SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: All-Area Baseball Team (Seniors Only)
The best of the best SENIOR players are highlighted on this team.
This All-Area Team is comprised of ONLY SENIORS that performed well for their teams in 2023. There will be no individual honors, just a straight first and second team.
1ST TEAM
PITCHERS
Moises Escobedo, Bishop Amat – Gave coach Joe Hoggatt depth at the pitching position, which is important if you want to win a Del Rey League title. His numbers are astounding. A team-best ERA of 0.78 ERA with 54 strikeouts (another team-best) and allowed only eight strikeouts. He'll be pitching at Cal State Los Angeles next season.
(Photo: Conrad Hunziker)
Ian Hoffstetter, Arcadia – "The Big Hoff" more than filled the cup of Apache baseball fans for the last two seasons. The Pacific League "Pitcher of the Year" suffered his only loss to Bonita – which had a huge season. Hoffstetter completed the 2023 season with an 8-1 record and a 1.87 ERA.
Eric Jeon, La Mirada – You can make a serious case that this Columbia University signee was one of the most underrated pitchers in the area. His stock soared so fast this season, he more than earned the right to be called an elite pitcher. In the CIF-SS Div. 1 quarterfinals, he held Santa Margarita to one run in five innings of work and produced the game's first big hit with a two-run home run. Compiled a 7-2 record with a 1.40 ERA.
Photo: Gia Cunningham
Sterling Patick, South Hills – Filthy is the first word that can be used to best describe Patick's pitching repertoire. It started on opening day with a dominating performance against Don Lugo and finished with an equally impressive effort against Crespi in a CIF-SS Div. 2 final. The University of Santa Barbara signee put up superb numbers with a 10-1 record with a 0.37 ERA and 113 strikeouts.
Justin Santiago, Bonita – Many consider this Long Beach State signee the best pitcher in the area, and you would have a lot of evidence to back up that claim. He made a name for himself on opening day with a dominating effort against Northview (in front of numerous college scouts) and never relented throughout the year. His best effort was against Glendora when he struck out 13 in a 2-0 win. Santiago's record was 8-1 with an ERA of 1.34 and 92 strikeouts.
Anthony Vasquez, Charter Oak – Anytime that Charter Oak coach Elias Chavez gave this kid the ball, he was confident that he would get a top-notch effort. Vasquez's numbers included a 7-2 record, with an ERA of 2.38 and fanned 75 hitters. He'll be playing college baseball at Cal Poly Pomona next season.
Nick Williams, La Serna – Long Beach State has done a great job of securing some of the top talent in the area and they've done against by securing this top-notch pitcher. The Del Rio League pitcher of the year had huge performances all year, which included an early season showdown against Mater Dei. Williams concluded the 2023 season with an impressive 10-2 record with an ERA of .083 and 106 strikeouts.
CATCHERS
Cider Canon, Maranatha – Canon not only could hit for power, but he was also a brick wall behind the plate for coach Matt Shupper. He displayed this ability to deliver huge hits in key situations at the Boras Classic against Santa Margarita and Mater Dei.
Garrett Patterson, Bonita – You could slot this kid as a pitcher, or a utility player and he'd be a first-team pick. He played at an elite level in the catching position and also pitched a no-hitter this season. He was a pleasure to watch and a fiery leader. He posted a .305 batting average (with 12 RBIs) and had a 4-1 record as a pitcher with a 1.48 ERA.
INFIELDERS
Nick Allred, La Serna – The Del Rio League Player of the Year was sensational all season long for coach Anthony Gonzalez. Led the team in hitting with a hefty .521 batting average with a team-leading 8 doubles and 19 RBIs. He'll be playing collegiate baseball next season at San Francisco State University.
Cameron Casado, Bishop Amat – You didn't hear much about this kid all season long, but he showed consistently that he was one of the best second basemen in the area. Casado culminated his high school career with a .295 batting average and 9 RBIs. He also amassed 41 assists on defense, the second most on the team.
Dean Curley, Northview – Curley had the spotlight on him for the majority of the year and performed at a very high level. The University of Tennessee signee delivered big efforts all season long and was an easy first-team All-Valle Vista League selection.
J.D. Dunn, Damien – The son of former Damien (and current St. John Bosco) basketball coach Matt Dunn played at a high energy level all season long. It didn't matter whether he slid headfirst into bases or would get dirty on the infield to make a player, he helped make the Spartans fun to watch this season. Dunn sported a .323 batting average.
Aiden Haller, La Mirada – An important ingredient to coach Jimmy Zurn's talented infield, Haller was one of La Mirada's more consistent players all season. Haller finished with a .307 batting average with 13 RBIs and was a first-team All Gateway League selection.
Diego Ortiz, Charter Oak – Just loved the way the kid performed all season long. One of his big games came early in the season during the Pizza Chalet Tournament when he scored the eventual game-winning runs on a double in the sixth inning. He gave outstanding offensive production with a team-high batting average of .506 with 22 RBIs.
Marcos Rosales, South Hills – There are many talented shortstops, but this Cal State Fullerton signee was heads and shoulders above everyone in the area. His .350 batting average was second-best behind LSU commit Noah Malone. He has amassed a team-best 19 defensive assists.
OUTFIELDERS
Will Clougherty, La Salle – I'm biased! I love watching this kid play. It doesn't matter if he is on the field defensively or at the plate, he gives everything he has which played right into coach Andy Nieto's wheelhouse. His .459 batting average was second-best behind UCLA-commit David Mysza. He'll be playing college baseball next season at East Tennessee State University.
Photo: Beth Oualline
Devon Eskridge, Arcadia – One of the better outfielders in the west region of the valley, he was one of five Apache players to earn first-team All-Pacific League honors. His numbers included a .308 batting average with six doubles and 15 RBIs.
Joe Gilkeson, Glendora – Glendora was one of the teams that played well at the end of the season and this player was one of the reasons why they captured momentum. Led the team in extra-base hits with 10 doubles and compiled a batting average of .415.
Ben Kim, La Mirada – One of the big bats for the Matadores who also played excellent defense. A first-team All-Gateway League selection, Kim was the team leader in hitting with a .390 batting average. That is impressive considering the next-level talent on the team. One of the better-uncommitted players in the area.
Photo: Instagram
Jake Long, La Serna – There is no question that when it comes to power hitting in the Whittier area, it starts and stops with this player. His numbers were all the evidence that was needed to earn the honor as the Del Rio League's Offensive Player of the Year. A .317 batting average with a team-high four home runs, and 30 RBIs (another team-high). One of the best two-sport athletes in the area.
Jason Yipp, South Pasadena – The player caught our eye when we were in attendance for the Tigers' game against Monrovia this year. Speed is his game in the outfield as he showed great range all season while making big plays. Led the team in hitting with a .388 batting average and compiled 45 defensive putouts.
Ryder Young, San Dimas – His star shined as brightly as anyone on the team, and was recognized as a first-team All-Valle Vista League selection. Young finished the 2023 season with a .305 batting average with 20 RBIs.
UTILITY
Joe Bacon, Pasadena – To measure the amount of respect that Pacific League baseball coaches have for this player, despite the Bulldogs finishing fourth in the Pacific League, he was named Co-Player of the Year with Arcadia's Fernando Palencia. The son of respected area coach Barry Bacon led the team in all offensive categories.
Mike Bang, Covina – The Colts showed sharp improvement in 2023 and Bang was one of the main reasons why as he compiled an impressive batting average of .357 and drove in a team-high 23 RBIs. He was the only player from the team to be named a first-team All-Valle Vista League pick.
Photo: Beth Oualline
Bryan Bradshaw, Bonita – The team's leadoff hitter all season long, was a consistent offensive threat throughout the season. He established a very respectable batting average of .304 and collected 11 RBIs.
Photo: Instagram
Juan Pablo-Leal, Nogales - The Nobles won a Montview League title and this player was one of the main reasons why they were successful. His offensive numbers included a team-leading .474 batting average with 22 RBIS and he also scored a team-high 30 times.
Adrian Roman, Montebello – The Oilers were the class of the Almont League and Roman played an important role in it. Nothing wrong with a team-high .500 batting average with 28 RBIs (another team-high).
2ND TEAM
PITCHERS
Sal Batres, Northview
Max Brunngraber, Flintridge Prep
Justin Cardenas, El Rancho
Damian Chacon, Alhambra
Matthew Cons, Walnut
Michael Liquori, San Marino
Luke Viola, Bishop Amat
CATCHERS
Chris Garcia, Arcadia
Marcus Galvan, Ayala
INFIELDERS
Jordan Davis, Baldwin Park
Ryan Duron, La Serna
Jacob Garcia, La Habra
Truman Koch, San Marino
Nick Mejia, Walnut
Jake Ruelas, Los Altos
OUTFIELDERS
Felipe De Alba, El Rancho
Christian Grino, Damien
John Kully, Flintridge Prep
Evan Lizarraga, St. Paul
Jon Maldonado, Walnut
Thomas Mesa, Montebello
Asaiah Navarro, California
UTILITY
Tommy Villanueva, Baldwin Park
Christian Escamilla, Baldwin Park
Chris Gonzalez, Charter Oak
Marcus Hernandez, Sonora
D'Angelo Huerta, South El Monte
Samuel Ruezga, Wilson
Josh Soto, Alhambra