2026 High School Team Previews: St. Ignatius Wildcats

February 9, 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 St. Ignatius Wildcats.

High School: St. Ignatius Wildcats
Head Coach: Brian Pollzzie
CIF Section: Central Coast
Team Strengths: Experience, leadership, and returning players.
2025 Record: 17-10-2
Returning Starters: 8

TOP RETURNING UNCOMMITTED PLAYERS

LHP/1B Tycco Giometti (2026)
OF Atticus Gibson (2026)
OF/1B Jason Balmy (2026)
INF Del Petersen (2026)
RHP Charlie Stecher (2026)
C Will Coleman (2027)
RHP/INF RJ Church (2027)

INF Milo Morelli (2027)

RHP Connor Law (2027)
RHP/OF Leo Rhein (2027)

RHP Ryan Cole (2027)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

INF Nick Lui (2028)
INF Cole Callen (2029)

TEAM OUTLOOK

St. Ignatius enters 2026 with a veteran-heavy roster and high expectations after finishing 17–10–2, with a CIF Central Coast Section Division 1 Playoff appearance, last spring. Head coach Brian Pollzzie brings back eight starters and a strong senior core, giving the Wildcats one of the more experienced lineups in the area. With leadership throughout the roster and strength up the middle, St. Ignatius is built to play consistent baseball on both sides of the ball, leaning on pitching depth and steady defense while leaning on its upperclassmen group to set the tone.

The returning senior class provides impact across the diamond, led by two-way lefty LHP/1B Tycco Giometti (2026), OF Atticus Gibson (2026), OF/1B Jason Balmy (2026), INF Del Petersen (2026), and RHP Charlie Stecher (2026). Behind them, a talented 2027 group adds depth and flexibility, including C Will Coleman (2027), arms RHP Connor Law (2027) and RHP Ryan Cole (2027), plus INF Milo Morelli (2027) and two-ways in RHP/INF RJ Church (2027) and RHP/OF Leo Rhein (2027). This blend of varsity experience and positional versatility gives the Wildcats options both on the mound and in daily lineups.

St. Ignatius also boasts a deep group of 2026 commits headlined by SS/RHP Archer Horn (Stanford), OF DJ Delaney (Nevada), LHP/1B Chase Gordon (Cal State Northridge), C/3B AJ Wineinger (Puget Sound), 1B/OF Ryan Rosenthal (Puget Sound), and OF/INF Luke Van de Braak (Pacific), underscoring the overall talent level in the program. With five returning pitchers, proven leadership, and younger contributors like INF Nick Lui (2028) and INF Cole Callen (2029) developing in the background, the Wildcats have the pieces in place to build on last season and make a serious push in 2026.