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Lancaster, Ca. - 

As the calendar turns to a new year the CIF High School baseball season nears and even in the winter months baseball never really stops in the Golden State. For the 7th year in a row, the Preseason All-State Event stage comes to California to showcase some of the top talent from around the state. This year Prep Baseball California will be running 4 versions of the Preseason All-State to cover the state and bring 200+ players together across these events. Events will be hosted beginning on January 4th, 2025 in San Diego, the next day a pair of events will be hosted on January 5th in the Inland Empire and Central California, before wrapping up the series on January 26th in Northern California. 

Players will undergo a Pro-Style workout to begin their day at the Preseason All-State event, including athletic testing on the VALD platforms, then defensive workouts by position to showcase their defensive actions, and the workout concludes with On-Field Batting Practice with Trackman and Blast Motion to provide valuable data feedback on the player's offensive tools. As well, all pitchers who take the mound will be on Trackman Technologies to gather data on their pitches from velocity, spin rates, movement patterns and more.

Today, we take a look at some of the talented players who will be in attendance at our Central California Preseason All State event set to be hosted at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, CA.

Make sure to check back post-event for full coverage on the players' performances from Quick Hits to Leaderboards encompassing all the data collected and more.

COMMITS IN ATTENDANCE:

+ '25 SS/RHP Brady Hewitt - Royal High School - (Oregon Commit)

The Oregon Ducks commit returned this fall/winter from an injury which limited him from playing in the Spring/Summer schedule with an electric two-way profile. Showing top of the order offensive ability, left side of the INF defensive profile and a FB up to 92-93 MPH his toolset will be one of the most intriguing to take the field.

+ '25 SS/3B Marc Emmerman - Serra High School - (San Diego State Commit)

Emmerman is a alumni of Team California at the 2023 Prep Baseball Future Games and has made his commitment to San Diego State. A highly talented RH hitter Emmerman will bring one of the top offensive profiles to the event with long term INF defensive profile. 

+ '26 C Carson Sheffer - Oaks Christian High School - (Oklahoma State Commit)

The number 18 ranked 2026 player and number 1 catcher in the state Sheffer was a member of Team California at the 2024 Prep Baseball Future Games and is committed to Oklahoma State. An athletic defender with an electric throwing arm whose offensive profile fits at the top of a lineup he is one of the highest ranked players in attendance across all the Preseason All State events.

+ '26 C Jacob Madrid - Notre Dame High School - (Long Beach State Commit)

Madrid is a physical 6'4 backstop who possesses strength in his RH hitting profile and intriguing ability to his work behind the plate. The Long Beach State commit is another highly talented piece headed to Lancaster with a chance to put together one of the best performances of the day especially at the plate.

+ '26 RHP Holden Newhouse - Notre Dame High School - (Loyola Marymount Commit)

Newhouse was outstanding during the summer of 2024 with a FB up to 90-91 MPH he earned his way on the Brewers Underclass Area Code team and eventually committed to Loyola Marymount during the fall. On a loaded staff at Notre Dame High School Newhouse has a chance to be one of the key pieces and is one of the top pitchers headed to Lancaster.

UNCOMMITTED NAMES TO KNOW ('25-'26 GRADS):

CLASS OF 2025:

+ '25 OF/C Joshua Brown - Oaks Christian High School

Brown is a versatile defender who shows the ability to play CF/3B and is a sound defender behind the dish, but when the RH hitter steps in the box to hit his profile takes another step. With intriguing upside as an offensive piece Brown is the top uncommitted '25 headed to Lancaster and should be off the recruiting board here in the near future.

CLASS OF 2026:

+ '26 RHP/OF Caden Atkinson - Westlake High School

Atkinson is not only a two-way talent on the baseball field where he shows top end athletic actions as a RH hitter/OF and an upper 80's FB with feel to pitch as a RHP. But, he is also QB1 for the Westlake football team showing his overall athletic ability and intriguing upside as a baseball player. One of the more intriguing uncommitted names in the '26 class in Ventura County/North Los Angeles.

+ '26 INF Connor Clayton - West Ranch High School

Clayton is a switch hitting up the middle defender out of a very good West Ranch program who shows plenty of ability on both the offensive side of the game and defensive side of the game. With good bloodlines as the son of a former MILB player who also has stepped on the mound this fall to show a FB up to 88 MPH Clayton is name heading in an upward direction.

+ '26 SS/RHP Ty Diaz - West Ranch High School

Diaz started on varsity at SS for West Ranch as a Soph. where he played sound defense and flashed his offensive potential as a switch hitter. Over the summer and fall the athletic Diaz has started to consistently tap into his offensive upside showing both the feel to hit and power while adding an upper 80's FB on the bump which will be on display in Lancaster.

+ '26 SS/RHP Mason Crang - San Marcos High School (Santa Barbara)

Crang was the top offensive piece in 2024 as a Soph. on the varsity level at San Marcos High School as the Royals made their 4th straight CIF-SS playoff appearance (including a run to the CIF-SS D3 championhip game in 2023). With talent on the offensive side and a left side of the INF defensive profile who also flashes mid to upper 80's FB velocity he is amongst the best players on the Central Coast.

+ '26 LHP/1B Justin Gaisford - Valencia High School (Canyon Country)

Gaisford was a key piece as Soph. on the varsity level for the Vikings of Valencia High School as both a hitter and LHP. Polished with feel to pitch and control/command of multiple pitches on the mound including a deceptive CHG it's a strong pitching profile. The two-way talent can really defend at 1B and shows bat to ball with a high contact approach and sneaky power.

+ '26 RHP Osvaldo Nunez - Notre Dame High School 

Nunez jumped on the radar in October with his loud performance at the OC Uncommitted Game that he backed up during a winter ball look against Royal High School for Assistant Scouting Director Steven Hardesty that has him amongst the best arms in attendance. His FB works up to 91 MPH with feel for an intriguing CHG and developing SLD.

+ '26 LHP Kyle Casey - Simi Valley High School

Casey saw significant time on the mound as a Soph. for Simi Valley with the 2nd most innings pitched and a 2.43 ERA while punching out 25 hitters. He mixes 3 solid pitches including a low 80's FB with sink, an impressive CHG with a short breaking SLD on the rise. The southpaw shows an advanced feel to pitch with stuff on the rise.

+ '26 OF/LHP Isaiah Tillman - Royal High School

Tillman is key piece for the Royal Highlanders who started full time on varsity hitting in the middle to top of the lineup with a high contact approach which can drill line drives all over the field. Adding to the intrigue for the wiry athletic Tillman is his 84-87 MPH FB with sharp breaking CB as a two-way profile. 

+ '26 C Cole Studt - Highland High School

Studt is another impressive catcher in attendance and the physically well built 6'3 205 lbs. LH hitter out of the High Desert might be uncommitted currently, but it isn't for a lack of talent. Studt flashed impact at the plate as Soph. on varsity where he played full time and is a name on the rise for the '26 class.

+ '26 3B Mason Trigo - Buena High School

Trigo has been a consistent steady performer with an intriguing ceiling to his future potential. Wiry athletic with confidence in his game and the ability to stay on the left side of the INF dirt while flashing a consistent hard line drive stroke that has impact potential Trigo is one of the more intriguing '26s on the Central Coast.

+ '26 OF Matthew Carta - Saugus High School

Carta is a projectable corner OF power profile prospect who stands 6'4 and 195 lbs. with an aggressive swing from the RH side which has lift and carry to the contact quality. As he continues to improve his feel to hit with his present power profile Carta brings one of the more intriguing offensive profiles out to Lancaster.

RISING UNDERCLASSMEN ('27-'28 GRADS):

CLASS OF 2027

+ '27 3B/RHP Owen Gaida - Newbury Park High School

Gaida is in the mix to be a key piece of a talented Newbury Park Panther team in the 2025 season as a Soph. where he could man the hot corner and add a high quality RH hitting profile and with a mid 80's present FB that he pairs with an emerging SLD should pick up innings on the bump. His two-way talent will be on display at Antelope Valley College.

+ '27 SS/2B Elijah Sim - Notre Dame High School

Sim is a slick defender who has started to see his offensive profile emerge with sneaky power to the pull side of the field that has him strongly in the mix for a full time starting position on the varsity level at Notre Dame High School. It's a sound present profile with plenty of upside to his future as he matures.

+ '27 SS/2B Sebastien Grove -  Notre Dame High School

Grove is the other half of the Notre Dame High School middle infield duo who brings an intriguing offensive profile that is on the rise to go with a realistic chance to stick at SS long term. Grove returns to the Preseason All State platform after a strong performance at the 2024 SoCal Underclass Preseason All State event.

+ '27 C/RHP Gavin Williams - Garces Memorial High School 

Williams is a name on the rise generating plenty of buzz for his present ability, but also his future potential. After a fall spent playing QB for the Garces Memorial football program and picking up some time on the baseball diamond Williams is back to baseball full time and ready to show his talent in Lancaster. His RH hitting profile shows feel to hit with intriguing power potential that has potential at a pair of premium defensive spots (C/SS) and can get to the upper 80's on the mound as a RHP.

+ '27 3B/SS Bobby Ramirez - Pacifica (Oxnard) High School

Ramirez played a pivotal role on the Tritons 2024 squad that made a CIF-SS D5 semifinal run and then captured a CIF-South Regional D3 Title as a Fr. playing significantly on the varsity level. He is a well rounded baseball player who shows the actions in his feet/hands plus the upside with his arm to stay on the left side of the INF dirt as a solid to potentially more defender. As well, he is a high contact line drive hitter who shows present feel to hit with a line drive stroke that works the field from line to line. Consistently a top performer across all his Prep Baseball California event attendance and the High School/Travel baseball scene.

CLASS OF 2028

+ '28 SS Ryan Sheffer - Oaks Christian High School

Sheffer is a name generating plenty of buzz around the Ventura County area as he heads into his first high school season. A smooth defender with athletic actions and long term SS profile while adding a loose quick RH swing with bat to ball profile at present. He should see himself earn a spot on the varsity level at Oaks Christian and will be amongst the top underclassmen in attendancee. Currently ranked #35 in the '28 class.

+ '28 1B/RHP Oliver Dauskurdas - Oaks Christian High School

Dauskurdas is a strongly built '28 who stands a present 6'3 185 lbs., but adds in good athletic ability to go with his present physicality. A sound RH swing with present bat speed and strength through the zone can drive the ball with carry to all fields while playing solid corner defense long term. As well, he toes the rubber with feel for a low to mid 80's present FB and ability to throw strikes with his offspeed. Currenlty ranked #14 in the '28 class.

Impressive ‘28 1B/RHP Oliver Dauskurdas of Oaks Christian HS

6’3 185 lbs. w/intriguing tools

⬆️ offensive profile - lift w/strength in swing / bat spd. / feel to hit (2B RCF - 1B LF)

Downhill w/strikes
FB:80-83 T84
CHG: 74-74
CB: 68-70@PrepBaseballCA @Daus_Oliver pic.twitter.com/7SSZpoHhWi

— Steven Hardesty (@hardy03bsbl) November 9, 2024

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Upcoming Events

Showcase	State	Date	Location
Orange County Preseason ID	CA	01/02/25	JSerra
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

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