Follow @PBRCalifornia Follow @LesLukach Follow @PBRmonkFollow @hardy03bsbl

New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast

The 2024 California high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across California.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective CIF Section Championship Game, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across California. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action and the Third Annual Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across California. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, Podcasts and much more.

Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Oak Ridge Trojans
Head Coach: Todd Melton
CIF Section: CIF-SJS Division 1
Conference League: Sierra Foothill League SFL
2023 Record: 15-13-1
Team X Handle: @OakRidgeBasebll

Team Strengths: Pitching and defense will be solid. The hitting has a chance to be one of our better lineups
No. of Returning Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Areas of Improvement: Offense should be improved and overall pitching depth with quality arms

 

---

TOP UNCOMMITTED SENIORS

+ ‘24 OF/RHP Brady Rea - 6’1 190 lbs.

+ ‘24 OF/1B Dylan Westbrook - 6’1 170 lbs.

+ ‘24 SS/RHP Andrew Del Pizzo - 5’10 180 lbs.

+ ‘24 RHP Bryson Elliot - 6’3 190 lbs.

---

TOP UNCOMMITTED JUNIORS

+ ‘25 C/RHP Jackson Molloy - 6’1 190 lbs.

---

TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2026

+ ‘26 UTL Ryan Hubbard - 5’10 190 lbs.

---

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Trojans enter the 2024 CIF season with high expectations in the Sierra Foothill League on the outskirts of Sacramento. Their six returning starters—in addition to their newcomers—primes Oak Ridge to find success throughout the regular season. It starts with ‘24 Dylan Westbrook at the plate, a powerful left-handed batter that returns as the Trojans’ top hitter, according to head coach Todd Melton. Over the summer, Westbrook made noise at the California State Games at Fullerton College. The left-hander took a solid round of batting practice—barreling line drives to all portions of the field in a quiet, repeatable approach.

Westbrook will be joined by fellow outfielder in ‘24 Brady Rea at the top of the order for Oak Ridge. Rea presents speed and some pop as one of the Trojans’ prime outfielders. His work on the mound will be paired with that of ‘24 Andrew Del Pizzo and ‘24 Bryson Elliot—each of which have recently sat in the upper-80s with their fastballs.

This group is anchored by ‘25 Jackson Molloy. Molloy will be the man behind the plate for Oak Ridge—coming off of a successful outing at the NorCal Uncommitted Games back in October. Molloy is an athletic mover at the catcher position, and has a knack for the barrel at the plate. In October, Molloy registered multiple exit velocities in the low-90s after a solid round of batting practice.

Their swiss-army knife in ‘26 Ryan Hubbard is ranked No. 188 in California’s 2026 class—emerging as a name-to-know in this group early on in the spring. Hubbard showcased pop times between 1.90-1.98 seconds at the NorCal Preseason All-State event this January, but is also utilized as a corner infielder and outfielder for Oak Ridge. His strength comes into play at the plate as well, where Hubbard was described by Melton with an “advanced feel” for hitting—emerging as a key middle-of-the-order presence for the Trojans in just his sophomore year.

That plethora of prospects looks to improve off of a 15-13-1 overall record in the 2023 season, and take the next step toward success in 2024.

Coach Todd Melton’s Expectations: “We will expect to compete for a SFL title and for a Section title”

---

MORE PREP BASEBALL NEWS