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Ventura, Calif. - As the entirety of the of the California High School sections are fully underway including the Northern sections all playing games Prep Baseball California will be highlighting a weekly game of the week.

This weeks match up from NorCal will feature a pair of Central Section programs that are off to strong starts in the 2024 season in Bakersfield. Highland features a powerful offense which is presently averaging over 8 runs a game while Independence has a pitching staff which has been dominant on the mound allowing no extra base hits to this point while allowing less than 1 earned run per game and just 15 runs against them in 7 games this year.

Highland Scots vs. Independence Falcons

+ Date: 3/14/24

+ Time: 4:00 PM

+ Location: Independence High School (Bakersfield, Ca.)

+ Highland HS 2024 Record:  6-1 Overall

+ Head Coach:  Mike Garza

+ Independce HS 2024 Record:  6-1 Overall

+ Head Coach: Chad Shelton

+ Key Players (Highland): 

+ '24 UTL Kaleb Pinedo

+ '25 OF Elijah Legan

+ '26 C Richard Gutierrez

+ '25 INF/OF Nicholas Gonzales

+ '25 UTL Diego Hernandez

+ '26 UTL Izaiah Ott

+ '25 RHP/INF Santiago Blanco

+ '26 UTL Jeremiah England

+ '24 P/1B Ethan Aguirre

+ Key Players (Independence): 

+ '25 Aldo Salcedo

+ '24 Julian Nevarez

+ '25 Brandon Gutierrez

+ '24 Tyler Stansberry

+ '26 David Baralt

+ '25 Isaiah Guzman

+ '24 Ivan Caldera

+ '26 Isaac Lopez

+ '24 Jack Holland

Game Preview:  Highland will enter this match up on the strength of a lineup that has scored 10+ runs in 3 games already this year while hitting .335 as a team and scoring 61 runs in 7 games so far. Their offensive onslaught is being lead by senior Kaleb Pinedo who is hitting .591 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs with 5 BB's to 1 K and he is only be outperformed by junior Elijah Legan who is hitting .545 with 2 doubles, 3 triples, 12 RBIs with 3 BB's to 0 K's. The pitching staff is fronted by Junior Santiago Blanco who is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.23 and has struck out 18 in 15.2 IP with sophomore Jeremiah England providing a stellar young force with 8 IP, 1.75 ERA and 6 K's so far on the season. Highland has allowed 4 runs or less in 6 of their 7 games so far. Independence's offense is fronted by Junior Aldo Sanchez who is hitting .421 with 2 doubles and HR plus 6 RBIs and 7 run scored with 4 BB's and 4 K's. After Sanchez its a balanced attack for the Falcons who have 5 regulars hitting over .300 on the season currently. The Falcons are .317 as a team so far and have scored 44 runs. Pitching for the Falcons has been very stellar with a team ERA at .76 allowing just 20 hits over the course of the season with no extra base hits. It will be an intriguing matchup of a very good pitching staff taking on an explosive offense in a mid-March Central Section battle.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Showcase	State	Date	Location
Rising Stars ID: Los Angeles	CA	03/17	O'Malley Field
Rising Stars ID: San Diego	CA	03/24	Eastlake High School
Rising Stars ID: Corona	CA	03/30	Corona High School
Rising Stars ID: VTA County	CA	04/21	Thousand Oaks High School
SoCal Rising Stars Game	CA	05/12	Mater Dei High School
FUTURE GAMES TRYOUT: Orange County	CA	06/01	Fullerton College
FUTURE GAMES TRYOUT: Ventura County	CA	06/09	Westmont College

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