2025 High School Previews: Oaks Christian Lions
January 6, 2025
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The 2025 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 these individual programs across California. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings.
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 2025 preseason coverage continues today with a preview of the Oaks Christian Lions.
2025 TEAM OUTLOOK
High School: Oaks Christian Lions
Head Coach: Rick Hirtensteiner
CIF Section: Southern Section
Division: 1
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 14-14 CIF-SS D1 playoffs
Key Players Lost: Elijah Clayton (Cal), McKenzie Parks, Caz Arroyo
+ No. Returning Positional Starters: 9
+ No. Returning Pitchers: 7
+ Team Strengths: Starting pitching, lineup depth, power, athleticism and overall defense
ROSTER PREVIEW
+ Key Players:
Seniors:
+ '25 SS/3B Quentin Young LSU Commit
+ '25 LHP Ty Hanley CSU-Bakersfield Commit
Juniors:
+ '26 C Carson Sheffer Oklahoma State Commit
+ '26 RHP/OF Jack Laubacher Oklahoma State Commit
+ Projected Starters: Jack Laubacher, Ty Hanley, James Latshaw,
+ Projected Relievers: Still to be determined
IMPACT UNDERCLASSMEN
+ '28 OF/1B/RHP Oliver Dauskurdas
BOTTOM LINE
Oaks Christian battled atop the Marmonte League to the final week of the season and earned a berth into the CIF-SS D1 playoffs before falling to a very good La Mirada squad. The starting rotation is very strong with a pair of D1 commits to front it and a successful talented 3rd starter to round out the 3-game Marmonte League weekly schedule. Figuring out the bullpen roles will be paramount to the Lions success throughout the 2025 season. A lineup that features some big name star power and plenty of depth from top to bottom it has a chance to be the biggest strength of the squad.
PREP BASEBALL CA STAFF’S TAKE
The Marmonte League has long been one of the best leagues in the Ventura County region and often times the Southern California region with the depth/talent of each team in this league making it a difficult schedule to navigate through year in and year out. The Lions have finished near the top of the Marmonte League on a consistent basis, but this year enter the season as one of the favorites to claim the league title come May 2025. Their duo of Laubacher and Hanley on the mound to open the 3 game a week Marmonte schedule will put them in prime position to win plenty of 3 game series plus if Latshaw claims the 3rd spot in the rotation again it's going to make taking 1 game difficult from the Lions on a weekly basis let alone 2 or 3. The key though will be the performance of the arms behind that trio in how successful Oaks will be come spring season. Rest assured even if ther pitching staff has an off day the Lions boast what might be the best lineup on paper headed into the 2025 spring season to make up for any pitching struggles. With Quentin Young the focal piece of this lineup not all the pressure rests on his shoulders as the bats of Carson Sheffer, Brown, Laubacher, Latshaw, Puls, Brinkman and others will make for a difficult group to navigate for any opposing pitcher. Winning the Marmonte League is no easy task, but this group at Oaks Christian has a chance to claim that title, but also to make some noise come CIF-SS playoff time - Steven Hardesty Assistant Scouting Director
Learn more about California’s 2025 spring season below:
+ Follow Oaks Christian on X: @OaksChrstnLions
+ Find more team previews on the Prep Baseball California Power 25 homepage
FOLLOW US THROUGHOUT THE SPRING
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MORE 2025 TEAM PREVIEWS
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Novato Hornets 2/09/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) Knights 2/09/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Rocklin Thunder 2/08/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Harvard Westlake Wolverines 2/08/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Villa Park Spartans 2/07/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Franklin Wildcats 2/07/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Ayala Bulldogs 2/03/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Buena Bulldogs 2/03/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Paso Robles Bearcats 2/02/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Amador Buffaloes 2/02/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Folsom Bulldogs 2/01/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Corona Del Mar Sea Kings 2/01/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Petaluma Trojans 1/30/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Clovis West 1/30/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Foothill Knights 1/30/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Oak Ridge Trojans 1/29/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Fullerton Indians 1/29/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Granite Hills Eagles 1/28/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: St. Francis Salesian Prep Sharks 1/28/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Santa Margarita Catholic Eagles 1/27/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Patrick Henry Patriots 1/27/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Mater Dei Monarchs 1/25/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: St. Augustine Saints 1/25/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: San Marcos Royals 1/24/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Cabrillo Conquistadores 1/23/25
Upcoming Events
Showcase | State | Date | Location |
Central California Preseason ID | CA | 01/12/25 | Ventura College |
North Bay Preseason ID | CA | 01/25/25 | Novato High School |
Inland Empire Preseason ID | CA | 01/26/25 | Ganesha High School |
East Bay Preseason ID | CA | 02/01/25 | Pittsburg High School |
Sacramento Preseason ID | CA | 02/09/25 | McBean Park |
Orange County Rising Stars ID | CA | 03/02/25 | Mater Dei High School |
Inland Empire Rising Stars ID | CA | 03/30/25 | Corona High School |
Los Angeles Rising Stars ID | CA | 04/27/25 | O'Malley Field |
MORE PREP BASEBALL NEWS
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Novato Hornets 2/09/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) Knights 2/09/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Rocklin Thunder 2/08/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Harvard Westlake Wolverines 2/08/25
- CA Central California Preseason ID: Infielder Analysis 2/07/25
- CA Central California Preseason ID: Catcher Analysis 2/07/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Villa Park Spartans 2/07/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Franklin Wildcats 2/07/25
- CA Sacramento Preseason ID: Preview Story 2/07/25
- CA Sacramento Rising Stars ID: Preview Story 2/07/25