2024 West Yosemite League baseball preview: Team breakdowns, 35 players to watch

The 2024 West Yosemite League high school baseball season is in full swing.

Here's a preview of each WYL squad:

Dinuba Emperors

Head coach: Brent Morrelli, Dinuba, 19th season

Coaching staff: Dave Gaston, Nick Gomez, Michael Jimenez, Andrew Pompa

Roster size: 18

2023 record: 16-14-1

Impact players: Noah Gonzalez (catcher), Paul Huerta (third base), Anthony Pompa (utility, pitcher), Matthew Guido (infielder, outfielder, pitcher), Derek Hernandez (infielder, outfielder, pitcher), Danny Pruneda (outfielder), Austin Kelly (pitcher)

Highlights: Gonzalez, a four-year starter at catcher, will anchor Dinuba in its quest to win a WYL championship. Kelly, Hernandez, Huerta and Pompa are set to lead the pitching staff. Leading the way on the offensive side will be Guido, Gonzalez, Pompa and Huerta. Huerta earned All-WYL first-team honors as a junior last season after helping the Emperors advance to the Central Section Division III semifinals.

More: 2024 East Yosemite League baseball preview: Team capsules, 38 impact players to know

Hanford Bullpups

Head coach: Carlos Perez, second season

Coaching staff: Ryan Smith, Mike Kelly, Matt Littrell, Ryan Champlin

Roster size: 16

2023 record: 15-13

Impact players: Noah Gonzales (right fielder, pitcher), Christian Mendez (shortstop, pitcher), Mason Soares (pitcher, outfielder), Manny Souza (third base, catcher), Jaycob Olaes (second base, pitcher)

Highlights: Hanford returns a strong pitching staff that includes three southpaws, led by Gonzales, a first-team All-WYL selection from a year ago. Five starters are also back from a 2023 team that qualified for the Central Section Division I playoffs. Gonzales was one of the team's top hitters last season and among team leaders in strikeouts.

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Lemoore Tigers

Head coach: Izzy Gonzalez, seventh season

Coaching staff: Scott Loper, Matt Madrigal, Tim Henson, Jed Johnson, Aaron Gardner, Miguel Macias

Roster size: 19

2023 record: 19-8

Impact players: Andrew Mora (first base, pitcher), Ian Snell (shortstop, pitcher), Nick Johnson (pitcher, designated hitter)

Highlights: Lemoore returns only two starters in Mora, a team captain, and Snell. Gonzalez will rely on Mora, Snell and Johnson to help direct the squad this season. "We have a real young group," Gonzalez said. "If we want to be successful, those guys have to come out and ball." The Tigers, who shared the 2023 WYL championship with Tulare Western last season, are off to a 9-2 start in 2024.

Gonzalez: “This team has a lot of fight, man. These kids, they never give up. We're always in ball games regardless if we're down or not. We have a few come-from-behind wins. These kids have that mentality, 'We're never down until the last out.'"

Mission Oak Hawks

Head coach: Kevin Break, second season

Coaching Staff: Benny Macias, Johnny Burns, Jose Agular

Roster size: 19

2023 record: 16-14

Impact players: Kannon Silva (pitcher, infielder), Korey Barham (pitcher, infielder), Zy Ramirez (outfielder), Chase Break (infielder), Gage Hastin (pitcher, infielder), Luke Vieira (infielder), Nick Retiz (outfielder), Owen Thompson (outfielder), Eddy Bravo (catcher, pitcher)

Highlights: After moving to the WYL last year, Mission Oak looks to have a bounce-back season after advancing to the second round of the Central Section Division III playoffs and losing only one starter from last year’s 16-win squad. Hastin and Silva, both All-WYL second-team honorees in 2023, return to the bump as the team’s top aces this year. They will lead a mound that also includes Bravo, Deegan Sartuche and Benjamin Romans.

Break: “Our journey this season will be defined by hard work, camaraderie, and a relentless drive to succeed.”

Tulare Union Tribe

Head coach: Kevin Brown, first season

Coaching staff: Buddy Rivera

Roster size: 17

2023 record: 3–24

Impact players: Jacob Price (outfielder), Eathyn Matthews (third base), Adam Sims (pitcher, outfielder), Cole Sappington (pitcher)

Highlights: Brown returns for a second stint as the Tulare Union head coach after guiding the program from 2009-14. During Brown's first run with the Tribe, they captured two East Yosemite League championships and advanced to the 2012 Central Section Division II semifinals. One of Brown's goals is to return the Tribe to a competitive level. Tulare Union went a combined 8-45 during the past two seasons. Sims was a first-team All-WYL selection in 2023. Price and Matthews both batted over .300 last season and will lead the team at the plate.

Brown: "The success of the 2024 season will depend on our ability to change our culture and habits. Our goal is to rebuild the program brick by brick, and I believe this is very achievable with the young men on this team."

Tulare Western Mustangs

Head coach: Ken Searcy, 19th season

Coaching staff: Justin Cuellar, Brian Beck, Kurt Airoso, Anthony Gale, Chris Covert, Ruben Rivera, Armando Gallegos, Darrien Leal

Roster size: 19

2023 record: 21-8

Impact players): Justin Cuellar (pitcher, first base), Ty Rhyman (infielder), Blake Crawford (catcher, outfielder), Easton King (utility), Chi'el Sanchez (infielder), Landon Peredo (utility), Will Masterson (pitcher, infielder)

Highlights: Tulare Western is the defending co-WYL champion after clinching a share of the league title with Lemoore in 2023. Both teams finished tied atop the final league standings with a 12-3 mark last season. Cuellar, a left-handed pitcher, returns as one of Tulare County's top players. The UCLA signee is approaching 300 career strikeouts and is a four-year varsity player. Cuellar leads a strong pitching staff that also features Masterson. Searcy noted defense and pitching are expected to be the strength of the team this season.

Searcy: "We need to be unselfish as individuals and play with a sense of urgency, understanding that this game is much bigger and faster than these young men ever expected it to be. But, played the right way, the Mustang Way,  it will change these boys forever in baseball and in life."

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 2024 WYL baseball preview: Team breakdowns, 35 players to watch