SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: BASEBALL Preview: Maranatha, Nogales
Maranatha seems primed and ready to make another deep playoff run; Nogales has several questions that they must address.
Maranantha’s Zach Strickland. (Escarcega)
Maranatha High School
Coach: Matt Shupper
Previous Season Record: 21-6
Number of Returning Players: 12
Number of All-League Players Returning: 4
Number of Returning Infielders: 2
Number of Returning Outfielders: 1
Number of Starting Pitchers: 3
Number of Returning Relief Pitchers: 3
Key Infielders Returning
AJ Beltre 12 5'11 175 SS 1st team all league, Washington commit
Dougie Zuniga 11 5'7 180 2B 1st team all league
Key Outfielders Returning
Eric Zdunek 10 6'1 180 OF 1st team all league, TCU commit
Key Starting Pitchers Returning
Zach Strickland 11 6'2 190 RHP 1st Team All League, UCLA commit
Andrew Miller 12 6'8 240 RHPCal State Fullerton commit
Matthew Vazquez 11 6'0 195 RHP
Key Relief Pitching Returning
AJ Beltre 12 5'11 175 1st team all league, Washington commit
AJ Campana 12 5'9 170 OF/P
Owen Lieb 10 6'2 180 RHP
Dylan Hoang 10 6'3 180 RHP
Key Catchers/Designated Hitters Returning
Dylan Garcia 11 5'10 160 C
Gabe Barragan 10 5'11 200 3B
Top Newcoming Players/Transfers
Thomas Lieb 12 5'11 190 C/RF 1st team All Mission League, Oklahoma State Commit
Carson Kelly 11 5'11 165 LHP
Lukus Perez 9 6'1 195 1B
Yahir Treto 9 5'7 155 C/SS
Coach Shupper’s Comments: “We have very solid and expirenced pitching and defense. Our offense will be strong, but we graduted some key hitters such as Bryan Richman, Cider Canon, Dylan Zdunek and more.Every game in the Olympic league we face a team who is trying to knock us down. We take every teams best shot. I believe we haveone of the most challenging schedules in all of the SGV or D2 forthat matter with the PBR tournament to open and the Boras Classic during Spring Break. We also play Glendora, La Mirada, Charter Oak, Valencia, El Rancho all as non league games. We will be very tested through out the season.”
CRYSTAL BALL: Once again the Minuteman look like they are loaded for the upcoming season. Any talk about this team has to start with junior pitcher and UCLA commit Zach Strickland (Prep Baseball Report #27, RHP). The last time that we saw him was against Millikan and he just didn’t look right. He only pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up all three runs in their 3-2 loss in the CIF-SS Div. 1 Playoffs. When his stuff is going, there is not a better pitcher. I’m sure he’ll get the ball when Maranatha takes on El Dorado on Saturday at Great Park in Irvine. The Minuteman also got better through Harvard Westlake transfer Thomas Lies (PBR #372, Oklahoma St) who is one of the elite catchers in the area. That’s quite a battery for Shupper and company to work with this year. As for who will be the #2 pitcher, look for it to be 6-foot 8-inch Andrew Miller (PBR #207, RHP). The Cal State Fullerton signee has a wicked fastball and is an imposing presence on the mound. The infield will be headlined by Washington signee AJ Beltre (PBR #89, 2B) and first-team all-league junior Dougie Zuniga. TCU Commit Eric Zdunek (PBR #24, OF) is one of the top outfielders in the area. The more you look into this team the more you can’t be more impressed. Rumors are strong that Josh Proctor could be transferring her and that would make this team a very strong contender to win a Div. 1 championship. Not many holes with this team and we’ll be following them early in the season.
Nogales High School
Coach: Anthony Esquer
Previous Season Record: 18-3-1
Number of Returning Players: 6
Number of All-League Players Returning: 4
Number of Returning Infielders: 3
Number of Returning Outfielders: 1
Number of Starting Pitchers: 0
Number of Returning Relief Pitchers: 1
Key Infielders Returning
Ivan Flores 12 5'7 170 ss/p. 438/1st team
Jonathan Blacklock 11 6'0 225 3b/2b/1b.311/ 1st team
Charles Rodriguez 12 6'3 225 1b/p 0.239
Key Outfielders Returning
Merced Rodriguez 12 6'3 190 1b/OF/P .296/1st team
Key Catchers/Designated Hitters Returning
Mikey Zabala 12 6'0 230 C; .267/1st team
Top Newcoming Players/Transfers
Eddie Salazar 11 5'7 155 OF/P
Nathan Lopez 10 5'10 150 Inf/OF/P
Noah Lopez 10 5'9 150 OF
Comments from Coach Esqure: ”We have a great group of guys who love the game. For the first Time in a long time we dont return any pitchers. It is going to bea full team effort on the mound. We have to develop pitchers,Having said that, we do bring back a few all league guys who willserve as the core of the team. Most have been on the team for 3 or more years now so that should help.”
CRYSTAL BALL: It’s the first year for coach Anthony Esquer as he takes over for Donnie Montanez as the new coach at Nogales. He has some talent to work with starting with Ivan Flores and Jonathan Blacklock. Mikeyh Zabala is yet another outstanding catcher who will be back behind the plate. And that is key because pitching is not a strong item for this team. It could be bullpen by committee this year. If the pitching holds up, the Nobles are good enough to contend for a league title.
This is the final phase of our fundraising campaign. Your support helps put together previews like these. We have a preseason softball/baseball special, an entire season (February through June) for only $30. If you want to take advantage of this special please click on this link., or if you want to be a monthly or yearly subscriber please click on the subscribe button.