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Every week, coaches around the state submit to us their nominations for the Prep Baseball California Player of the Week for NorCal and SoCal. Week 5 Players of the Week honors went to Josiah Hartshorn (Orange Lutheran, 2025), Julian Rodriguez (El Dorado, 2026), and Logan Steenburgen (El Dorado, 2026). Hartshorn hit .667 on the week, with four home runs, two doubles, eight RBI, and eight runs scored. Rodriguez and Steenburgen combined to throw 11 scoreless innings, striking out seven between the two, in the win over Fullerton High School.

With several other impressive performances across the week that were in the mix for both awards and deserve recognition, here is a rundown of some of the other standouts of the week.

WEEK 5 DIAMOND NOTES

+ Santino Grasso, 1B/RHP (La Jolla Country Day, 2025)

Grasso was a sparkplug for La Jolla Country Day's offense, delivering game-winning home runs in wins over Poway and Del Norte. For the week, Grasso went 3-for-10, with 2 HR, a 2B, and 4 RBI. Grasso also delivered on the mound, earning the save against Poway with 1.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

+ Ezekiel Lara, OF (Mater Dei, 2026)

The Georgia Tech commit was the catalyst for the Mater Dei offense, going 3-for-5, with a HR, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored while working 2 BB out of the leadoff spot in victories over Murrieta Valley and Pacifica. Lara's efforts helped bring Mater Dei to a 9-0 record to begin the 2025 season.

+ Jordan Vogel, SS/2B (Arcadia, 2027)

With hits in all four games, Vogel helped lead Arcadia to a perfect 4-0 on the week. Hitting leadoff in all four games, Vogel went 11-for-17, with a 2B, 6 RBI, and 7 runs scored. The sophomore closed out the week incredibly hot, tallying at least 3 hits in the final three games of the week.

+ Jack Quirk, C/1B (Calabasas, 2025)

Quirk delivered a game-tying HR in the 5th against Saugus as part of his strong week at the plate. Quirk went 5-for-6, with a HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI, and 6 runs scored across victories over Taft and Saugus. The Menlo College commit is now hitting .456, with 3 HR, 6 2B, 11 RBI, and 10 runs scored to open the 2025 season.

+ Evan Van Winkle, RHP/UTIL (Temecula Prep, 2027)

Van Winkle delivered his strongest start of the season, tossing a complete game in the win over Hamilton. Van Winkle allowed only 1 hit and 1 walk, struck out a career high 13, and allowed only 1 unearned run. The sophomore also excelled at the plate, going 4-for-7, with a 3B, 2B, 4 RBI, and 4 runs scored across two Temecula Prep wins. Van Winkle is off to a hot start to begin the 2025 season, being 1-0, with a 0.49 ERA and 24 K across 14.1 IP.

+ Massimo Mittone, RHP/INF (Piedmont, 2028)

The freshman Mittone tossed a shutout in the 1-0 win over San Leandro, where he allowed only 4 hits over his 7 innings of work, struck out 6, and walked none. Mittone continues his stellar start to the season, opening the 2025 campaign going 3-0, with a 0.00 ERA and 17 K over 20 IP, with only 1 BB, and a 0.65 WHIP.

+ Cruz Soto, 1B/RHP (Excelsior Charter, 2028)

Cruz capped off his stellar week in a win over Victor Valley Christian. The freshman scattered 3 hits over a 5 inning complete game, struck out 10 against 3 walks, and allowed only 1 run, displaying swing-and-miss stuff. Cruz delivered offensively throughout the week as well, going 7-for-10, with a 3B, 2B, 3 RBI, and 4 runs scored to help lead Excelsior Charter to a 2-1 record for the week.

+ Logan Brown, C/UTIL (Excelsior Charter, 2028)

Brown delivered his own excellent start against Victor Valley Christian. Brown tossed a 5 inning shutout, allowed only 1 hit, struck out 8, and walked none. The freshman shined at the plate throughout the week, going 4-for-6, with 2 2B, 4 RBI, 4 runs scored, and worked 3 BB across 3 games.

Coaches, do you have a Player of the Week or top performer you'd like to nominate? Be sure to check your email inbox each Sunday night and Monday morning for our request. Simply send weekly details/stats to our scouting staff by Monday.

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Showcase	State	Date	Location
Inland Empire Rising Stars ID (2029-2030 Grads)	CA	03/30	Corona High School - Corona, CA
Los Angeles Rising Stars ID (2029-2030 Grads)	CA	04/27	O'Malley Field - Sepulveda Basin, CA
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