SoCal Pitcher & Player of the Week: 4/1 - 4/6
April 9, 2024
Follow @PrepBaseballCAFollow @LesLukach Follow @PBRmonkFollow @hardy03bsbl
New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast
Los Angeles, Calif. - Each week during the high school season we will announce the SoCal Pitcher and Player of the Week covering the action from the previous week. Numerous players across the state continue to put up impressive numbers both as position players and pitchers on the mound. This year we will be selecting one Pitcher of the Week and one Player of the Week based on recommendations from high school coaches from Southern California.
Continuing from previous seasons, we will also be highlighting others players from across the state in our Prep Baseball California Diamond Notes that will be released weekly. Our Diamond Notes will highlight other players nominated by high school coaches that are deserving of recognition that were not named Pitcher of Player of the Week.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Junior righthander Brandon Thomas from Mater Dei had an electric outing for the Monarchs on their way to winning the Boras Classic South last week. In his start against a very good Huntington Beach Oilers program Thomas went 8 innings (the Monarchs won in extra innings over the Oilers) allowing just 2 runs in that span while striking out 8 hitters to pitch Mater Dei into the finals against Corona. In addition, to his stellar work on the mound Thomas put together an impressive week at the plate going 5-16 including a game tying HR against La Mirada in the bottom of the 7th inning and 2-3 in the championship game win for the Monarchs. Thomas is a University of Washington commit.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior INF Jake Vanderzee of El Dorado had an outstanding week for the Hawks as they went 3-1 in the National Classic. Vanderzee was 7 for 12 on the week including a grand slam and drove in 6 runs over the course of the 4 games. For the season Vanderzee is now hitting .404 (second highest on the Hawks) with 4 extra base hits, 9 RBI's and 12 runs scored in his junior campaign.
Upcoming Events
| Showcase | State | Date | Location |
| 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 |
| California State Games 2024 | CA | 08/09 | Fullerton College |