Chinn replaces Scott Talanoa, who was the Griffins’ head coach for for one season.

Los Alamitos this past season finished 19-10-2 overall and was third in the Sunset League with a 10-8 league record. The Griffins defeated La Mirada and Orange Lutheran in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs before losing to Santa Margarita 5-4 in the quarterfinals.

Los Alamitos athletic director Nathan Berger said Chinn will continue as a teacher at Marina. Don Olmstead remains in the Los Alamitos baseball program as a top assistant coach.

This week’s All-Star Game had two Orange County players among the National League starters: first baseman Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers played at El Modena High; pitcher Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates is from El Toro High.

Aliso Niguel’s Cooper Flemming, the Orange County player of the year for the 2025 high school baseball season, leads the group of county products selected in the Major League Baseball Draft this month.

A look at the O.C. players taken in this season’s MLB Draft:

Second round

Cooper Flemming, Aliso Niguel, SS

He was selected by Tampa Bay as the 53rd overall pick. Flemming was the Orange County player of the year this past season. MLB.com lists Flemming as being from Pomona’s Ganesha High, but Flemming played his senior season at Aliso Niguel after playing club ball exclusively earlier in his previous high school days.

Third round

Ethan Hedges, Mater Dei, 3B

Hedges was taken by the Colorado Rockies out of USC as the 77th overall selection. Hedges was All-Trinity League first team at Mater Dei before going to USC.

Ben Jacobs, Huntington Beach, P

Jacobs, an All-Orange County first-team pitcher in 2022 and that season’s Surf League MVP, went on to Arizona State and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers as the 98th overall pick.

Fourth round

Riley Kelly, Tustin, P

Kelly, an All-CIF pitcher at Tustin and the Tillers football starting quarterback, was taken by the Colorado Rockies as the 107th overall selection.

Sixth round

Josiah Hartshorn, Orange Lutheran, OF

The Chicago Cubs made Hartshorn. All-Orange County first team this past season, the 181st overall pick.

13th round

Aiden Taurek, Foothill, OF

Taurek, All-OC first team in 2022, was drafted out of St. Mary’s by the Seattle Mariners as the 392nd overall selection.

Gavin Lauridsen, Foothill, P

The Milwaukee Brewers made Lauridsen the 395th overall selection after his All-OC first-team season of 2025 in which he also was a standout shortstop.

17th round

Xavier Cadenas III, Servite, P

The Friars’ ace in the 2022 season, his senior year, Cadenas was taken by the Miami Marlins as the 498th overall draft choice.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

11th round

Rod Barajas Jr., Saddleback College, C

The San Francisco Giants made UC Irvine commit Barajas, son of former MLB catcher Rod Barajas, the 326th overall selection.

Corona High has a chance to make history as the first high school to produce three first-round picks in the same draft.

The centerpiece of that potential milestone has been owning the Panthers’ mound for the past two seasons. Seth Hernandez has turned heads since his junior year, and the 19-year-old right-handed pitcher is regarded as the premier prep arm in the country.

“He wasn’t just one of the best pitchers in the country, but one of the best baseball players,” Corona baseball coach Andy Wise said. “I call him the best baseball player I’ve ever been around.”

The Vanderbilt commit is projected to be a top-three pick on Sunday by MiLB and is widely regarded as the top right-handed arm in the draft. As a junior, he earned National High School Invitational MVP honors after throwing a complete-game shutout to lead the Panthers to the title.

During his senior year, he finished 9-1 with a 0.39 ERA, 105 strikeouts and just seven walks over 53⅓ innings for a Corona team that finished 28-3 after an upset loss to eventual champion St. John Bosco in the CIF-SS Division I semifinals.

A future Cy Young Award hopeful walking the halls of a public high school, Hernandez has drawn attention from radar gun-toting major league scouts for years. It’s not enough for him.

His trajectory is still ascending, improvement still paramount.

“He’s still trying to get better – even though he’s number one on everyone’s list,” Wise said. “It’s always, ‘What’s next?’ I asked him that, and he told me: better command. It’s just a great athlete trying to be a little more consistent with his body.”

Hernandez’s teammate, shortstop Billy Carlson, is also a top-10 projection. The 19-year-old Tennessee commit has rocketed up draft boards over the past two seasons, turning heads with his proficiency at the plate.

As a senior, Carlson hit .365 with a .517 on-base percentage, six home runs, and a .647 slugging clip – steady proof of the power and discipline behind his rise. He’s projected to go seventh overall.

The home-schooled Hernandez arrived at Corona already touted, transferring in ahead of his junior year with scouts watching.

Carlson had to do it a different way. Not a natural-born phenom like Hernandez, Carlson’s path wasn’t as cleanly paved from the beginning, but he forged his own way and now has put his name near his teammate’s on mock drafts. Considered an elite infield arm, he threw in the mid-90s on the mound and projects as a plus defender who has shown above-average speed.

“(Carlson) was a freshman who spent some time on the freshman team here,” Wise said. “It’s not like he walked in and demanded anything. He worked hard and believed in what we were doing, and his development went through the roof, and he’s turned himself into what he is today.”

The youngest of the trio – 17-year-old Brady Ebel – has the longest shot at the first round but is firmly expected to be selected sometime on the first day (rounds 1-3). Ebel, now projected 64th by MiLB, is lauded as a walking offensive spark.

The son of Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, baseball runs in his veins. At the plate, he has the best power potential of the three.

Wise said struggling with expanded high school strike zones limited Ebel to just two home runs this season. But his hitting projects as more explosive at higher levels, where consistent zones should give him the confidence to swing for the fences.

The LSU commit, who transferred to Corona after two years at Etiwanda High, finished his senior season hitting .341 with a .504 on-base percentage, 31 hits, 27 runs, and 17 RBIs. Now, he’s bringing his promise and professional pedigree to the next level.

Years spent around L.A.’s baseball elite with his father have helped shape him off the field into the kind of player he hopes to become on it.

“(Ebel is) a young man, and he’s just so professional,” Wise said. “He is an absolute professional baseball player, without a doubt. I’ve been around a lot of pro guys. I’ve been in locker rooms. Brady is as professional as just about anybody I’ve come across as a 17-year-old kid.”

All three players, and the rest of their Corona teammates, have thrived on pressure all year. Wise has seen the media circus follow the team since before the season started and had to manage the expectations for a squad that was favored in every game it played.

“They love to do this,” Wise said. “They want the top competition because they feel that they’re the best. So they love to play against the best.”

On Sunday, all three Corona players figure to hear their names called for an opportunity to do just that – take another step in their journey toward playing against the absolute best.

While they’re the headliners, they are not the only ones from the Southern California region who could hear their names called on Sunday. Here are other players from the area who are projected to be selected during the first three rounds.

(All rankings are according to MiLB Prospects rankings.)

No.22: 3B Gavin Fien (Great Oak High)

Last season: .358 avg., 34 hits, 24 runs, 5 HRs, 16 RBIs

The younger brother of Dylan Fein, a switch-hitting catcher from the same Temecula high school who got an over-slot deal in the seventh round from the A’s in 2024, Gavin Fien is slated to be an early Day One selection.

The Texas commit is lauded as one of the best hitters in the draft class. He won MLB Develops MVP honors at MLB’s High School All-American Game with two hits and two RBIs and batted .400 for Team USA in the 18U World Cup qualifier in Panama.

No. 37: 3B/OF Quentin Young (Oaks Christian High)

Last season: .381 avg, 32 hits, 32 runs, 14 HRs, 34 RBIs

The 6-foot-6, 225-pound slugger out of Camarillo has baseball in his blood. He’s the nephew of former big-leaguers Dmitri and Delmon Young.

The 18-year-old LSU commit was supposed to be in the 2026 class but reclassified to join the draft a year earlier. He displayed his considerable power stroke at events like USA Baseball’s 18U team and MLB’s High School All-American Game.

No. 40: RHP Anthony Eyanson (Lakewood High/LSU)

Last season: 108 innings, 12-2 record, 3.00 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 152 Ks, 36 BBs

After spending two years at UC San Diego, the Long Beach native took his talents to the Bayou. He had a slow start before a strong second half to rank third in NCAA Division I in wins and strikeouts to help the Tigers win another College World Series title last month.

The 20-year-old is projected as a potential No. 3 starter but could also end up a reliever in the big leagues.

No. 49: RHP Angel Cervantes (Warren High)

Last season: 106 innings, 7-3 record, 1.59 ERA, 106 Ks

Cervantes could become the first Warren player selected in the first two rounds in more than a decade. The 18-year-old UCLA commit turned heads last summer at the prestigious Area Code Games, where he struck out eight batters over three perfect innings.

The 6-2 right-hander features a fastball in the low 90s and mixes in a sharp changeup that keeps hitters off balance. Scouts also like his curveball and slider, with more development expected as he matures.

No. 60: INF Dean Curley (Northview High/Tennessee)

Last season: .315 avg., 76 hits, 67 runs, 14 HRs, 51 RBIs

Curley stood out at Tennessee as the only freshman in the Volunteers’ 2024 lineup. The 6-3, 218-pound right-hander helped lead Tennessee to its first national championship, homering three times in the NCAA tournament and hitting .500 in the CWS championship series.

The Pomona native offers solid power and a strong arm, though some inconsistency at the plate and in the field this season led Tennessee to try him at multiple infield positions. Despite that, he remains one of the top sophomore-eligible talents in this year’s draft.

No. 71: RHP Zach Strickland (Maranatha High)

Last season: 48 innings, 6-1 record, 0.58 ERA, 86 Ks

The right-hander from Pasadena has steadily risen through the ranks, highlighted by strong performances at the 2023 Area Code Games and several summer showcases. The 6-2 UCLA commit can dial his fastball up to 95 mph and complements it with a slider and changeup that project well.

Strickland’s command and pitch mix make him a promising candidate to be the first Maranatha player drafted since 2017.

MLB DRAFT

When: Sunday, 3 p.m. (Rounds 1-3); Monday, 8:30 a.m. (Rounds 4-20)

Where: Atlanta

How to watch: Sunday (ESPN, MLB Network); Monday (MLB.com)

The selections were made by the CIF-SS coaches.

ALL-CIF BASEBALL

DIVISION 1

Player of the Year – Seth Hernandez, Corona (12) P/OF

Coach of the Year – Andy Rojo, St. John Bosco

Player     School     Year      Position

Cooper Flemming Aliso Niguel 12 SS/P

Damian Catano Arcadia 11 P/OF

Gavin Egan Aquinas 12 P/OF

Anthony Murphy Corona 11 OF

Billy Carlson Corona 12 SS

Jackson Eisenhauer Crespi 12 P

James Tronstein Harvard-Westlake 11 IF

Trevor Goldenetz Huntington Beach 12 OF

Trent Grindlinger Huntington Beach 12 C

Kevin Jeon La Mirada 12 IF

Becker Sybirski Laguna Beach 12 P

Garrett Jacobs Mira Costa 11 P

Gavin Guy Newport Harbor 11 P/IF

Josiah Hartshorn Orange Lutheran 12 OF

Brody Schumaker Santa Margarita 11 IF

Brennan Bauer Santa Margarita 12 P

James Clark St. John Bosco 11 SS

Gavin Cervantes St. John Bosco 11 P

Samuel S. Lopez Summit 12 IF

Aidan Young Villa Park 11 OF

Vaughn Neckar Vista Murrieta 12 P/1B

DIVISION 2

Player of the Year – Hunter Manning, West Ranch (12) P/1B

Coach of the Year – Ryan Lindgreen, West Ranch

Player     School     Year      Position

Michael Aleman Etiwanda 10 P

Jaeden Toki Etiwanda 11 IF

Gavin Lauridsen Foothill 12 P/SS

Sean Green Foothill 12 1B/OF

Tyler Peshke Fountain Valley 12 SS

Josh Grack Fountain Valley 11 1B/P

Jake Ourique Gahr 11 P

Maddox Moreno La Habra 12 P/OF

Zach Strickland Maranatha 12 P

Brandon Thomas Mater Dei 12 P/1B

Sebastian Navarro Mater Dei 10 SS

Anthony Pack Millikan 12 OF

Quentin Young Oaks Christian 12 SS

Brady Hewitt Royal 12 SS

Mike Erspamer San Clemente 12 P/1B

Toby Kwon Servite 12 P

Mateo Rickman Torrance 12 IF

Mikey Gray Trabuco Hills 12 P

Michael Murr West Ranch 12 UTIL

Nolan Stoll West Ranch 12 C

Landon Hu West Ranch 12 IF

DIVISION 3

Player of the Year – Brayden Johnson, Glendora (12) P/OF

Coach of the Year – Jerry Lewallen, Glendora

Player     School     Year      Position

Daniel James Toth Arrowhead Christian Academy 12 UTIL

Bobby Mahoney Arrowhead Christian Academy 12 OF

Nick Molina Beckman 12 UTIL

Gavin Garcia Cajon 11 UTIL

Matthew Witkow Calabasas 12 IF

Chad Kober Castaic 12 P/3B

Cole West Citrus Valley 12 OF

Waylan Rottschafer Costa Mesa 11 UTIL

Dashiell Schultz Crescenta Valley 12 IF

Malachi Meni Fullerton 12 IF

Tanner Grable Glendora 11 P/3B

Aaron Jacobsen Glendora 12 UTIL

Antonio Longobardi Paraclete 12 IF

Vaughn Coleman San Dimas 12 OF

Tomas Bilvado San Marino 12 P

Troy Sibolboro St. Paul 9 3B

Chase Hilt Temecula Valley 11 UTIL

Taden Krogsgaard Temecula Valley 11 UTIL

Gannon Gonzales Temescal Canyon 12 UTIL

Angel Cervantes Warren 12 P

Rudy Carlos Jr. Wilson/LB 12 1B

DIVISION 4

Player of the Year – Gavin Moran, Ganesha (12) P

Coach of the Year – Jared Sandler, Ganesha

Player     School     Year      Position

Isaiah Reveron Apple Valley 12 IF

Beau Lloyd Apple Valley 12 P

Xiovany Ochoa Chino 12 OF

Bryan Scott Don Lugo 10 1B

Zach Gesswein Dos Pueblos 12 C

Seth Tedeschi Dos Pueblos 12 P

Drake Brito Irvine 12 P

Kevin Reyes Mejia Katella 12 SS

Luke Medhurst Newbury Park 12 OF

Joey Ramos Northview 12 IF

Michael Mendoza Northview 10 C

AJ Flores Northview 12 P

Devon Wilkes Pacifica/Oxnard 12 1B

Kaden Haag Saugus 12 3B

Robby Blaine Sonora 10 P

Peter Broughton South Torrance 12 P

Andrew Carlson Trinity Classical Academy 10 P/C

John Carlson Trinity Classical Academy 12 P/IF

Riley Jones Valley Christian 12 P

Vincent DeMarco Woodbridge 11 P

Nevan Namgoong Woodbridge 12 OF

DIVISION 5

Player of the Year – Andrew Jimenez, Elsinore (10) SS/P

Coach of the Year – Don Nicholson, Elsinore

Player     School     Year      Position

Blaise Meylemans Adolfo Camarillo 12 C/P

Pierson Howe Bishop Montgomery 12 P

Miguel Ulloa Century 12 C/P

Efren Urrea Citrus Valley 12 P

Brayden Stankus Elsinore 11 P

Jacob Farias Elsinore 11 3B/P

Chris Sampson Hillcrest 12 P

James Henson Hillcrest 12 IF

Alex Preciado Jurupa Hills 12 OF/P

Aaden Lopez Jurupa Hills 9 OF/P

Alex Arteaga Liberty 11 1B

Traivon Nicholson Loara 10 P/OF

Carter Smith Loara 11 UTIL

Cole Studt Highland 11 C

Nolan Fox Mayfair 12 SS/P

Aidan Sullivan Mayfair 11 OF/IF

Paul Grossman Northwood 12 UTIL

Cylis Proffitt Rancho Christian 11 SS

Benny Lane St. Anthony 12 P/IF

Jaylen Butler St. Anthony 11 P/1B

Deven McDaniel Tahquitz 11 P/OF

DIVISION 6

Player of the Year – Sawyer Atkinson, Estancia (11) C

Coach of the Year – Nate Goellrich, Estancia

Player     School     Year      Position

Marc Hernandez Alhambra 11 OF/P

Jake Jimenez Arroyo Valley 10 P/IF

Jake McCaffrey Crossroads 12 SS

Nico Viramontes Estancia 11 3B/P

Vaughn McCrea Estancia 12 1B/P

Cullen Hirtensteiner Heritage Christian 12 IF/OF

Trevor Lain Marshall 12 C

Caleb Thatcher Marshall 12 OF/P

Fernando Cruz Montebello 10 IF/P

Isaac Solorzano Montebello 12 P

Trevor Jones Oakwood 11 P

Scout Escobedo Pacifica Christian/OC 10 C

Kaleb Derosia Pasadena 11 IF/P

Kody Shinar Ramona 12 OF

Kobee Finnikin Rancho Mirage 11 UTIL

Marcus Ceja Jr. Rancho Mirage 12 3B

Nathan Harwood Rio Hondo Prep 9 P

James Oregon Santa Fe 9 3B

Christian Ortega South El Monte 12 P/SS

Andre Katayama Sunny Hills 12 1B/P

Zain Valdivia Xavier Prep 9 SS/P

DIVISION 7

Player of the Year – Riley Vuoso, Mary Star of the Sea (12) P/1B

Coach of the Year – Biagio Schutt, Mary Star of the Sea

Player     School     Year      Position

Daniel Carbajar Artesia 12 P

Julian Huerta Baldwin Park 10 SS/P

Thomas Beltran Baldwin Park 11 OF

Jose Iniguez Bosco Tech 12 P

Jackson Villagran Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary 11 IF/P

Daniel Ceja Coachella Valley 9 IF

Will Grable Flintridge Prep 11 3B/P

Rohan Ramos Garden Grove 12 P/1B

Sebastian Vallejo Garden Grove 12

Gavin Willis Grace 11 C

Alex Van Grace 12 IF/P

Jose Rodriguez Indio 11 P/SS

Julian Mandujano Indio 12 OF

Elijah Shokrian Milken Community 11 3B/P

Corey Brammer Norwalk 11 C

Brandon Sanchez Notre Dame/Riverside 12 P/IF

Daniel Hernandez Notre Dame/Riverside 12 SS

Jacob Olivier Notre Dame/Riverside 12 P

Daniel Avila Mary Star of the Sea 12 IF/P

William Rojas Mary Star of the Sea 10 IF/P

Izzy Parsky Viewpoint 12 UTIL

DIVISION 8

Player of the Year – Santiago Avila, Fillmore (12) P/SS

Coach of the Year – Jr Sandoval, Fillmore

Player     School     Year      Position

Ethan Ash California Lutheran 12 P/IF

Colton McGee California Lutheran 12 P/SS

Devin DeBuono Calvary Baptist 10 C

Peter Lehman Cate 12 P

Jesse Ruiz Colton 12 P/OF

Theodore Anderson Dunn 12 SS

Javi Contreras Fillmore 12 OF

Miguel Rincon Fillmore 12 OF

Thomas Alamillo Fillmore 11 OF/P

Luke Beasley Hesperia Christian 12 P/1B

Johnny Forte La Quinta 11 P/3B

Riley Rakowski La Quinta 12 2B

Ilya Ridge Miller, A.B. 12 P/OF

Ethan Islas Pioneer 12 OF

Josh Carrasco Pioneer 12 P

Martin Morando San Jacinto Valley Academy 11 IF/P

Braden Litt Temecula Prep 12 UTIL

Noah Scarlett Temecula Prep 12 OF

Jonathan Rodriguez Valencia 12 P

Johnny Castellanos Valencia 12 1B

James Fakoury Valley Christian Academy 12 C

DIVISION 9

Player of the Year – Tobias Olague, Nuview Bridge (11) C

Coach of the Year – Denis Dufour, Nuview Bridge

Player     School     Year      Position

Kameron Walker Academy for Academic Excellence 12 P/OF

Nathan Rudd Academy for Academic Excellence 10 UTIL

Thomas Koupeny Academy of Careers and Exploration 12 IF/P

Silas Urtiaga Academy of Careers and Exploration 12 UTIL

Weston Barker Coastal Christian 11 P/IF

Jack Porcher Coastal Christian 12 IF

Christian Salazar Environmental Charter 9 SS

Alejandro Herrera Environmental Charter 10 P/1B

Andrew Pennell Loma Linda Academy 11 P/1B

Alejandro Moreno Mountain View 11 IF

Ethen Rivera Nuview Bridge 10 SS

Carson Lagor Nuview Bridge 10 OF/P

Alex Barragan Public Safety Academy 12 P/IF

Matt Bannett Public Safety Academy 11 OF

Diego Enriquez Saddleback 12 P

Ricardo Marquez Saddleback 12 C

Brandon Morinaga St. Jeanne de Lestonnac 12 SS/P

Jandell Jimenez Twentynine Palms 12

Mauricio Montada Twentynine Palms 9 3B/P

Mikey Pino Webb 11 C

Alec Kaushal Webb 11 SS

The CIF Southern Section on Tuesday *June 17) released its All-CIF teams for its nine baseball divisions.

Estancia’s Nate Goellrich was named Division 6 coach of the year. Estancia won the Division 6 championship.

The All-CIF Southern Section 2025 baseball teams are here.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Cooper Flemming, Aliso Niguel, Senior

It took one season for Cooper Flemming to establish himself as an elite high school baseball player.

He played only one season of high school baseball, his senior season at Aliso Niguel.

Flemming’s excellent play as a shortstop, hitter and pitcher make him the Orange County baseball player of the year for the 2025 season.

He was a South Coast League most valuable player for the Wolverines, leading them to a share of the league championship. They finished 22-7 overall and 9-3 in league.

Flemming (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) batted .407 with six home runs, 27 RBIs, seven doubles and three triples. He scored 31 runs and stole 10 bases.

As a pitcher, Flemming finished 7-1 with a 0.69 earned-run average. He struck out 66 batters in 51 innings.

One of his top pitching outings came in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. Flemming held Arcadia to one run and struck out nine over eight innings in what would be a 2-1 loss in 11 innings.

Flemming spent his freshman, sophomore and junior years playing in the Baseball Performance Academy. He is grateful for the BPA experience, but wishes he would have played high school baseball for all of his high season years.

He attended a couple of schools, including Laguna Beach High, and wound up at Aliso Niguel for his season year.

“I knew playing high school baseball was a big need for me to be seen by scouts,” Flemming said. “Playing at Aliso was the best. I 100 percent wish I would have done it earlier.”

Of his many highlights, Flemming said the best of them was hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning to help the Wolverines beat Capistrano Valley 6-3 in a South Coast League game. Aliso Niguel would go on to sweep the three-game league series against Capo Valley.

He said another senior-season memory will always be hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning to break up a scoreless tie in what would be a 3-0 win over Trabuco Hills.

Flemming committed to Vanderbilt University and is projected to be an early-round selection in the MLB Draft on July 13-14. The Perfect Game website gives Flemming a ranking of “10” that, according to the website, marks him as “Potential very high draft pick and/or Elite level college prospect.”

Aliso Niguel coach Craig Hanson has coached many standout players, including current MLB players like Blake Sabol of the Boston Red Sox and Eric Wagaman of the Miami Marlins.

Of Flemming, Hanson said: “I’ve never had a player like him.”

“He’s such a great athlete and more so a great kid,” Hanson said. “His work ethic and leadership have been great. He didn’t come in here with attitude or a chip on his shoulder, he just came in and did the work right away.”

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Gary Morse, Orange Lutheran, Senior

There comes a time when the pitcher becomes less of a thrower and more of a pitcher.

This past baseball season was that kind of season for Orange Lutheran junior right-hander Gary Morse.

He tapped into his potential to post a 0.94 earned run average. Opposing batters hit only .134 against him.

For his standout season, Morse is the Orange County pitcher of the year for the 2025 season.

Morse went 8-2 with 65 strikeouts in 52⅓ innings. He was named Trinity League pitcher of the year.

That’s quite an honor to get that award in a league in which five of its six team qualified for the CIF Southern Section playoffs, three of them played in CIF-SS championship games and one of them (St. John Bosco) won the CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF Southern California Regional Division I championships.

Morse (6-7, 200)  added a changeup to his arsenal, a pitch that became as effective as his fastball and breaking ball.

“His fastball sits at 92 to 94 miles an hour,” said Orange Lutheran coach RJ Farrell, “and he gets it up to 96. He has a ‘plus’ breaking ball and his changeup was a game-changer for him this year.”

Morse, who committed to Tennessee, was happy with his improvement but is not satisfied.

“There’s a lot of progress still to be made,” Morse said. “But I took a step forward from last year to this year. I took a long time off from throwing, so I struggled a little bit at the start of this season but I was able to home in on my control by the end of the year.”

Morse said his best outing this season might have been his two-hit shutout of Los Angeles Granada Hills Charter early in the season when he had 16 strikeouts and no walks in a 1-0 win.

Then there was the 5-0 victory over Rancho Cucamonga in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. Morse pitched a one-hitter with six strikeouts and one walk.

“When I’m totally on like that,” Morse said, “I’m throwing strikes early and for the hitters it’s a guessing game from there.”

Morse had hitters guessing a lot, and a lot wrong, during his outstanding junior season.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Josh Lee, Newport Harbor

Josh Lee of Newport Harbor is the Orange County baseball coach of the year for the 2025 season.

Lee guided the Sailors to a 22-7 season in his fourth year as the team’s head coach. The 22 wins is a school baseball record. Newport Harbor finished second in the always-good Sunset League with a 14-4 record.

The Sailors beat Sunset League champion Huntington Beach twice in their three league games.

“We played really good defense, for the most part,” said Lee, summarizing the season. “We pitched really well. The team became a family.”

ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM

Pitcher: Brennan Bauer, Santa Margarita, Sr.

He was 11-3 with a 2.19 ERA and was especially sharp in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, going 4-0 while allowing only one earned run in 22⅓ innings and was named All-Trinity League first team.

Pitcher: Mike Erspamer, San Clemente, Sr.

He was named MVP of the Sea View League, went 7-3 with a 1.50 ERA and had 90 strikeouts in 56 innings and was a solid hitter, too, with a .341 batting average and 20 RBIs.

Pitcher: Gary Morse, Orange Lutheran, Jr.

The Orange County pitcher of the year.

Pitcher: Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach, So.

The younger of the Oilers’ Grindlinger brothers, Jared Grindlinger was 5-0 with a 0.87 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 32⅓ innings and was named to the All-Sunset League first team.

Catcher: Trent Grindlinger, Huntington Beach, Sr.

Named All-Sunset League first team, Grindlinger, who signed with Mississippi State, batted .333 with 24 hits, 22 RBIs, six home runs and five doubles.

First base: Brandon Thomas, Mater Dei, Sr.

Thomas, a Fresno State signee, was named All-Trinity League first team after finishing second on the Monarchs in hits with 27, driving in 12 runs and going 6-5 on the mound with a 0.79 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 79⅓ innings.

Infield: Cooper Flemming, Aliso Niguel, Sr.

Orange County player of the year

Infield: Brody Schumaker, Santa Margarita, Jr.

A repeat All-OC first-team selection, Schumaker batted .356 with team highs of 20 runs scored and 12 stolen bases and has committed to Texas Christian University.

Infield: Becker Syberski, Laguna Beach, Sr.

The Pacific Coast League most valuable player, Syberski, a 4.3 grade-point-average student going to the New Jersey Institute of Technology,  hit. 424 with nine doubles and 15 RBIs, including going 3 for 5 with three RBIs in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs, and as a pitcher was 8-1 with a 0.51 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 55⅓ innings.

Outfield: Trevor Goldenetz, Huntington Beach, Sr.

Goldenetz, a Long Beach State signee, was selected to the All-Sunset League first team after collecting a team-high 36 hits, batting .409 and driving in 20 runs with three triples.

Outfield: Ethan Porter, Huntington Beach Sr.

Porter batted .385 with 30 hits, 19 RBIs, three home runs and a team-high eight doubles, was named All-Sunset League first team and signed with Oregon State.

Outfield: Josiah Hartshorn, Orange Lutheran, Sr.

Hartshorn, who signed with Texas A&M and was All-Trinity League first team, finished with team-highs of 32 hits, 27 runs scored, five home runs and nine doubles and batted .364.

Designated hitter: Lucas Perez, Newport Harbor, Sr.

The Sailors catcher, Perez was the Sunset League MVP, batted .333, made no errors, threw out 72 percent of stolen-base attempts against him and as a pitcher was 5-1 with a 1.36 ERA.

Utility: Gavin Lauridsen, Foothill, Sr.

Lauridsen, a USC signee, was a Crestview League pitcher of the year after going 8-2 with a 1.59 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 79 innings and was the Knights shortstop, batting .358 with a team-leading 23 RBIs.

ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM

Pitcher: Jack McGuire, Villa Park, Jr.

Pitcher: Tristin Dalzell, Los Alamitos, Sr.

Pitcher: Otto Espinoza, Huntington Beach, Sr.

Pitcher: Tate Belfanti, Cypress, So.

Catcher: Noah Johnson, Cypress, Jr.

First base: Ben Finnegan, Santa Margarita, Sr.

Infield: Mikey Gray, Trabuco Hills, Sr.

Infield: Gavin Spiridonoff, Santa Margarita, Sr.

Infield: Tyler Peshke, Fountain Valley, Sr.

Outfield: Devin Porch, Los Alamitos, Sr.

Outfield: Miles Scott, Servite, Sr.

Outfield: Aidan Young, Villa Park, Jr.

Designated hitter: Sean Green, Foothill, Sr.

Utility: Gavin Guy, Newport Harbor, Jr.

ALL-COUNTY THIRD TEAM

Pitcher: Stevie Jones, Corona del Mar, Jr.

Pitcher: Toby Kwon, Servite, Sr.

Pitcher: Kemuel Zhang, Canyon, So.

Pitcher: Logan Steenburgen, El Dorado, Jr.

Catcher: Warren Gravely IV, Santa Margarita, Jr.

First base: Jayton Greer, Huntington Beach, Sr.

Infield: Bobby Brooks, La Habra, Sr.

Infield: Diego Gonzalez, El Dorado, Sr.

Infield: Wyatt Hanoian, Orange Lutheran, Sr.

Outfield: Blake Bowen, JSerra, Jr.

Outfield: Carson Etnire, Aliso Niguel, Sr.

Outfield: Hamilton Friedberg, Orange Lutheran, Jr.

Designated hitter: Brady Murrieta, Orange Lutheran, Jr.

Utility: Rohan Ramos, Garden Grove, Sr.

Noah Everly #8 of St. John Bosco celebrates after scoring in the third inning. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Jack Champlin #7 of St. John Bosco pitches in the seventh inning. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Noah Everly #8 of St. John Bosco is safe at home when Jack McGuire #32 of Villa Park threw a passed ball in the third inning. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Owen Smith #20 of Villa Park pitches. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

James Clark #22 of St. John Bosco throws a runner out at first in the fifth inning. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Nate Lewis #9 of Villa Park is congratulated on scoring in the second inning. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Noah Everly #8 of St. John Bosco is safe at home when Jack McGuire #32 of Villa Park threw a passed ball in the third inning. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Aidan Dahlk #21 of St. John Bosco pitches. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Owen Smith #20 of Villa Park pitches. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Greyson Gonzalez #4 of St. John Bosco is tagged out at home in the sixth inning. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Jack McGuire #32 of Villa Park pitches. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Macade Maxwell #20 of St. John Bosco is safe at second when Ezra Ornelas #26 of Villa Park gets the throw late in the sixth inning. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Brayden Krakowski #6 of St. John Bosco pitches. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Gunner Santillo #16 of Villa Park lost the ball allowing Noah Everly #8 of St. John Bosco to steal second in the fifth inning. Villa Park played St. John Bosco in the CIF SoCal Regional Division. 1 semifinals on June 5, 2025 in Hacienda Heights CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

BELLFLOWER – The St. John Bosco baseball team defeated Villa Park 7-4 Thursday to advance to the CIF Southern California Division I Regional final.

Noah Everly led Bosco (29-4) by going 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Jaden Jackson also went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Cravin Cervantes started the game, pitching three innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out two.

Brayden Krakowski pitched two and a third scoreless-innings in relief. Jack Champlin earned the save pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

Coach Andy Rojo attributes Bosco’s success to its experience under pressure.

”The last two years we’ve played some tight games,” Rojo said. “I think this season we’ve had about 12 one-run games and multiple two-run games so they’re used to it, they have a lot of confidence.”

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Jackson and Everly hit back-to-back RBI doubles. Jackson’s drove in Aaron Garcia and Everly’s drove in Jackson and James Clark for a 4-1 Bosco lead.

Everly then scored from third base on a wild pitch to up the lead to 5-1.

Jackson wanted to match Villa Park’s intensity.

“I think I just feed off their energy,” Jackson said. “They are a high energy team and that’s what makes it special for me, that’s what gets me riled up.”

Villa Park (25-8) countered in the top of the fourth scoring on an RBI single by Nate Lewis. He later scored from third on a bases-loaded double play to cut the Bosco lead to 5-3.

Villa Park would get within a run later in the inning on a controversial play.

Austin Park, hit a line drive over first base that skipped off the first base umpire and into right field. The ball was ruled fair and the umpires met to determine if Gunner Santillo, the runner at third before the hit, should score.

Ultimately Santillo was allowed to score bringing Villa Park within one, 5-4.

Villa Park coach Burt Call said he told his team to keep its composure after going down 5-1.

“I just told them to stay calm and keep pressure on, make sure you get quality ABs and they did that,” Call said. “They got us back in the game.”

Lewis led Villa Park at the plate, going 1 for 2 with an RBI and reaching on an error. He also scored two runs. Aidan Young went 2 for 4 with a double.

Jack McGuire pitched four innings, giving up five runs in the losing effort.

Bosco added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Champlin and an RBI single by Aiden Olguin before Champlin’s scoreless seventh for a 7-4 win.

Wednesday’s game was the 57th edition of the event. It was organized and managed by The Ryan Lemmon Foundation.

The South has won the game for three years in a row. The South holds a 33-23-1 lead in the series.

Sabol was named the South team’s MVP. Huntington Beach’s Trevor Goldenetz, who hit a double and had three stolen bases, was the North MVP.

Servite’s Miles Scott won the game’s Hustle Award.

Sabol’s homer that he pulled to right field was estimated at 380 feet.

The South scored first. Gavin Lauridsen of Foothill singled to lead off the fourth inning. He scored on a double by Canyon’s Blake Hesper for a 1-0 lead.

The North tied it in the bottom of the fifth inning. Scott reached on a two-base error. An errant throw on Scott’s steal of third base rolled down the left-field line, allowing Scott to score to make it 1-1.

Sabol’s solo home run on a 2-0 fastball in the top of the sixth inning to put the South on top 2-1.

Sabol, who signed with USC and whose brother Blake Sabol is a catcher for the Boston Red Sox, hit two home runs during the regular season.

Has he ever hit one as far as Wednesday’s home run?

“I don’t think so,” Sabol said. “I think that was the farthest I’ve hit in a while. I was like ‘take a hack and I miss’ or ‘take a hack and I connect.’”

The South made it 3-1 in the top of the seventh. Becker Sybirski of Laguna Beach doubled to right-center field. Sybirski eventually scored when JSerra’s Jordan Marian reached on a fielder’s choice.

The North had Edison’s Gavin Johnson on third base with one out. Sybirski got consecutive strikeouts to end the inning and keep the score at 3-1.

Sabol said being part of the county all-star game is a highlight of his high school baseball career.

“It’s been really fun coming out here,” he said. “I’ve known a lot of these kids, playing summer ball and in high school as well. To come out here as a team is a big blessing and to top if off with that home run just made my day.”

The Eagles (21-13) will play at Bakersfield Ridgeview (22-11) in the semifinals Thursday.

The Mary Star-Estancia game was suspended Tuesday because of rain and lightning and resumed Wednesday, as were two other regional games Wednesday for Orange County teams.

Viramontes gave up one unearned run, no walks and had one strikeout.

Athan Perez was 3 for 3 and drove in a run for Estancia.

The Eagles won the CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship on Saturday.

In other first-round regional games Wednesday:

DIVISION I

Patrick Henry 2, Santa Margarita 0: The Eagles (20-14) were limited to three hits and were eliminated at home.

Brody Schumacher had two hits for Santa Margarita. Carter Enoch had the other Eagles hit.

Santa Margarita lost to St. John Bosco in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 final last week.

DIVISION II

Rancho Bernardo 4, Fountain Valley 2: The Barons lost in the first round at home.

Josh Grack hit a two-run home run for Fountain Valley in the first inning

Fountain Valley (18-15) reached the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinals, where they lost to Mater Dei.

The three first-round games will resume Wednesday, June 4.

Santa Margarita’s Division I home game against San Diego Patrick Henry will resume at noon. The game will restart with the game in the bottom of the fourth inning and Patrick Henry leading 2-0.

Fountain Valley’s Division II home game against Rancho Bernardo resumes at 3:15 p.m. in the second inning with Fountain Valley leading 2-1.

Estancia’s home game against Mary Star in Division IV resumes at 3:45 p.m. with one out in the top of the second inning. Estancia has a 1-0 lead.

Second round games are scheduled for Thursday. SoCal Regional championship games are Saturday. All games are scheduled for 4 p.m. at host team sites.