Preview: Mission League baseball teams set to endure daunting schedule
The Mission League has expanded to eight teams this season with the addition of Sierra Canyon.
One of the main topics at Mission League baseball media day in February was the league schedule, which became longer and more difficult with Sierra Canyon now part of the group.
The first day of the high school baseball season was Feb. 11, and now league play begins for Mission League teams this week.
“The CIF allows us to play 28 games in a (regular) season, so 21 of those will be Mission League games,” Harvard-Westlake coach Jared Halpert explained.
The Mission League, which now consists of eight teams, will be playing a three-game series each week, designed to produce an outright league champion. Ironically, Notre Dame and Harvard-Westlake split the league title last season because one of their three games was called due to darkness and resulted in a tie.
“There’s a lot of talent in the league,” said Notre Dame coach Tom Dill, in his 32nd year at the helm. “But what I think makes the league the best is the great schools and good families.”
The Mission League has been represented in five of the last 10 CIF Southern Section Division 1 finals, including the last three. Harvard-Westlake was the runner-up in 2019, won it in 2021 and Notre Dame was the runner-up last year.
Here’s a look at what to expect from each team in the Mission League, breaking down each team’s top players and pitchers.
NOTE: The Mission League coaches participated in the Daily News’ preseason poll at the league’s media day. The coaches were asked about finish in league play this season, favorite to win MVP and Pitcher of the Year.
The poll results are at the bottom of the page.
TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWN
ALEMANY
Head coach: Steve Riggs, 4th year
Top field players: Andrew Garcia, SS, Sr.; Jarrett Segura, 1B, Sr.; Christian Santiago, 2B, Jr.
Top pitchers: Josh Habell, RHP, Sr.; Jacob Ortega, RHP, So.
Potential breakout player: James Quintero, OF, Jr.
Coach said: “We have a good mix of senior leadership and talented underclassmen that will put us in a position to compete in a very difficult league.”
CHAMINADE
Head coach: Kyle Wilkerson, 5th year
Top field players: Tyler Garcia, CF, Sr.; Miles Ghossein, 3B, Jr.; Vinny Van der Well, SS, Jr.
Top pitchers: Cristian Brewster, RHP, Sr.; Charlie Decker, LHP, Sr.
Potential breakout player: Jackson Tyler, OF/INF, So.
Coach said: “We are returning Cristian Brewster from last year to lead the staff. Also returning eight position players that started over 10 games for us last season.”
CRESPI
Head coach: Mike Glendenning, 9th year
Top field players: Ethan Kodama, OF, Sr.; Chris Arce, SS, Sr.; Landon Hodge, C, So.
Top pitchers: Isaiah Magdaleno, RHP, Sr.; Diego Velazquez, RHP, Jr.
Potential breakout player: Joshua Rodriguez, 3B, Sr.
Coach said: “This year’s team seems to be better rounded with a lot of upperclassmen leadership, which we will be counting on heavily to reach our goals. With key arms coming back and a few adds over the break, we feel we have an opportunity to compete for a league title.”
HARVARD-WESTLAKE
Head coach: Jared Halpert, 8th year
Top field players: Will Gasparino, CF, Sr.; Owen Carlson, 2B, Sr.; Kai Caranto, SS, Sr.
Top pitchers: Tommy Bridges, RHP, Jr.; Bryce Rainer, LHP, Jr.; Holden Rath, RHP, Sr.
Potential breakout player: Duncan Marsten, RHP, Jr.
Coach said: “With the return of Bryce Rainer and Duncan Marsten to accompany Tommy Bridges (on the mound), this team has the potential to play the last game on the CIF calendar. Will Gasparino could be the next Wolverine to have his name called in the first round of the MLB draft in June.”
LOYOLA
Head coach: Keith Ramsey, 1st year
Top field players: Adam Magpoc, SS, Sr.; Carson Chavez, C/3B, Sr.; Augie Lopez, C/INF, Jr.
Top pitchers: Nathan Savarese, LHP, Sr.; Alex Cohen, RHP, Sr.; Nate Stern, RHP, Jr.
Potential breakout player: Walter Urbon, OF, So.
Coach said: “We are a nice mix of seniors supported by some younger players that should be competitive in a very tough Mission League.”
NOTRE DAME
Head coach: Tom Dill, 32nd year
Top field players: Dean West, CF, Sr.; Greg Pierantoni, SS, Sr.; Madden Ocko, 1B, Sr.
Top pitchers: Justin Lee, RHP, Sr.; Oliver Boone, RHP, Sr.; Levi Sterling, RHP, Jr.
Potential breakout player: Kai Gonzaga, OF, Jr.
Coach said: “We have a talented team and hope to be able to compete the way we did last year. We are hopeful that our pitching staff can be successful with our three-games-a-week schedule.”
SIERRA CANYON
Head coach: Tom Meusborn, 1st year
Top field players: Kehden Hettiger, C/1B, Sr.; Omar Cisneros, SS, Sr.; Grant Werdesheim, CF, Sr.
Top pitchers: Jonny Hagopian, RHP, Jr.; Luke Casarez, RHP, Jr.; Brady Hewitt, 2B/RHP, So.
Potential breakout player: Caden Sramek, RHP, So.
Coach said: “Should be strong up the middle defensively. We will see how quickly we can adjust to the new league.”
ST. FRANCIS
Head coach: Shaun Kort, 1st year
Top field players: Holden Deitch, 2B, Jr.; Jordan Lewallen, SS, Jr.; Brody Ruyle, C, Jr.
Top pitchers: Lucas Dixon, RHP, Sr.; Xander Douglas, RHP, Sr.; Liam Thacher, RHP, Sr.
Potential breakout player: Aaron Hernandez, RHP, So.
Coach said: “Our goal is to be in every game and will ourselves to win the last three innings. We have improved our defense, hitting and pitching this fall/winter and are ready to compete in the Mission League.”
LEAGUE FINISH: COACHES POLL
(Team, first-place votes)
1. Harvard-Westlake (5)
2. Notre Dame (2)
3. Crespi (1)
4. Sierra Canyon
5. Chaminade
6. Loyola
7. St. Francis
8. Alemany
PRESEASON YEARLY AWARDS
MVP: Bryce Rainer, Harvard-Westlake; Will Gasparino, Harvard-Westlake; Adam Magpoc, Loyola
Pitcher of the Year: Tommy Bridges, Harvard-Westlake; Isaiah Magdaleno, Crespi; Oliver Boone, Notre Dame; Justin Lee, Notre Dame; Cristian Brewster, Chaminade