2023 Team Preview: Hart Indians

The Road to the California State Games begins with the 2023 California high school baseball season. With the season just around the corner, our staff has begun putting out team previews from all around the state, getting you prepared for another year of exciting coverage.

Today we focus on the Hart Indians who are coming off of the heels of a 20-10 record and a Foothill League title in 2022. The Indians will be relying heavily on its youth and the strength of its pitching in hopes of securing its third straight league championship and another postseason run.

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Team:

Hart Indians

Head Coach (years at school):

Jim Ozella (24)

Twitter Handle:

@hart_baseball

CIF Section & Division:

CIF SS D1

Conference/League Name:

Foothill

Last Year’s Record:

20-10

11-1 (League) 

2022 Playoff Run:

Lost in second round of the CIF SS D1 playoffs vs Millikan

# of Returning Starters:

3

# of Returning Pitchers:

4

Team Expectations:

Pitching very solid/Defense quality/Offense will improve

Team Strengths:

Pitching

Areas of Improvement:

Hitting - young players

College Commitments:

Chris Downs- Cal Poly SLO

Sean Elsee- Occidental College

Michael Rogozik- University of La Verne

Top Uncommitted 24s:

Troy Cooper- RHP / 6-3 / 190 - throws in high 80s - quality stuff

Brayden Jefferis- SS / 5-9 - 170 - LHH - quality player on offense and defense 

Ryan DeLaMaza- CAT / 6-0 180 - RHH - throws well and swings the bat well 

Top Uncommitted 25s:

Lincoln Daly- OF / RHH 6-0 180 / Strong bat

MIchael Hogen- 3B / RHH 6-0 170/ Outstanding defense

Carson Maymo- RHP / 6-2 170 / Quality stuff for young RHP

James Bacon- RHP / 6-2 180 / Quality stuff for young RHP

Top Uncommitted 26s:

Josh Whitson- CF / RHH 6-0 185 / on varsity as a frosh - will see