2024 East Yosemite League baseball preview: Team capsules, 38 impact players to know
The 2024 East Yosemite League high school baseball season is underway.
Here's a preview of each EYL squad:
El Diamante Miners
Head coach: Andrew Riddle, third season
Coaching staff: Ross Hebert, Kevin Beno, Bert Flores, Chuck Mosley, Timmy Sumida
Roster: 19
2023 record: 21-9
Impact players: Caleb Silva (center fielder), Colin Horton (starting pitcher, first base), Sebastian Aiello (catcher), Matthew Dykstra (designated hitter, first base), Eli Contreras (left fielder), Jordan Rhyner (starting pitcher, third base), Cole Martinez (second base), Nick Reynoso, (pitcher, first base, outfielder)
Highlights: El Diamante is coming off a memorable 2023 campaign where the Miners won their first Central Section Division I playoff game in school history. The Miners graduated 13 out of 18 players from the roster, including their entire infield and key starting pitchers, but that has cleared the way for a young roster full of blooming talent. Silva, Dykstra, and Reynoso look to lead a young group that has goals of contending for an EYL championship.
Riddle: “We are very excited about the young talent in our program and the core of returners we have. We’ve taken our lumps early but these boys have shown that they learn very quickly. This is an extremely hard-working group and there’s no doubt we will compete for the EYL title this year and beyond.”
Golden West Trailblazers
Head coach: Jeff Housman, first season
Coaching staff: Rob Schimpf, Joe Torres, Nick Lopez
Roster size: 19
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2023 record: 14-16
Impact players: Tino Alaniz (centerfielder), Chris Garcia (infielder), David Rodriguez (pitcher, outfielder), Javier Bonilla (catcher), Max Bonilla (catcher), Braidyn Padilla (third base), Eryq Lopez-Abarca (pitcher)
Highlights: Golden West is under the direction of a new head coach this season in Housman — a former MLB draft pick who was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 33rd round of the 2002 draft. Housman played in six minor league professional seasons and reached the Triple-A level in 2004. The Trailblazers advanced to the Central Section Division IV quarterfinals last season and are aiming to build off that success.
Housman: "We are a young team, only returning three seniors, but we are excited about this team and our potential."
Monache Marauders
Head coach: Jacob Williams, second season
Coaching staff: Chad Mancebo, Steven Alba, Doug Pritchett, Morris Alvarado, Steve Williams, Andrew Vasquez
Roster size: 21
2023 record: 11-20
Impact players: Colton Isom (pitcher, third base), Jayson Castillo (catcher), Tyson Chavez (shortstop), Maddox Miguel (left fielder, pitcher), Brody McCoy (pitcher)
Highlights: Monache is coming off a strong finish to the 2023 season where the Marauders won a pair of road playoff games before falling in the semifinal round of the Central Section Division IV postseason. This year's team is led by returning seniors Isom, Castillo and Rivas. Isom earned All-EYL second-team honors in 2023. Other notable returners are McCoy and Chavez. Ty Baxter, a junior, is one of Tulare County's top all-around student-athletes. Baxter was the 2023 EYL most valuable player in football and was also a first-team All-EYL pick in basketball during the winter season.
Mt. Whitney Pioneers
Head coach: Payton Allen, first season
Coaching staff: Nate Gilson, Jimmy Wallace, Christian Garcia, Jim McKernan
Roster size: 13
2023 record: 13-16
Impact players: Jordan Versteeg (pitcher, outfielder), Aiden Bryan (pitcher, infielder), Orson Gonzales (outfielder), Kaden Welch (first base, pitcher)
Highlights: Former College of the Sequoias and Fresno State standout Payton Allen takes over as the new Mt. Whitney head coach. Allen, a 2018 Golden West grad, starred in the infield with the Trailblazers, Giants and Bulldogs. He is the son of COS baseball head coach Jody Allen. Versteeg, a 2023 All-EYL second-team selection, headlines a Mt. Whitney team that advanced to the Central Section Division III quarterfinals last season.
Allen: "Excited for these guys to find their rhythm."
Porterville Panthers
Head coach: Pete Carganilla, fifth season
Coaching staff: Jake Hernandez, Santiago Sanchez II
Roster size: 13
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2023 record: 10-16-1
Impact players: Louie Torres (pitcher, utility), Xavier Aguilera (lead-off hitter, pitcher, infielder), Aiden Jimenez (pitcher, infielder, catcher), Gio Perez (infielder, catcher), Jose Perez (infielder, pitcher)
Highlights: Torres, a senior, anchors Porterville as a returning player who earned first-team All-EYL honors in 2023. He leads a Panthers team that is expected to be strong on defense and the bump. "Louie Torres, he's a big horse," Carganilla said. "As he goes, we go. That’s the way it seems lately."
Carganilla: "This group has good character."
Redwood Rangers
Head coach: Dan Hydash, 11th season
Coaching Staff: Adam Pettyjohn, Brad Bryan, Hunter Bryan, Parker Cantrell, Matt Rico, Mitchell Prophet, Isaac Gonzalez, Ryan Blair
Roster size: 23
2024 record: 24-6
Impact players: Erik Rico (pitcher, infielder), Isaac Esquivel (shortstop), J.J. Llerenas (catcher, designated hitter), Jaxon Griffiths (catcher, infielder), Hunter Kittinger (catcher, outfielder, infielder), Jack Volchko (pitcher, infielder), Nate Ramirez (pitcher), Truett Pettyjohn (pitcher), Cruz Rodriguez (pitcher, first base)
Highlights: Redwood is coming off the 2023 season with a 24-6 record and a perfect 15-0 mark in EYL play. The Rangers reached the Central Section Division I semifinals last season behind seven players who went on to make a college roster at the next level — Joey Volchko, Reece Bueno, Joey Rico, Bo Rico, Alex Hernandez, Evan Gonzalez and Seth Lopez. Erik Rico returns as a junior to lead the Rangers on the mound. Esquivel enters year two as a starter at shortstop. Rico and Esquivel were second-team, All-EYL performers as sophomores last year.
Hydash: "We are going to go as far as our pitching and defense takes us. We are young on the mound but are talented. If we continue to develop as a unit, we can make some noise in the playoffs."
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 2024 EYL baseball preview: Team capsules, 38 impact players to know
