Preseason Preview: Harvard Westlake Wolverines

COVID ended the 2020 season early throughout the State but as things progress quickly for the 2021 high school season, it’s time for us to preview teams from around the State in the Yearly Preseason Preview. Schedules are being adapted to fit the ever-changing landscape and though this season may look different than history has shown us, coaches/staff, players, families, and our team are preparing for 2021 to be as successful as possible. 

We’ve submitted the Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state and their responses have been flooding in. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be using their detailed insight on our team-by-team previews ahead of the 2021 season leading into the California Power 25 Rankings. 

(Players, be sure to search our database and claim your profile. Don't see your profile? You can create a free PBR profile here).

With all that said let’s take a look at today’s Preseason Preview of the Harvard Westlake Wolverines.

TEAM:

Harvard Westlake Wolverine

HEAD COACH (years at school):

Jared Halpert (10/6 as Head Coach)

OFFICIAL TWITTER:

@HWBaseball

CIF SECTION & DIVISION:

Southern Section / Division 1

CONFERENCE/LEAGUE NAME:

Mission League

LAST YEAR’S RECORD:

8-1-1

# OF RETURNING STARTERS:

6

# OF RETURNING PITCHERS:

3

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS:

2021 P Christian Becerra - Cal 

2021 OF George Cooper - Harvard

2021 C/1B Bennett Markinson

2022 INF Jordan Kang - Harvard

2022 OF Marty Kaplan - Northwestern 

2022 C Jacob Galloway - Texas Tech

2022 P Andrew Citron

THE FUTURE:

2023 INF Kai Caranto

2023 P/OF Will Gasparino

2024 1B Duncan Marsten - Stanford

2024 MIF Bryce Rainer - UCLA

2024 P/INF Tommy Bridges

SEASON OUTLOOK: 

Harvard Westlake is a perennial National power here on the West Coast and the 2021 season is going to bring the same high expectations as previous seasons have. Consistently in the hunt for one of the toughest trophies in high school sports (CIF Southern Section, D1), the Wolverines will once against be bringing in a talent-filled squad. Coach Halpert has 6 returners and 3 returning pitchers but will be filling 6 spots in the lineup after graduation last season so early season reps will be needed to find what works best. The Wolverines already have 7 college commitments on the roster and should have even more as the year progresses. The pitching staff will have a lot of arms that can help the squad and though they lost multiple big-bats from 2020, the offense should be ready to back the strong pitching staff again this season. With the amount of athleticism and deep level of talent on this team, a Mission League title is the expectation along with a deep run in the Southern Section Playoff Gauntlet.