What We Saw: Week Four

MISSION LEAGUE

The Mission League of the CIF Southern Section has had some amazing games with top-ranked teams in the state having hard-fought battles against unranked sides. This league is stacked with talent on all teams and great matchups emerging from individual and team performances have led to upsets, a no-hitter, and high-stakes late-inning games in just the past few days.

Sierra Canyon vs Crespi

First place in the Mission League and unbeaten side Sierra Canyon has had a great season so far, going 9-0-2 and 4-0-2 in league play. While Crespi’s league record may be 2-1-3 in league games their overall record this season is 7-1-3. In this past week, Sierra Canyon and Crespi tied twice in low-scoring affairs at 2-2 and 1-1 with games being called due to lack of daylight. The matchup on March 8 however was not close at all with Sierra Canyon winning 8-0 with great offensive displays from ‘26 1B/3B/OF Mikhal Johnson (Uncommitted) and ‘25 SS Brady Hewitt (U San Diego). Both smashed extra-base hits with Johnson driving a ball over the left-center fence.

LOUD 1st ? at @PBR_Uncommitted ‘26 @mikhal_johnson.

2-sport athlete. Physical 6-3/225. Has hit his way into the cleanup spot for @SCBaseball_Var. Relaxed presence in the box. Violent hacks all day. 2H including a clutch #PBRBombSquad.@PBR_California @LesLukach @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/TRaE3t8zf5

— Joey Cohen? (@JoeyCohen20) March 9, 2023

One of the better 2-way ‘25s in CA is @USDbaseball commit Brady Hewitt of @SCBaseball_Var.

Lean build w/ present athleticism. Solid glove up the middle. Runs it up into the high 80s on the mound.

At the plate, it’s quick hands that deliver a fast bat w/ length through the zone. pic.twitter.com/ZyWIak3S6Q

— Joey Cohen? (@JoeyCohen20) March 9, 2023

While Crespi may not have been able to claim a win in the series, ‘25 SS Diego Velazquez (USC) showed off his bat and added to a monster start to the season. Velazquez is currently hitting at a .516 clip with two home runs.

It’s been a strong start this spring for ‘25 @USC_Baseball commit @d_velaz32.

Highly projectable long-limbed 2-way. Smooth glove up the middle.

Loose hands at the plate whip the barrel through the zone. Hitting .516 (16/31).
Excited to see him on the mound sometime this spring. pic.twitter.com/CW77BvQpHu

— Joey Cohen? (@JoeyCohen20) March 9, 2023

No. 5 Harvard Westlake vs Loyola

Harvard Westlake shoved on Thursday, with two pitchers tossing a combined no-hitter for 3-0 win. ‘24 RHP/SS/3B Bryce Rainer (Texas) handled five innings striking out nine in the process. ‘23 RHP Holden Rath (Uncommitted) took over and shut the door, sealing the shutout and no-hitter striking out five people in the last two innings of work.

Harvard Westlake clinched the series setting up a massive three-game showdown with Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) this week. 

TRINITY LEAGUE

The Trinity league also contains some of the most exciting teams in all of California. No. 1 JSerra, No. 3 Orange Catholic, and No. 15 Santa Margarita are among the teams in the league. In this past week specifically, baseball fans were treated to multiple upsets and top-25 action. 

No. 1 JSerra vs Mater Dei

Mater Dei upset JSerra off the back of some great pitching and team-hitting. In game one ‘25 RHP Landon Gordon (USC) pitched a complete game only giving up a run while ‘25 MIF Dylan Wetzel (Uncommitted) gave Mater Dei all they would need with a two-run home run. The game ended 4-1. 

In game two it ended up being a walk-off with Mater Dei winning 5-4. Game three of the series was rescheduled to Monday resulting from rain canceling Friday’s game.

No. 3 Orange Lutheran vs No. 15 Santa Margarita

The weeklong series between these two teams resulted in Santa Margarita sweeping all three games from Orange Lutheran, giving them a losing streak of four games. Santa Margarita won by a score of 7-5 in game one, 5-2 in game two, and 4-3 in the last game.

On March 6, Santa Margarita played a close game but still won it with their bats from ‘23 MIF Zach Fjelstad (Ohio State) showing out with a 3-3 performance.

On March 8 in the second game of the series, standout performances from ‘23 MIF Blake Wilson (Washington), ‘23 C Luke Lavin (Stanford), and ‘24 OF Logan DeGroot (UCLA) propelled Santa Margarita to the win. Wilson went 2-4 on the day with two doubles and two RBIs. Orange Lutheran attempted a late-game comeback in the seventh inning with the efforts from ‘25 OF/1B Josiah Hartshorn (Uncommitted) driving in both runs adding to a 2-4 on the day.

Santa Margarita is poised to continue their 5-1 start to the season and will face off against JSerra next week.

‘23 MINF Blake Wilson of @SMCHSEagles is off to a scorching start to his senior year.

The #UW signee is hitting .588 with 5 runs scored and 4 RBI. ZERO K’s.

Sub 6.7 runner who can play virtually anywhere on the infield. The 2 sport star should begin to get some #MLBDraft looks. pic.twitter.com/2xGtCEe9RD

— ??? ?????? (@LesLukach) March 9, 2023

ELSEWHERE IN CIF BASEBALL

No. 2 Villa Park vs Hart

Villa Park was upset by Hart by a score of 4-3 after Hart held Villa Park to no runs after gaining a one-run lead in the third inning.

‘23 LHP Chris Downs (Cal Poly SLO) dominated on the mound, striking out five while only allowing one hit in 2.2 innings of relief duty. The southpaw mixed fastballs and sliders keeping hitters off balance while his team clung to a one run lead late in the game.

In defeat Villa Park still put up a decent fight with ‘23 C Nathan Pone (Uncommitted) driving in two runs on a 2-3 day at the plate.

Here’s a Slo-Mo look at the mechanics and delivery of ‘23 LHP Chris Downs of @hart_baseball.

The #CalPolySLO signee was electric in 2.2 innings of relief allowing just one infield single while striking out five.

FB: 85-87: massive ASR
SL 75-77: sharp/downer shape pic.twitter.com/7Khc2iv6zQ

— ??? ?????? (@LesLukach) March 8, 2023

‘24 SS Brayden Jeffries provided crucial hitting that contributed to the upset win over Villa Park. The uncommitted shortstop has opened eyes early with his stellar defensive play and his "hitability" at the plate from the left side. One of the premier uncommitted players in his area. 

Here’s an RBI knock from Jefferis. As mentioned below, a couple QAB’s. @hart_baseball https://t.co/W0PGan23nz pic.twitter.com/RwfGRvOaLy

— ??? ?????? (@LesLukach) March 8, 2023

No. 8 De La Salle vs Clayton Valley Charter

No. 8 De La Salle faced Clayton Valley Charter in an anticipated matchup on March 7. De La Salle won 8-2 off of the performances of ‘24 SS Hank Tripaldi (Uncommitted), ‘23 CF Kai Smith (Uncommitted), ‘23 C/3B Danny McInnis (Uncommitted), and ‘23 1B Will Rueb (Uncommitted).

Tripaldi had a monstrous day at the plate, driving in three runs off of a double and home run.

Quite a game in 2 innings for @DLSBaseball Jr SS @TripaldiHank with 2B off fence and now this in btm 3rd… #pbrbombsquad@PBR_California @ShooterHunt @PBR_Uncommitted @prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/fak78pbqpk

— PBR Northern CA (@Clemmens_PBR) March 8, 2023

Smith doubled in his first at-bat and keeping composure after a potential homerun was barely foul contributed a line drive single. His batting average for the season is a team-high .600 after two games.

One of the better uncommitted players in California, 2023 CF Kai Smith of @DLSBaseball just missed HR then lines 1B to LF. Double to RCF 1st AB. Seen him a lot, RARELY off balance. All fields power and a plus runner.@kai_smith8 @PBR_California @PBR_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/sbKsSZOyUT

— PBR Northern CA (@Clemmens_PBR) March 8, 2023

McInnis notched two doubles in the game and Rueb drove in three runs in his only at-bat.