Baseball ready to get going
The Sierra Canyon baseball team is preparing for the 2023 season and has a core of veteran returners to lean on.
Despite losing one of the deepest pitching staffs in school history, the Trailblazers are hoping experienced hitters and young pitching will be the recipe for success.
Gone are Jaden Noot, Kassius Thomas, Max Martin and Eddie Mgdesyan. Noot is at LSU, Thomas at Duke and Martin at UC Irvine. Noot was selected in the 31st round by the Brewers but has opted for college.
Agoura transfer Luke Casares is a 6-foot-5 hurler and Kaden Ceramek is a talented sophomore expected to contribute. Casafes will serve a sit out period and miss the first few weeks. Ethan Montez i sa sophomore pitcher and third baseman.
The bullpen is deep with Jesse Hagopian and Jess Tarnol. Hagopian can pound the zone.
Leading the hitting corp will be Oregon-bound first baseman/outfielder Kehden Hettiger, shortstop Omar Cisneros, and Grant Wedesheim.
Hettiger is the best pro prospect of the bunch, Cisneros and Werdesheim will hit at the top of the lineup. Werdesheim was headed to Brown but now is looking at Davidson. Cisneros could be headed to Hawaii-Hilo.
More youngsters include Braden Hewitt, a sophomore second baseman and junior Julian Areliz, who is committed to Cal. Areliz is nursing a rotator cuff injury and could be out as the season gets going.
The primary catcher will be Ethan Munoz, who hopes to play college baseball.
Darren Yoon and Jake Levin are both senior outfielders expected to provide quality depth off the bench.
The two best freshmen are Braden Charness abd Armando Solorio, who has a very nice 3-pitch mix.
Sierra Canyon is up against it this year moving into the ultra-competitive Mission League. Playing three games in a week will be very challenging. The question always becomes will there be enough pitching depth.
Harvard-Westlake and Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) are quality, top-notch programs.