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The 2025 California high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across California.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective CIF Section Championship Game, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview these individual programs across California. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across California. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, podcasts, and much more.

Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today with a preview of the Santa Barbara Dons.

2025 TEAM OUTLOOK

High School: Santa Barbara Dons
Head Coach: Steve Schuck
CIF Section: Southern Section
Division: 3 (2024)
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 18-7 CIF-SS D3 playoffs
Key Players Lost: Liam Keithley (Cal Lutheran), Michael Firestone (Santa Barbara City College), Kaden Spencer, Matthew Crolius

+ No. Returning Positional Starters: 8
+ No. Returning Pitchers: 6
+ Team Strengths: Starting pitching with 2 returners on the bump and a deep, athletic lineup with versatility and some power.

ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Key Players:

Seniors:

+ '25 RHP/1B Zeke Adderley University of Maryland Eastern Shore Commit

+ '25 3B Kai Mault UC Davis Commit

+ '25 RHP Eric Anthony University of Puget Sound Commit

+ '25 INF Luca Villano North Central University Commit

+ '25 OF Grady Wilson 

+ '25 INF Tomas Gil

Juniors:

+ '26 OF Jetner Welch

+ '26 SS/2B Max Weddle 

+ Projected Starters: '25 RHP Zeke Adderley and '25 RHP Eric Anthony
+ Projected Relievers: Still to be determined

IMPACT UNDERCLASSMEN

+ '27 LHP/OF/1B Tanner Wilson

+ '27 OF/INF Tosh Whitworth

BOTTOM LINE

Our starting pitching boasts a pair of very talented arms who have plenty of experience fronting our rotation in 2024 before lossing Anthony to an injury late in the season forcing us to alter our pitching attack. The bullpen will work itself out, but those two can go deep in games and position us to be in contention to win plenty of games. Add in an very talented lineup with several returners who have extensive varsity experience lead by Kai Mault and Jetner Welch while Adderley provides a loud power presence in the middle of our lineup. A few new faces will be in contention for key roles on our squad in 2025 and if they perform to their potential the outlook for this club is high.

PREP BASEBALL CA STAFF’S TAKE

The Dons were one of my personal favorites to win the Channel League in 2024 with the talent they boasted on the mound and the quality of their lineup and they were able to end a 3-year hold on that spot for San Marcos. This years squad is going to be tested to repeat as the League Champions, but the talent on this roster gives them every chance to claim back to back Channel League titles. Lead by the duo on the mound with Eric Anthony and Zeke Adderley they are going to be tough to put big offensive numbers on. With two of my personal favorite players not only on the Central Coast, but the state with Kai Mault and Jetner Welch poised to be key pieces of this lineup and the depth behind them provided by several players with extensive varsity experience plus the potential that '27 Tosh Whitworth provides on the offensive side they have a chance to put up some intriguing offensive numbers. While the Channel League is deep this year with several very strong teams that are going to push for a league title it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the Dons are standing at the top when the season closes in 2025. - Steven Hardesty Assistant Scouting Director

Learn more about California’s 2025 spring season below:

+ Follow Santa Barbara on Instagram: @sbhsdonsbaseball
+ Find more team previews on the Prep Baseball California Power 25 homepage

FOLLOW US THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball California on X
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+ Prep Baseball California on Facebook
+ Prep Baseball California on YouTube

MORE 2025 TEAM PREVIEWS

Upcoming Events

Showcase	State	Date	Location
San Diego Preseason All State (Invite Only)	CA	01/04/25	Maranatha Christian High School
Central California Preseason All State (Invite Only)	CA	01/05/25	Antelope Valley College
Central California Preseason ID	CA	01/12/25	Ventura College
North Bay Preseason ID	CA	01/25/25	Novato High School
Northern California Preseason All State (Invite Only)	CA	01/26/25	Ohlone College
East Bay Preseason ID	CA	02/01/25	Pittsburg High School

MORE PREP BASEBALL NEWS