2025 High School Previews: Valencia Vikings
January 22, 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 Valencia Vikings.
2025 TEAM OUTLOOK
High School: Valencia Vikings
Head Coach: Tim Pennell
CIF Section: Southern Section
Division: Division 2 (2024)
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 15-13-1 (CIF-SS D2 round 2)
Key Players Lost: Aiden Voyles, Chad Stanchfield
+ No. Returning Positional Players: 2
+ No. Returning Pitchers: 3
+ Team Strengths: Defensive ability all over the field and pitching staff.
ROSTER PREVIEW
+ Key Players:
Seniors:
+ '25 Conor Crawford
+ '25 INF Colton Biggs
Juniors:
+ '26 Zach Davis
+ '26 Dexton Otton
+ '26 Carter Lawson
+ '26 Kyle Joising
+ '26 Paco Valaquez
+ Projected Starters: Justin Gaisford, Noah Jaquez, Dexton Otton, Connor Crawford
+ Projected Relievers: Grey Lewis, Charlie Rominelli
IMPACT UNDERCLASSMEN
+ '27 Cole DeYoung
BOTTOM LINE
The 2025 Vikings squad features a large depth of upperclassmen especially with the SR. class being very solid and a strong JR. class behind them. We are going to play defense at a high level across the board and we boast a deep strong pitching staff which will make us tough to score on. But, how well we produce on the offensive side of the game is going to go a long way to determining if we get back to the playoffs again in 2025. - Coach Pennell
PREP BASEBALL CA STAFF’S TAKE
The Vikings put together a solid 2024 campaign in which I got multiple looks at them over the course of the fall/spring and then pushed the eventual CIF-SS D2 runner up Moorpark squad in the playoffs. Now with some new faces taking prominent roles in their lineup their ability to produce on offense is going to be a key part of what they do both in league play, but also in trying to make a return trip to the playoffs. I'm a big fan of Sr. 2-way Noah Jaquez and what he can do both to guide their offense, but also how valuable he will be to their pitching staff. Jr. 2-way Justin Gaisford is a talented/polished player who will be also vital to their offensive and pitching success. I got a quick look at Hunt in 2024 and his RH hitting profile could be a big piece of the offense plus I've gotten some good reports coming back on Wertz and DeYoung as potential key pieces. All in all the Foothill League year in and year out is difficult to find success in as one of the best public school only leagues in my region, but the Vikings have the pieces in their program to make some noise towards the top of the league again in 2025. - Assistant Scouting Director Steven Hardesty
Learn more about California’s 2025 spring season below:
+ Follow Valencia on X: @valenciabasebal
+ Find more team previews on the Prep Baseball California Season Previews homepage
FOLLOW US THROUGHOUT THE SPRING
+ Prep Baseball California on X
+ Prep Baseball California on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball California on Facebook
+ Prep Baseball California on YouTube
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 |
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 Central California Preseason ID: Outfielder Analysis 2/10/25
- CA Sacramento Preseason ID: Statistical Analysis 2/10/25
- 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