2026 High School Team Previews: Orange Lutheran Lancers

February 10, 2026
Ronan Grube
Prep Baseball California Contributor

The 2026 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 2026 preseason coverage continues today with the Orange Lutheran Lancers.

High School: Orange Lutheran Lancers
Head Coach: RJ Farrell
CIF Section: Southern
Team Strengths: Returning starting pitching, defense, and deep lineup.
2025 Record: 23-7
Returning Starters: 5

TOP RETURNING UNCOMMITTED PLAYERS

RHP Paul Mittmann (2026)
RHP Dwight Riley (2026)
OF Rock Akahi (2026)

RHP Sam Principe (2027)
UTIL Ricardo Hurtado (2027)
1B/OF Andrew Felizzari (2027)

RHP Eli Phillips (2027)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

INF Zion Avina (2028)

OF/LHP Angel Gonzalez (2028)
OF Owen Mescall (2028)

OF/1B/LHP Scott Fritz (2028)

RHP Ethan Torres (2028)

C Josh Peterson (2028)
RHP James Fair (2028)
RHP Tyler Harrison (2028)
OF/1B/LHP Aiden Amat (2029)

OF/LHP Dawson Martinez (2029)
OF/LHP James Amante (2029)

TEAM OUTLOOK

Orange Lutheran heads into 2026 coming off a strong 23–7 campaign with head coach RJ Farrell returning a battle-tested group built around starting pitching, high-level defense, and one of the deeper lineups in Southern California. With five starters and five pitchers returning from a CIF Southern Section Division 1 Playoff appearance, the Lancers again profile as a complete club, anchored by the return of key arms in Tennessee commit RHP Gary Morse (2026) and RHP Sam Principe (2027).

The pitching staff is supported by experienced pieces like RHP Paul Mittmann (2026) as a late-inning option, RHP Dwight Riley (2026) and RHP Eli Phillips (2027) as strike-throwers with movement, and a versatile core that includes UTIL Ricardo Hurtado (2027), last year’s leadoff hitter who can play anywhere. Offensively, OF Rock Akahi (2026) provides a polished left-handed presence, while 1B/OF Andrew Felizzari (2027) brings steadiness at first. The next wave is already making noise, highlighted by INF Zion Avina (2028), who took over midseason as the starting second baseman, along with a talented underclass group featuring OF/LHP Angel Gonzalez (2028), OF/1B/LHP Scott Fritz (2028), OF Owen Mescall (2028), RHP Ethan Torres (2028), C Josh Peterson (2028), and RHP James Fair (2028), giving Orange Lutheran impressive depth that can make an impact now and in the future.

Orange Lutheran’s ceiling is further elevated by a deep group of 2026 commits: C Brady Murrietta (Texas), RHP Blake Killinger (LMU), INF CJ Weinstein (LSU), INF Gavin Hottle (USC), INF/RHP Marcus Greis (TCU), INF Trevor Deack (Utah Tech), OF Hamilton Friedberg (UCLA), OF Eric Zdunek (Notre Dame), and RHP Cooper Sides (LSU), plus 2027 commits in UTIL Bear Calvo (Arkansas) and UTIL Jordan Kurz (2027) (South Carolina). With premium talent throughout the roster, proven arms at the top of the staff, and an athletic defense behind them, the Lancers enter 2026 as one of the most complete teams in the region and a legitimate postseason threat once again.