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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 season coverage continues today.

High School: St. Augustine Saints
Head Coach: Craig da Luz
CIF Section: CIF-SDS, Division 1
Conference League: Western League
2023 Record: 16-12
Team X Handle: @stadirtbags

Team Strengths: Defense and Offense.
No. of Returning Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Areas of Improvement: Pitching depth

 

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COMMITTED PLAYERS

+ ‘24 OF Justin Heffler - St. Mary's - 5’11 185 lbs.

+ ‘25 RHP/1B Grayson Boles - Texas - 6’5 215 lbs.

+ ‘25 SS Tyler Wick - Oregon - 6’0 180 lbs.

+ ‘25 MIF Raphael Dunne - UC San Diego - 5’8 140 lbs.

+ ‘25 C Shane Miranda - Notre Dame - 5’11 182 lbs.

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TOP UNCOMMITTED SENIORS

+ ‘24 C/OF Daniel Feiner

+ ‘24 OF Grayson Keleman

+ ‘24 SS Tommy Carney

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TOP UNCOMMITTED JUNIORS

+ ‘25 C/1B/OF Anthony Tompkins - 6’0 180 lbs.

+ ‘25 RHP Michael Ivanjack - 6’0 180 lbs.

+ ‘25 RHP Ryan Popkins - 5’11 180 lbs.

+ ‘25 RHP Jonah DePerro

+ ‘25 RHP Cristian Mares - 5’9 155 lbs.

+ ‘25 Drake Konja

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TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2026

+ ‘26 3B Nate Balkenbush

+ ‘26 INF Mikey Ruiz

+ ‘26 RHP Joseph Jacques

Class of 2027

+ ‘27 SS Mario Vitale - 5’11 155 lbs.

+ ‘27 INF Guillermo MacFarland - 5’9 165 lbs.

+ ‘27 OF Lorenzo Haros - 5’9 150 lbs.

+ ‘27 C Nicholas Sanchez

+ ‘27 MIF Niko Pandza

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Despite competing in the ultra-competitive Western League, St. Augustine has high hopes and is backed by a deep and talented roster. Off to a 3-1 start, Notre Dame commit ‘25 Shane Miranda has been leading the offensive firepower so far, as he has already tallied five hits in his eight at-bats, good for a .625 batting average. ‘24 Justin Heffler is also off to a solid start, as he is hitting to an average of .417 and has also tallied four RBIs, too. While some of the other expected offensive producers aren’t off to the hot start they were expecting, they all certainly have the talents to do so as the season progresses.

On the mound, juniors Grayson Boles and Michael Ivanjack have worn the brunt of innings thus far. Ivanjack has pitched to a 3.11 ERA in his nine innings of work thus far. As for Boles, he has struckout 11 in eight innings, and is pitching to a ERA of 2.62. Other names like ‘25 Tyler Wick, ‘25 Ryan Popkins, and ‘25 Cristian Mares have all seen some time on the mound already too.

Coach Craig da Luz’s Expectations: “Returning a good core of players. Pitching depth will be an area where we need to improve. Defensively and offensively we should be very good. Our top 2 arms will have to carry us until we figure out a 3 and 4 , long man and closer role. Lots of unproven arms to assess and build up. Returning most of our offense from a year ago. The Western league is riddled with D1 talent and lots of it. Our schedule is packed with talented clubs, the goal is to build a machine as the season goes on and be ready for a championship run come league and CIF playoffs. We have the ability, just need to put it all together and believe we can do it. I am confident we will.”

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