Follow @PrepBaseballCA 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: Santa Paula Cardinals
Head Coach: Gabe Diaz
CIF Section: CIF-SS, Division 5
Conference League: Citrus Coast
2023 Record: 15-12
Team X Handle: @SPCardinalsBSB

Team Strengths: Defense and Senior leadership
No. of Returning Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Areas of Improvement: Pitching

 

---

COMMITTED PLAYERS

+ ‘24 OF Tyler Antwine - Fresno State - 6’3 215 lbs.

R/R 2022 POY, 1st All County, All CIF, 2023 1st Team All League All County

---

TOP UNCOMMITTED SENIORS

+ ‘24 C/RHP Timmy Alvarez - 5’8 185 lbs.
+ ‘24 OF/LHP Julian Perales - 5’9 165 lbs.
+ ‘24 C/DH Alex Tobias - 5’10 215 lbs.
+ ‘24 INF/RHP Sammy Gomez - 5’7 155 lbs.

---

TOP UNCOMMITTED JUNIORS

+ ‘25 UTIL Ruben Venegas - 5’8 160 lbs.
+ ‘25 INF/RHP Angel Casimiro - 5’7 150 lbs.
+ ‘25 INF/RHP Colin Dominguez - 5’10, 155, lbs.
+ ‘25 INF/RHP Aaron Gonzalez - 5’10 180 lbs.

---

TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2026

+ ‘26 OF Jesse Chavez - 5’8 150 lbs.
+ ‘26 INF/RHP Sebastian Mendez - 5’8 155 lbs.
+ ‘26 INF Sebastian Alcantar - 5’7 165 lbs.

Class of 2027

+ ‘27 INF/RHP Xavier Alcantar - 5’7 150 lbs.
+ ‘27 OF/RHP Jack Wadkowski - 5’10 160 lbs.
+ ‘27 C/INF Tobias Baca - 5’9 150 lbs.

---

TEAM OUTLOOK

Santa Paula returns a majority of their team from last year’s 15-12 record in the Citrus Coast Conference. Nestled in on the banks of the Pacific Coast, the Cardinals are led by their lone committed prospect in ‘24 Tyler Antwine, who will man the outfield coming off of numerous accolades in 2023 from around the Los Angeles area. His prowess both offensively and defensively slides Santa Paula to near the top of the Citrus Coast Conference, as he will take his talents to Fresno State next year.

Antwine is surrounded by multiple seniors who have gained valuable experience on the diamond and are looking to find even more success in their final season of prep baseball. Head coach Gabe Diaz—in addition to a strong junior class—will look to his underclassmen to find some production as well.

The Cardinals will compete with the best of them though, as they endure a long regular season against the likes of other powers from around the area such as Malibu and Carpinteria.

Coach Gabe Diaz’s Expectations: “Win League, get to postseason”

---

MORE PREP BASEBALL NEWS