Desert Baseball Challenge Notebook: Teams

PALM DESERT, CALIF. - The annual Desert Baseball Challenge returned to what felt like pre-pandemic levels once again this past weekend. With a roster of teams that included current MLB Draft prospects to future Division I recruits, the event annually is one of the best stops on the calendar. 

With plenty of MLB scouts, Division II, Division III, and JUCO coaches in the stands to watch, players are provided a rare late opportunity to leave a lasting impression on onlookers before an almost month-long shutdown. It’s the perfect bow for the baseball year. 

For me it was all or parts of 12 games over 49 hours. If you’re unfamiliar with the setup at most of these facilities used for this tournament, fields are side-by-side allowing someone to catch plenty of action on both fields. Some teams I saw more than once due to pitching rotations, while others were seen only once. And while it wasn’t quite 24 teams, I did have a chance to see over a dozen. I saw players and teams that have the build for runs late in the season. Some teams may not be tested until the postseason so events like this provide great opportunities.  

Because of the amount of prospects and teams seen, I decided to break these notes into separate sections. Today I’ll jump into the teams that stood out to me. Those that should, if everything goes right, be in the mix late into the postseason. Later I’ll dive into position players and pitchers. 

TEAM NOTES:

Stop me if you’ve heard this from me before, Vista Murrieta is going to be a dangerous team. With a trio on the mound that is going to be hard to match in the postseason, the Broncos and their potent lineup are built for success now and the next couple of years. Senior RHP Lukas Pirko (CBU) has the ace role locked down after shutting down a potent Cypress offense. Scouts know who he is, no question. Sophomores Vaughn Neckar (LSU) and Jaxon Baker provide the reinforcements. Neckar is not throwing after pitching for Team USA earlier this fall. Baker threw on Sunday and struck out the side in his one inning of work. Uber talented shortstop David Ruth is currently playing basketball giving uber talented sophomore Ryland Duson an opportunity to play shortstop and enhance his skillset. The offense and defense are boosted by the transfer of senior catcher Roman Meyers, a Long Beach State signee. Myers has shown himself to be an above average defensive catcher with power at the plate, which he’ll now get a chance to show in a more competitive league. 

El Dorado has the look of a team that has the chance to take the next step this year. With depth on the mound led by a trio of seniors and an offense built for their park, head coach Matt Lucas has arguably his deepest team in at least a few years. The aforementioned trio of Nathan Huy (UCSD), Garvey Rumary (SDSU), and Austin Kirkwood (SDSU) will be fun to watch all season (only Kirkwood threw last weekend). Closing things out could well be junior Andrew Frausto who touched 89 and lived 87-87 with a wicked slider at 75-76. Senior infielder Evan Rolbiecki is one of the most under-appreciated hitters in Orange County. Two very quality at-bats against quality pitching in this viewing. Consistent with what we’ve seen in the past. Seniors Isaac Cadena (Ohio St.), Bradley Wakefield, Dane Abbott, along with Juniors Ben Alam, Frausto, and Lucas Raya provide returning depth to a potent lineup. Sophomore shortstop Diego Gonzalez and freshman Brady Abner are names to remember as both will play important roles this year.

Second year head coach Estevan Valencia has himself a nice roster at Palm Desert that should allow him to compete not only in 2023 but for a few years to come. There’s players in every class that will be counted on to contribute to the team's success this season. Seniors Arturo Rodriguez, Sean Walla, and Seth Larrison lead the way offensively. Juniors David Gibbs and Tyler Barsness both are toolsy players that will impact a game multiple ways. Freshman Jake Brande and Nicholas Rodriguez will also play big roles, Brande on the mound and Rodriguez at third base. And while both are nowhere near the players they’re going to be in four years, there are flashes in a game that indicate they may just in fact reach that potential. There’s a lot to like from this team now and in the coming years as fewer than half the roster is seniors, but the current senior class returns a lot. 

It seems like Santa Margarita has been building for this year for some time now. After winning a CIF-SS Division II title in 2019, the Eagles are primed to make that kin d of noise this year. The offense is a borderline Division I lineup with as many as seven players already signed to play at that level in the lineup at any given time. The other two spots are filled with underclassmen that are also Division I commits. Luke Lavin (Stanford), Blake Wilson (Washington), Blake Balsz (UCLA), Drew Rutter (SDSU), Luke Johnson (Cornell), Bryce Humphry (San Francisco), and Zach Fjelstad (Ohio St.) are all seniors with ample varsity experience. Juniors Logan de Groot (UCLA) and Jake Lavin (California) both return with experience as well. There’s no easy out in the lineup. On paper, it’s brutal. However, the Eagles back it up on the field. The pitching rotation features senior Sammy Cova (Oregon) and Fjelstad, behind them lies opportunity. Jack Svinth (Stanford) is recovering from surgery and will likely miss the entire season. Two names you’ll be sure to hear are sophomores Trevor Banning and Hayden George. Junior Samuel Tucci and senior Cole Peterson will also be looked upon on the mound. 

If you asked coaches recently who the best team they’ve played is, the answer usually starts with Cypress. Head coach John Weber has one of his best teams since the 2019 CIF-SS DI Championship winning team. They’re physical, they’re talented, they can seemingly do whatever they want offensively. They have depth everywhere on the field to go with some of the best players at their positions in the state. Senior OF/RHP Matthew Morrell (Oregon St.) leads a deep lineup that features fellow seniors Abbrie Covarrubias (USC), Luke Matlock, and Matthew Thomas most of whom are either three or four year varsity players. Covarrubias may be one of the most underrated shortstps in southern California. Juniors Nick Montgomery (ASU), Gabe Cobian (LBSU), and sophomore John Short provide the remaining thump in the order. The defense is bolstered by a transfer in senior catcher Max Senesac who has shown to be an above average defensive catcher. Morrell, Matlock, Cobian, and Short also lead the way on the mound for the Centurions who look to build on their quarterfinal run from a year ago. 

Just when you thought this may be a down year by their standards, Orange Lutheran goes and wins the whole darn tournament. While they may not have the familiar names on the mound they do have quality arms. Senior Evan Miranda (Texas) frontlines a staff that doesn’t have a ton of innings under their belt at this level but who came up big all weekend. Senior Jordan Cole backed up Miranda’s brilliant outing with one of his own. Junior’s Nolan Tillit and Ross Clark (ASU) were very strong in their outings as well. This weekend's rotation didn’t include Junior transfer Vinny Hudson (Arizona) or sophomore Colt Peterson (Stanford). The lineup will be without junior Derek Curiel (LSU) who is out with an injured shoulder but still has nice pieces. Senior Casey Borba (Texas) put the finishing touches on a very strong fall season, while fellow senior JJ Robles continues to show he’s deserving of continued looks. Junior transfer Gabe Fraser (Arkansas) should help significantly at both infield and in the lineup. Sophomore Josiah Hartshorn looks like a guy ready to break out in a big way. The revelation, though, may be sophomore Wyatt Hanioian in the leadoff spot. He’s the prototypical leadoff guy with his ability to read spin and pick up pitches early. Had a 13 pitch leadoff at-bat to start the game Saturday putting pressure on the pitcher immediately. 

Aquinas has the look of a team that is ready to take the next step after making a run to the CIF-SS Division IV semifinals and finishing with a 28-3 record. The lineup will feature at least six Division I hitters led by MLB Draft prospect Eric Bitonti (Oregon). Fellow seniors Seth Rajacich (BYU) and Owen Egan (UCLA) provide plenty of support around Bitonti. Juniors Landon Young (TCU), Isaiah Diaz (UCSB) and sophomores Mason Greenhouse (Miami), and Gavin Egan provide plenty of depth to the offense. The rotation is also stout. Bitonti, Egan, Nate Christman (Oregon) and Bradley Gilbert (LBSU) all provide arms that hover around 90 with solid secondary pitches. Senior Josh Torres (UCSB), along with sophomores Egan, Greenhouse and Cody Kimele all provide upper 80’s arms that know how to pitch. It’s been quite the ride for Aquinas since head coach Mike Carpentier arrived, and 2023 has the foundation for one of the most special seasons in school history.