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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 Santa Margaria Catholic Eagles.

2025 TEAM OUTLOOK

High School: Santa Margarita Catholic Eagles
Head Coach: Chris Malec
CIF Section: Southern Section
Division: Division 1 (2024)
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 22-10-1 (CIF-SS Quarterfinals - CIF State Regional Semis)
Key Players Lost: Cade Townsend (Ole Miss), Logan de Groot (UCLA), Jake Lavin (Cal)

+ No. Returning Positional Players: 7
+ No. Returning Pitchers: 5
+ Team Strengths: We have a great deal of speed, athleticism and versatility.  We feel like we can defend the ball really well and attack the zone with some proven consistent strike throwers.  We have a lot of experience on both sides of the ball 

+ Key Players:

Seniors:

+ '25 INF Blake Ankrum

+ '25 INF/RHP Trevor Banning Santa Clara Commit

+ '25 RHP Brennan Bauer

+ '25 C Carter Enoch

+ '25 1B/OF/LHP Ben Finnegan 

+ '25 OF/RHP Logan Freeborn CSU Monterey Commit

+ '25 RHP Hayden George UCLA Commit

+ '25 1B Benjamin Lindsay

+ '25 INF/OF Lucas Owens

+ '25 C/OF Aramis Perez Whittier Commit

+ '25 OF Delmar Perez

+ '25 RHP Ethan Russell UC San Diego Commit

+ '25 RHP Christopher Saucedo 

+ '25 INF Gavin Spiridonoff Cal Poly SLO Commit

Juniors:

+ '26 LHP Noah Darnell

+ '26 C/1B/RHP Warren  Gravely IV Notre Dame Commit

+ 26 C/OF Chase Marlow USD Commit

+ '26 UTL Andre Owens Oklahoma St. Commit

+ '26 INF Brody Schumaker TCU Commit

+ '26 OF/RHP Jacob Wicker LMU Commit

+ Projected Starters: Brennan Bauer, Ethan Russell, Hayden George, Chris Saucedo
+ Projected Relievers: Noah Darnell, Nick Gifoli, Tyler Unter, Trevor Banning

IMPACT UNDERCLASSMEN 

Not on this years squad

BOTTOM LINE

Love our ball club. Tremendous group of high character young man, very talented, deep roster with a lot of experience. They know how to play, know how to compete. We will challenge them daily with a gauntlet of a schedule. Excited for the opportunity for everyone to watch these guys play. - Coach Malec 

PREP BASEBALL CA STAFF’S TAKE

"With as many as seven left-handed hitters in their lineup, the Eagles are certain to cause havoc for all opposing pitchers. And these are just any left-handed hitters Santa Margarita will trot out. Many of these hitters are highly ranked and accomplished players that will carry the load offensively for the Eagles. On the mound, the Eagles will look to a deep rotation with anticipation of the return of Hayden George who missed most/all of last season with injury. If George regains his form from two seasons ago, the Eagles will absolutely have the depth and talent on the mound to make a run at the Trinity League title with eyes on a return the CIF-SS D1 final which they were last in two season ago in one of the most epic high school baseball games I've ever seen. The Eagles will have to navigate a brutally tough schedule both in league and out of, but if the Eagles can get hot at the right time, there's no doubt they have the talent to go all the way." - Les Lukach

Learn more about California’s 2025 spring season below:

+ Follow Santa Margarita Catholic on X: @SMCHSBaseball 
+ Find more team previews on the Prep Baseball California Season Previews homepage

FOLLOW US THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball California on X
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+ Prep Baseball California on Facebook
+ Prep Baseball California on YouTube

MORE 2025 TEAM PREVIEWS

Upcoming Events

Showcase	State	Date	Location
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