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Prep Baseball: Top 104 players to watch as the 2024 season is underway

jose quintero, victorville daily press
·6 min read

With winter sports playoffs in the rearview mirror, the focus shifts to the 2024 baseball season.

For many teams, the season has been underway in the High Desert for nearly a month which means the races for the Mojave River League and Desert Sky League titles have already begun.

The baseball scene across the High Desert is loaded with talent in each of the four leagues.

The top returners to watch this season are Apple Valley’s Beau Lloyd, the reigning Mojave River League Player of the Year, who earned a spot on the All-CIF-Southern Section Division 5 team as a sophomore last year.

Lloyd played a key role in the Sun Devils’ journey to the Division 5 title game appearance, going 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA over 16 appearances and striking out 51 batters. At the dish, Lloyd hit .394 with seven home runs, 35 RBIs, 31 runs and three stolen bases.

Apple Valley’s Beau Lloyd delivers a pitch during the third inning against Oak Hills on Friday, March 8, 2024. Oak Hills defeated Apple Valley 5-3 in the Mojave River League opener.
Apple Valley’s Beau Lloyd delivers a pitch during the third inning against Oak Hills on Friday, March 8, 2024. Oak Hills defeated Apple Valley 5-3 in the Mojave River League opener.

Four other Mojave River League players earned All-CIF-SS honors last season.

Ryan Martinez joined Lloyd as a player from Apple Valley on the Division 5 squad. As a junior, Martinez, a shortstop and pitcher last year, hit a team-high .467 average with 20 RBIs, 32 runs and 10 stolen bases. On the mound, he struck out 30 batters with a 2.24 ERA.

Oak Hills is led on the mound this year by Paul Montoya, who earned a spot on the All-CIF-SS Division 4 team. Montoya had a stellar junior season on the mound, going 5-3 in 10 appearances with a 2.85 ERA and 66 strikeouts.

Montoya earned a nod on the All-Mojave River League First Team as an outfielder. He led the Bulldogs with a .453 batting average, six RBIs, 20 runs and seven stolen bases.

Oak Hills' Paul Montoya winds up to deliver a pitch during the first inning against Apple Valley on Friday, March 8, 2024. Oak Hills defeated Apple Valley 5-3 in the Mojave River League opener.
Oak Hills' Paul Montoya winds up to deliver a pitch during the first inning against Apple Valley on Friday, March 8, 2024. Oak Hills defeated Apple Valley 5-3 in the Mojave River League opener.

Sultana’s Alex Gamez and Geoffrey Rodrigues earned spots on the All-CIF-SS Division 4 team last season.

As a sophomore last year, Gamez hit for a .404 batting average with a home run, 16 RBIs, 32 runs and nine stolen bases, while Rodrigues, now a senior, ended with a .398 batting average, 19 RBIs, 19 runs and four stolen bases.

The Desert Sky League has just one returning player with All-CIF-SS honors from last year. Uriel Martin led Silverado last season with a .415 batting average, six RBIs, 12 runs and three stolen bases. In 36.2 innings of work on the mound, Martin struck out 19 batters with a 1.72 ERA.

Silverado's Uriel Martin delivers a pitch during the annual all-star baseball game on June 9, 2023, at Sultana High School. The Mojave River League squad pulled off a 7-4 victory over the Desert Sky League.
Silverado's Uriel Martin delivers a pitch during the annual all-star baseball game on June 9, 2023, at Sultana High School. The Mojave River League squad pulled off a 7-4 victory over the Desert Sky League.

Across the rest of the league, Adelanto’s Chris Espinoza appears to be the best pitcher in the league.

He proved that in the league opener last week against Barstow, striking out 12 batters and allowing two earned runs on five hits to pick up a 6-4 victory. At the plate, Espinoza went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.

More: High Desert Sports Roundup: Oak Hills kicks off MRL play with a victory over Apple Valley

As a junior last year, Espinoza led the Saints by going 6-3 with a 1.44 ERA and 55 strikeouts. He hit for a .338 average at the dish with 17 RBIs, 21 runs and 11 stolen bases.

In the Cross Valley League and Agape League, one returner received All-CIF-SS nods last year.

After helping Hesperia Christian to the CIF-SS Division 6 title game, Arlan Koester is back for his senior season. As a junior, Koester hit for a .381 average with 25 RBIs, 20 runs and two stolen bases. On the mound, often used in late-game situations, he tallied 19 strikeouts with a 3.23 ERA.

Hesperia Christian’s Arlan Koester throws to first base during the second inning of the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 championship game at Blair Field on Friday, May 19, 2023. Castaic defeated Hesperia Christian 7-0.
Hesperia Christian’s Arlan Koester throws to first base during the second inning of the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 championship game at Blair Field on Friday, May 19, 2023. Castaic defeated Hesperia Christian 7-0.

Ben Carlson, of Academy of Careers & Exploration, is the lone returner in the Agape League to earn a spot on the All-CIF-SS Division 7 team last year. As a junior, Carlson hit for a .525 batting average, 21 RBIs, 30 runs and 11 stolen bases.

Here’s a full list of the High Desert’s top players to watch this season.

Mojave River League

Sultana's Alex Gamez connects for a hit against Chaparral during the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 playoffs on Friday, May 12, 2023. Sultana beat Chaparral 17-6.
Sultana's Alex Gamez connects for a hit against Chaparral during the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 playoffs on Friday, May 12, 2023. Sultana beat Chaparral 17-6.

2023 standings: 1. Oak Hills 12-3; 2. Apple Valley 10-5; 3. Sultana 10-5; 4. Burroughs 6-9; 5. Serrano 5-10; 6. Hesperia 2-13

Apple Valley — Noah Celie, senior; Beau Lloyd, junior; Luis Lechuga, senior; Ryan Martinez, senior; Phoenix Matsumoto, senior; Isaiah Reveron, junior.

Hesperia — Enrique Duran, junior; Ethan Enriquez, junior; Josh Flores; Andrew Gutierrez, senior; Nolan Newman-Gomez, sophomore; Kaleb Watson, junior.

Oak Hills — Austin Allan, senior; Tyler Martinez, senior; Paul Montoya, senior; Angelo Rizzo, senior; Connor Wagner, junior; Jacob Webster, sophomore; Keith Williams, junior.

Serrano — Jacob Bannon, junior; Owen Kavanaugh, senior; Andrew Lechuga, senior; Mason Shimizu, senior; Erick Sotelo, sophomore; Jeremy Thurber, sophomore.

Sultana — Brayden Booth, junior; LJ Borrego, sophomore; Alex Gamez, junior; Isac Gamez, sophomore; Chris Manley, senior; Geoffrey Rodrigues, senior; Eric Ruiz, junior; Brody Sappington, junior; Nico Torres, junior.

Desert Sky League

Victor Valley’s Ben Seidenkranz, right, and Jorge Avila celebrate after scoring runs during the fourth inning on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Victor Valley defeated Barstow 6-3.
Victor Valley’s Ben Seidenkranz, right, and Jorge Avila celebrate after scoring runs during the fourth inning on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Victor Valley defeated Barstow 6-3.

2023 standings: 1. Adelanto 10-2; 2. Barstow 9-3; 3. Victor Valley 7-5; 4. Silverado 4-8; 5. Granite Hills 0-12

Adelanto — Cameron Donaldson, senior; Chris Espinoza, senior; Daniel Fernandez, senior; Askel Inzunza, sophomore; Jesse Najera, senior; Zachary Viramontes, senior.

Barstow — Dominic Acosta, senior; Talin Brown, junior; Evan Hernandez, senior; Santiago Lopez, junior; Michael Robles, senior; Bob Shipley, sophomore.

Granite Hills — Jordan Dalton, senior; Cole Estes, senior; Vincent Jarvis; Brody Reeves; Van Skinner, senior; Kameron Tillis-Henriquez, senior.

More: Oak Hills’ Paul Montoya is the Victorville Chevrolet High School Athlete of the Week

Silverado — Brandon Chavez, junior; Steven Gomez, junior; Uriel Martin, junior; Isaac Ramirez, senior; Drew Weiss, senior; Jace Weiss, junior.

Victor Valley — Jeremiah Avila, senior; Davian Dominguez, sophomore; Jadon Mollinedo, senior; Ben Seidenkranz, sophomore; Matthew Yepez, sophomore.

Cross Valley League

Riverside Prep’s Ethyn Beltran loses the ball while trying to tag Hesperia Christian’s Caleb Audet during the sixth inning on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Hesperia Christian defeated Riverside Prep 3-2 to force a tie atop the Cross Valley League standings.
Riverside Prep’s Ethyn Beltran loses the ball while trying to tag Hesperia Christian’s Caleb Audet during the sixth inning on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Hesperia Christian defeated Riverside Prep 3-2 to force a tie atop the Cross Valley League standings.

2023 standings: 1. Hesperia Christian 7-1; 2. Riverside Prep 6-2; 3. Excelsior 5-3; 4. University Prep 1-7; 5. Big Bear 1-7

Excelsior — Jacob Castillo, sophomore; Cameron Cole, sophomore; Brandon Gill, senior; Tyler Oerman, sophomore; Ethan Ramirez, senior.

Hesperia Christian — Caleb Audet, senior; Luke Beasley, junior; Arlan Koester, senior; Ayden Ortega, senior; Cory Villalba, junior.

Riverside Prep — Ehtyn Beltran, junior; Isaiah Gomez, junior; Drew Herd, senior; Cayden Johnson, senior; Adrian Jorge Jr., junior; Andrew Logsdon, sophomore; Cayman Pluma, junior.

University Prep — Robert Figueroa, senior; Ricky Gonzalez, junior; Avery Pope, senior; Carlos Reyes, senior; Cameron Stinnett, senior.

Agape League

2023 standings: 1. Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy 12-3; 2. Academy for Academic Excellence 12-3; 3. Academy of Careers & Exploration 12-3; 4. Silver Valley 6-9; 5. Victor Valley Christian 3-12; 6. Lucerne Valley 0-15

Academy for Academic Excellence — Bryson Lilly, sophomore; Garrett Morrison, senior; Micah Moyer, junior; Kameron Walker, junior.

Academy of Careers & Exploration — Ben Carlson, senior; Thomas Koupeny, junior; Robbie Mazzarese, senior; Logan Monter, senior.

Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy — Matthew Avila, junior; Kevyn Espinoza, junior; Andrew Honnold, sophomore.

Lucerne Valley — Kayden Hibbs; Joaquin Landeros; Noah Lindner; Angel Montero.

Silver Valley — Aaron Bowlan, freshman; Jesse Dillow, senior; Taylor Mogan, junior; Joseph Rippey IV, senior; Jaden Sassone, senior.

CIF-SS Playoff Divisions

  • Division 4 — Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia Christian, Oak Hills, Sultana

  • Division 5 — Adelanto, Riverside Prep

  • Division 6 — Burroughs, Excelsior, Hesperia, Serrano, Victor Valley

  • Division 7 — Silverado, University Prep

  • Division 8 — Academy for Academic Excellence, Academy of Careers & Exploration, Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy, Granite Hills, Lucerne Valley, Silver Valley

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Top 104 players to watch as the 2024 season is underway