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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: Simi Valley Pioneers
Head Coach: Scott Vermette
CIF Section: CIF-SS, Division 2
Conference League: Coastal Canyon
2023 Record: 21-8
Team X Handle: @Pioneerbaseball

Team Strengths: Defense
No. of Returning Starters: 3
No. of Returning Pitchers: 1
Areas of Improvement: Pitching and Hitting

 

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TOP UNCOMMITTED SENIORS

+ ‘24 OF Hector Pina - 5’11 170 lbs.
+ ‘24 MIF Landen Adair - 5'9 165 lbs.
+ ‘24 RHP Raul Centeno - 6'0 178 lbs.
+ ‘24 RHP Diego Barajas - 6'3 170 lbs.

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TOP UNCOMMITTED JUNIORS

+ ‘25 OF/LHP Liam Blake - 5'10 170 lbs.

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TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2026

+ ‘26 INF/OF Quinton McGahan - 5'9 145 lbs.
+ ‘26 LHP Kyle Casey - 6'0 155 lbs.
+ ‘26 LHP/OF Jackson Goshorn - 6'0 155 lbs.

Class of 2027

+ ‘27 C Evan Rodriguez - 5'9 145 lbs.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

After amassing a successful 20-8 overall record and a 9-2 record in league play, the Pioneers look to build off that as they head into their 2024 season. Leading the way for the offense will be ‘24 Hector Pina who led the team last year in RBIs. Up-the-middle will be ‘24 Landen Adair, who will be a four year varsity starter for the Pioneers. On the mound, senior ‘24 Raul Centeno will be in the mix, whether it is in a starters role or at the back end of the bullpen to close out important games. Fellow senior, ‘24 Diego Barajas is another experienced arm that could see himself as the Pioneers’ No. 1 starter this year. ‘25 Liam Blake is another upperclassmen that is expected to make some two-way contributions this season, too.

A number of underclassmen will see some significant playing time this year, according to Coach Vermette. Amongst those, ‘26 Quinton McGahan is an athletic sophomore to know on this squad. ‘26 Kyle Casey and ‘26 Jackson Goshorn are two sophomore arms that are expected to see time on the mound. Freshman ‘27 Evan Rodriguez will man responsibilities behind the plate and Coach Vermette said he “should start all four years on varsity.” While it is a relatively young team, the Pioneers are littered with experience and also have some young names that have the ability to make an impact right away on varsity.

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