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Preseason Preview: Yucaipa Thunderbirds

March 19, 2021
PBR California Staff

New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast

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 Yucaipa Thunderbird.

TEAM:

Yucaipa Thunderbirds

HEAD COACH (years at school):

Ralph Grajeda (4)

OFFICIAL TWITTER:

@CoachGrajeda

CIF SECTION & DIVISION:

Southern Section / Division 1

CONFERENCE/LEAGUE NAME:

Citrus Belt

LAST YEAR’S RECORD:

6-5

# OF RETURNING STARTERS:

5

# OF RETURNING PITCHERS:

6

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS:

2021 MIF Caiden Huber - USC

2021 OF Aiden Richert

2021 RHP Hayden Coon

2021 RHP Julian Alanis

2022 3B Jacob Reimer - Cal State Fullerton

2022 RHP Wyatt Doty - Cal State Fullerton

2022 RHP/MIF Carter Herrera - Cal State Fullerton

2022 OF Chase Antillon - Cal Baptist

2022 RHP Peyton Von Kaenel

THE FUTURE:

2023 OF/RHP Owen Egan - UCLA

2023 C/RHP Luke Scherrer - Cal Poly SLO

2023 RHP/OF Carter Elliott - Cal State Fullerton

2023 1B/RHP Ryan Halamicek

2024 MIF Daniel Arambula - Arizona

2024 OF Wes Hickey

SEASON OUTLOOK: 

This is a team that should hold high expectations for 2021 as the Thunderbirds have 9 D1 Commits on the roster and come back with an added year of experience. This group has talent in every class and looks to be one of the more formidable teams in the Southern Section this year. Coach Grajeda likes his pitching depth with multiple power arms that can mow down a lineup and the bats should be a problem for opposing pitchers. With a team that will have multiple young players starting for them, Yucaipa looks like a team that will be one of the most potent Division 1 teams for years to come.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Rising Stars Showcase - NorCal  CA 06/08 Islanders Field
State Games ID - NorCal  CA 06/15 Islanders Field
Rising Stars Showcase  CA 06/22 Hart Park
Northern California ProCase  CA 07/06 McBean Stadium - Lincoln, CA
SoCal ProCase  CA 07/07 Hart Park
SoCal Academic Games  CA 07/13 Hart Park
California State Games  CA 07/16-07/18 Islanders Field


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