Preseason Invitational Matchup Preview: Gahr v OLu

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - The Inaugural PBR California Preseason Invitational will kick off on Saturday, February 12, 2022 as the officially CIF Southern Section sanctioned tournament will play host to some of the top teams from around SoCal and the entire state. With the changes in the rules for permissible games allowed taking effect in 2022, PBR California believed coaches would want every non-league game to be against the best competition they can play against which proved to be true. With over half the field in the California Power 25 rankings, the PBR California Preseason Invitational will be heavily scouted by both our own staff and pro scouts alike thanks to the amount of draft talent participating in the event this year. 

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for updates throughout the tournament. You can also see the full schedule here. 

In the matchup preview we will take a closer look at the Gahr vs Orange Lutheran game.  

GAHR: 

PRESEASON INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE

On paper this one of the most talented Gahr teams 17th year head coach Gerardo Perez has fielded in the last several years. He has a stable of power arms and has the bats to go with them. Seniors Cristien Banda, Andrew Kirchner, and Steven Thompson lead a deep pitching staff that features a quartet of juniors in Jaden Alba, Noah Andrunes, Victor Morales, and Joshua Escobar that will present problems for opponents all season. Gahr is a perennial postseason contender in the Southern Section and 2022 should be no different as they’ll be one of the favorites in Division II coming out of the San Gabriel League. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

CRISTIEN BANDA 

STEVEN THOMPSON 

ANDREW KIRCHNER 

ETHAN KANG 

ANGEL CORTEZ 

KYLE PANGANIBAN 

ALAHNI SALCEDO 

JADEN ALBA 

NOAH ANDRUNAS 

VICTOR MORALES 

JOSHUA ESCOBAR 

CHRIS JOHNSON 

JOSE PEREZ 

MIKE LEE 

ELIJAH PANNEL 

FROM COACH PEREZ:

“We expect to make a deep run in the playoffs. Our team is pretty complete, but the power arms and bats are unique for us. We have power on the mound and at the plate and depth.”

ORANGE LUTHERAN:

PRESEASON INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE

After making a run to the CIF-SS DI semi-final last season, the Lancers return a team that could get them over the hump and into the finals for the first time under head coach Eric Borba. The Lancers return only one proven starter in Louis Rodriguez but have plenty behind him thanks in part to transfer Oliver Santos and the immersion of Jordan Cole and JD Rodriguez as bona-fide starters. With draft prospects, in this class and beyond, at multiple positions along with plenty of experience up-and-down the starting nine, Orange Lutheran will rely on younger, less experienced players, to get acclimated in a hurry as they head into Trinity League play sooner this season than most. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

MIKEY ROMERO

 KARSON BOWEN

GABE MIRANDA

CASEY BORBA

BEN REILAND

DEREK CURIEL

BRYAN MARTINEZ

LOUIS RODRIGUEZ

 OLIVER SANTOS

JORDAN COLE

JD RODRIGUEZ

EVAN MIRANDA

BRADY STROHM

ROSS CLARK

FROM COACH BORBA:

“I really like this team. It has a chance to be as good as ever. Depth may be a question mark, but the front nine and pitching staff should both be as good as anybody.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

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