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VENTURA, CALIF. - The Hardy's Hits series continues as the fall event schedule for Prep Baseball California begins to wind down and the schedule for high school fall/winter scrimmages begins to pick up steam. The majority of squads from around the Central Coast, Los Angeles and High Desert areas are several weeks into their fall schedule with plenty more to come to continue evaluating the talent on these rosters ahead of the 2026 CIF High School baseball season.

To continue my fall coverage after a few weeks off the trail covering Prep Baseball California events and the dominance of Mother Nature washing out an entire weekend of the calendar I got back out for some fall ball action. This trip took me up the 101 freeway about 45 miles north of my homebase in Ventura, California to check out a fall ball scrimmage between the Dos Pueblos Chargers and the Foothill Tech Dragons. The Chargers are coming off an outstanding 2024 spring season which saw them earn a berth in the CIF-SS Division 5 playoffs where they made a run all the way to the championship game before falling. While the Dragons come off a strong 2024 spring season which saw them finish second in their league and earn a CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs where they reached the second round.

Dos Pueblos graduated several key pieces of their 2024 squad especially on the pitching side and at the SS position. But, a trio of rising names for the program look to continue in promiment roles for the Chargers with 3B Nick Salcido and OF Stone Saunders who both played starting/prominent roles for the Chargers in 2024 with incoming FR. OF Mattias DiMaggio being one of the top players in the state/nation for his class ready to make an immediate impact for Dos Pueblos. The graduation of their SS from the 2024 team looks to have opened up a potential role for SS Evan Bean to make an impact with the Chargers squad in 2025. For the Dragons they look to continue building on their strong 2024 with the return of nearly every key piece off that team. Highlighted by starting SS Cooper Casey who will be starting on varsity for the third year in 2025 and C Davin Arth who will be entering his second full year starting for the Dragons (came up to varsity late in his FR. season). As well, second year varsity starters in 3B Jacory Smith and 2B Cain Ebrahim look to maintain prominent roles for the success of Foothill Tech. 

We will take a deeper look at the players mentioned above and their performances from my live look on Saturday November 22nd. 

Dos Pueblos Chargers:

+ '29 OF Mattias DiMaggio (Ranked #3 in California/#6 nationally)

 The focal point of my Saturday trip was to get my eyes on the uber-talented incoming FR. DiMaggio. With an extensive amount of positive reports coming in from coaches across Santa Barbara and the travel ball world to go with impressive video evaluation of DiMaggio's abilities the LH hitting OF came as advertised if not even better. Standing at 6'3 185 lbs. with strength development in his arms, lower half and upper body already you would be hard pressed to convince me that Mattias was not actually a member of the 2026 graduating class not the 2029. Even more impressive is that DiMaggio is still just 14 years old with the physicality he possesses while showing high level athletic actions across the board. His combination of present strength with athleticism in his movements shows up on the offensive, defensive, running and throwing sides of the game. Focusing in on his offensive tools during the live look after watching video on DiMaggio the explosiveness of his operation with strength at contact is readily apparent, including his ability to use the ground during his turn to generate bat speed. He starts from a wider base with a deep handset beyond his rear shoulder with the hands higher before utilizing a simple toe tap forward move with body control that allows him to keep his head quiet while tracking the ball to his launch position. While the velocity faced wasn't high level you can easily see the natural present bat speed he possesses and the ease to which he generates his bat speed with a well-sequenced explosive turn while getting his barrel in the zone early with length through the zone allowing him to impact the ball with authority regularly (has produced exit velocities north of 100 MPH). His ability to control the zone was on display in his first two at bats when he didn't expand against lower velocity pitching before attacking a pair of in zone hittable pitches hammering each for a pair of different results with a rocket 4-3 ground out and a 2B down the RF line where he was narrowly thrown out at third attempting to stretch it into a triple. At present he showed solid run times down the line 4.35 H-1B on the GB and 4.6 H-1B on a turn for the 2B with some burst in his first step while showing ability to maintain his speed around the bases on his attempted triple with an athletic running posture/motion. His final at bat showed some of the rawness/polish still present on an uber impressive profile when with the bases loaded he went up the ladder to attack a high FB in on his hands that got in on him resulting in a soft F-4. He took defensive reps in RF/1B for the Chargers on the day with minimal opportunities to handle the baseball, but you can see the natural athleticism when he moves around in the OF/1B with easy movements and body control that profile to a long term future in CF/RF (based on how his foot speed develops with maturity). His arm will easily handle a future in RF with present arm speed, carry to his throws and accuracy when playing long toss during pre-game catch and pre-game defensive drills. While many don't like the term advanced being used on players DiMaggio is one of those players who shows the advanced physicality, athleticism, offensive foundation, arm strength and so much more with his tools to be considered advanced playing like he is two or three grades ahead of where he really is at. Debuting in our 2029 rankings in the number three spot for California and number six spot Nationally don't be surprised if that number changes in the future with him moving up the board with the type of profile that has the potential to be a number one player in a class.

+ '27 OF Stone Saunders (Ranked #177 in California)

 Saunders popped on my radar during a pair of spring live looks at the Dos Pueblos program with his twitchy athletic operation as a RH hitter, athletic runner and long term profile CF defender. Coming back to get eyes on Saunders for the first time in over six months there was apparent development to his overall game from a frame which looks to have added strength to it in his upper body/forearms to his operation in the batters box. In spring the swing was quick with a compact bat to ball profile that produced hard contact, but on a flatter plane after contact. With the development over these six months Saunders is showing improved bat speed with a cleaner path through the zone that has almost whippy quickness with leverage as he keeps the barrel in the zone while using a very hitterish approach. During spring Saunders worked the count more consistently in game, but on this day he tooks three trips to the plate and saw a grand total of three pitches attacking early count pitches over the plate producing a pair rocket line drives to the OF before being hit by a pitch in his final trip to the dish. Already with an interesting hit tool for me personally with the spring looks at Saunders his improved ability to impact the ball with authority and for that contact to be in the air with carry is flashing the potential for power to come with his already dynamic athletic profile. Saunders has collected a HR so far on the fall and was not far away from running another one out during this look. His combination of impact potential defense at a premium spot while starting to flash true impact potential in a top of the order profile the stock for Saunders is ticking up heading into his JR. season on the Central Coast.

+ '27 3B/RHP Nick Salcido (Ranked #164 in California)

 Another rising '27 for the Chargers program who caught my eye during the spring time in multiple live looks before getting this view who showed off interesting development to his profile. Salcido showed off one of the better bat to ball profiles with plate discipline during my spring scouting trips from the LH side with wiry lean frame at the time. Now six months later there was noticeable development to his lower half with strength gains and starting to see the upper body filling out, but not quite as noticeable as the lower half. Those strength gains showed up in his both his impact at contact and his run tool. In his first at bat Salcido worked a nine pitch AB showing off his bat to ball profile spoiling several pitches while laying off three pitches outside the zone before pulling a pitch into the RCF gap on a line which split the CF-RF defenders for Foothill Tech, while the hit was a sure single Salcido hustled hard out of the box pushing the envelope to pick up a hustle double on the ball. For his second at bat he punched an outer half offering into the five-six hole and legged out an INF single with a sub 4.4 H-1B run time from the LH side. While it's still more of a solid run tool the upward direction he is showing on that side of the game gives reason for optimish he can be a strong runner in the future. Even more so with the upward trend to his footspeed/athletic ability is that he has the hands/footwork and instincts to handle SS in the future, but does need a tick more athleticism to be more than a solid defender there, but is already a strong defender at 3B for the Chargers with his present profile. Seeing the forward progress Salcido is making to his profile puts him even more firmly on my radar as one of the better 2027 prospects on the Central Coast for the college level.

+ '26 SS Evan Bean (Unranked)

Bean looks to be strongly in the mix to take over the SS position for the Chargers after the departure of the SR. SS in 2024. He is a wiry athletic built 5'10 160ish lbs. SS who showed off athleticism in his actiosn moving around at SS over multiple innings for the Chargers with solid arm strength for the spot. He moved with quick feet when ranging laterally to make plays during the game and even flashed bouncy actions getting downhill on a softly hit ground ball. The foundation of what I saw with Bean was the type of defensive profile that can be a solid to strong defender at the spot not only for the high school level, but shows the potential to stick there at the next level. I didn't get an extensive look at him as a RH hitter with just two at bats and only two swings to watch, but there was body control to his forward move with quickness in the bat path geared towards contact to the middle of the field. He sequenced well in the turn with connection between his lower half and hands that showed some intrigue towards the potential there, but will need to get eyes on him again in the future to better assess his offensive profile.

Foothill Tech Dragons:

+ '27 C Davin Arth (Ranked #136 in California)

 Arth has been squarely on my radar since the Spring of 2024 when he took over the catching role for the Dragons late in the spring heading into the playoffs. From there the wiry athletic backstop has continued to develop into a well-rounded profile who shows potential to be strong across the board. He is starting to fill out his compact frame with some strength in his forearms/lower half, but still has plenty of room to keep adding in the future. Where his athletic/strength development is helping his profile continue trending upwards is in the impact off his bat at contact and the carry on his throws to 2B from behind the dish. Arth ambushed an early offering in his first plate appearance launching a double in the LCF gap with carry that should he add another 10-20 lbs. in the coming years would have easily cleared the fence from his added strength. His RH swing is showing improved overall bat speed, better ability to keep his barrel on plane in the turn and the obvious improved impact/carry to his contact. I've always liked the athleticsim to Arth's throws from behind the plate he has quickness in the transfer and arm path that could produce 2.1ish range throws, but often they skipped into the bag or pulled to the SS side of 2B. Now the ball is coming out of his hand with low carry (almost on a downhill plane into 2B), but instead of skipping on the grass is making it accurately to the bag in a spot where the middle infielder can easily receive the ball in a spot to apply a quick tag while staying on the bag or to 2B side of the base. 

+ '27 SS/2B Cooper Casey (Ranked #205 in California)

 Casey may be one of my favorite players to see in the Ventura County area of the Central Coast because of his consistently strong performances every time I see him. Cooper has been a starter on the varsity level for the Dragons since he was a FR. splitting time between SS/2B over those years where he has always displayed the defensive acumen to be a reliable fielder on either side of the bag. I've long made the statement on Casey that if he gets to it you are out because he fields the ball cleanly while making accurate on time throws to the bag. But, now the 5'7 Casey has packed on good weight to his compact frame checking in over 160 lbs. which has created a more athletic runner (allowing him to improve his range laterally/downhill) and increased arm strength (allowing him to take more time on his throws when necessary or make throws from farther distances). The strength gains were readily on display as Casey ranged all over the SS side of the INF dirt adeptly fielding each opportunity presented on the day from 6-3 outs recorded on balls to his forehand side, downhill onto the INF grass and to his backhand side with clean actions while drilling each throw into the upper body of his first basemen. His added weight is showing up in the operation at the plate much like it is in his operation on defense where an already solid toolset is ticking up. Swinging a wood bat on the day his improved physicality flashed the bat speed to turn on pitches with the heavier wood bat pulling a pair of singles to the left side of the field, while still maintaining his strong plate discipline to not expand the zone despite his strong bat to ball ability and drawing two walks on the day. For good measure the compact athlete is running at a strong level now showing burst down the line and on the bases. All in all the upward trend for Casey on the physical/athletic side not only confirms my belief he is a college level player because of his baseball ability, but now is starting develop a college level frame and athletic ability. 

+ '28 3B/RHP Cain Ebrahim (Unranked)

 Ebrahim made his way into the Dragons lineup and pitching rotation as a FR. in spring of 2025 where he showed off some interesting tools across the board. But, like many young baseball players he needed to add strength to his frame to better assess how well those tools can perform against more advanced competition at the high school levels. His wiry build in spring helped him shows flashes of his potential, but now with significant strength added to his body in the past six months Ebrahim is moving with more efficiency as a defender, RH hitter and pitcher. Moving over to play 2B on the day (saw him play 3B twice as  FR.) he looked comfortable at the spot with solid athletic ability/actions where he handled several opportunities cleanly on the ground and made a solid play on an F-4 where he had to regain his footing after slipping on the soggy outfield grass (had rained over the two days prior to the game). At the plate he looked more comfortable facing varsity level pitching this fall where at times in the spring of 2025 the game looked to have sped up on him based on his pitch selection and operation in the box. Some of this can be attributed to his increased repetitons facing that type of pitching, but even more so it looks like the added strength is playing a big role in the comfort he is showing in the box as he is rotating more efficiently with improved bat speed/bat path through the zone. Ebrahim was utilizing his lower half much more effectively to help produce his bat speed while keeping his hands back to adjust to pitch type/location allowing him to track pitches longer before making his swing decision. Over three at bats he drew a walk, laced a hard L-4 which the Chargers 2B made an impressive leaping catch on and hit a hard grounder into the three-four hole that the Chargers 2B made a strong play on. For good measure Ebrahim toed the rubber for an inning of work where he showed off a present upper 70's FB which comes out of his hand with ease showing the potential for future added velocity from a clean athletic operation on the mound. He consistently threw strikes over his inning of work, but did get touched for some hard contact showing the need for his stuff to tick up and his command to improve. Cain is making a case to be a strong name to follow in the 2028 class out of Ventura County.

+ '28 3B Jacory Smith (Ranked #137 in California)

Smith has been amongst the better LH hitters for me personally here in Ventura County since I first got eyes on his beautiful swing. Jacory rotates with strong use of the ground while gettting his barrel into the zone early with quickness and keeping his barrel through the contact zone with length. My admiration for his LH swing had him on his radar, but there were elements on his game that I wanted to see forward progress on as he continued on his high school career and Smith is starting to show those upward developments. First and foremost for me was improvement to his frame as he was a stocky built frame when I first saw him, he has now slimmed down his frame looking more athletic to the eye and his movements on the field backed up the improvements to his frame contributing to improved athleticism. After playing LF in his Soph. season Smith has moved back onto the INF dirt at 3B where his feet appeared lighter and more rhythmic moving around, his hands are softer, the transfer is quicker and more athletic. Smith was able to adeptly field all his opportunities including a pair of downhill slow rollers he fielded on the run while being able to transfer and throw accurately on the run. His improved frame and improved defense were two key pieces for me and the third piece was to see improved plate discipline from the LH hitter while showing more intent with his swing when he pulled the trigger. Check both of those boxes for Jacory as he controlled the zone efficiently on the day against a few Charger arms who were wild around the zone he didn't chase in hopes of trying to get a hit and waited for the pitch he wanted to swing at. When he did pull the trigger Smith's swing looked cleaner and more explosive with improved intent through the zone (he was swinging a wood bat on the day). Smith stung a hard L-8 right at the Chargers CF, drew a walk just missing a FB foul, and dropped a single into RCF for three quality plate appearances with one mediocre one where he chopped a grounder at the 1B for a 3-U. The development for Smith was a welcome sight for me as he is a player who I'm high for what his LH bat can do for a program at the next level and is now showing a more well rounded profile.

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