland):
+ '24 UTL Kaleb Pinedo
+ '25 OF Elijah Legan
+ '26 C Richard Gutierrez
+ '25 INF/OF Nicholas Gonzales
+ '25 UTL Diego Hernandez
+ '26 UTL Izaiah Ott
+ '25 RHP/INF Santiago Blanco
+ '26 UTL Jeremiah England
+ '24 P/1B Ethan Aguirre
+ Key Players (Independence):
+ '25 Aldo Salcedo
+ '24 Julian Nevarez
+ '25 Brandon Gutierrez
+ '24 Tyler Stansberry
+ '26 David Baralt
+ '25 Isaiah Guzman
+ '24 Ivan Caldera
+ '26 Isaac Lopez
+ '24 Jack Holland
Game Preview: Highland will enter this match up on the strength of a lineup that has scored 10+ runs in 3 games already this year while hitting .335 as a team and scoring 61 runs in 7 games so far. Their offensive onslaught is being lead by senior Kaleb Pinedo who is hitting .591 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs with 5 BB's to 1 K and he is only be outperformed by junior Elijah Legan who is hitting .545 with 2 doubles, 3 triples, 12 RBIs with 3 BB's to 0 K's. The pitching staff is fronted by Junior Santiago Blanco who is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.23 and has struck out 18 in 15.2 IP with sophomore Jeremiah England providing a stellar young force with 8 IP, 1.75 ERA and 6 K's so far on the season. Highland has allowed 4 runs or less in 6 of their 7 games so far. Independence's offense is fronted by Junior Aldo Sanchez who is hitting .421 with 2 doubles and HR plus 6 RBIs and 7 run scored with 4 BB's and 4 K's. After Sanchez its a balanced attack for the Falcons who have 5 regulars hitting over .300 on the season currently. The Falcons are .317 as a team so far and have scored 44 runs. Pitching for the Falcons has been very stellar with a team ERA at .76 allowing just 20 hits over the course of the season with no extra base hits. It will be an intriguing matchup of a very good pitching staff taking on an explosive offense in a mid-March Central Section battle.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Showcase | State | Date | Location |
Rising Stars ID: Los Angeles | CA | 03/17 | O'Malley Field |
Rising Stars ID: San Diego | CA | 03/24 | Eastlake High School |
Rising Stars ID: Corona | CA | 03/30 | Corona High School |
Rising Stars ID: VTA County | CA | 04/21 | Thousand Oaks High School |
SoCal Rising Stars Game | CA | 05/12 | Mater Dei High School |
FUTURE GAMES TRYOUT: Orange County | CA | 06/01 | Fullerton College |
FUTURE GAMES TRYOUT: Ventura County | CA | 06/09 | Westmont College |
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