With the 2019 high school baseball season just around the corner in Nevada we will begin rolling out team previews from around the state.  We begin our pre-season preview as we will continue to do for years to come the defending state champion, Palo Verde Panthers. Competing in the Mountain Northwest Division is never an easy task as the defending champions finished second last season in the  league behind Centennial.  Nevertheless, the Panthers appear poised to make another deep run in the playoffs, if not successfully defend their championship.

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Team: Palo Verde Panthers                            

NIAA Classification: 4A

League: Mountain Northwest

Head Coach: Joe Hallead

2018 Overall Record: 31-9

2018 League Finish: League 2nd Place/Region Champions

2018 1^st place Finish in League: Centennial

2018 Postseason Finish: 2018 4A State Champions

Number of Returning Starters: 6

Number of Returning Pitchers: 3

Top Returning Players: ’19 3B/P Bryce Robison; ’19 SS/P Peyton Cole; ’19 P Austin Raleigh; ’19 2B Nate Bartlett; ’19 1B Tyler Kim; ’20 3B/P Jayden Agassi; ’20 C/OF Josiah Cromwick; ’20 UT Paul Myro; ’20 SS/P Noah Carabajal

College Commits: ’19 3B/P Bryce Robison - BYU; ’19 SS/P Peyton Cole - BYU; ’19 P Austin Raleigh - UNLV; ’19 1B Tyler Kim - MIT; ’20 3B/P Jayden Agassi - USC; ’20 UT Paul Myro – Oregon State; ’20 SS/P Noah Carabajal – St. Marys; ’21 OF/P Thomas Di Landri – TCU; ’22 OF/P Mason Neville – San Diego State.

Top 2019 Players: ’19 3B/P Bryce Robison; ’19 SS/P Peyton Cole; ’19 P Austin Raleigh; ’19 2B Nate Bartlett; ’19 1B Tyler Kim.

Top 2020 Players: ’20 3B/P Jayden Agassi; ’20 C/OF Josiah Cromwick; ’20 UT Paul Myro; ’20 SS/P Noah Carabajal; ’20  P Paul Shawn Pasqualatto

Other Players to Watch: ’21 OF/P Thomas Di Landri; ‘22 OF/P Mason Neville.

2019 Outlook: As strong as it appears that the Panthers were a year ago, they may have improved their team leading into this season.  Key losses will certainly be felt in graduates Jaret (Oklahoma) and Jacob Godman (UNLV) but the additions of transfers Paul Myro, Thomas Di Landri and Paul Shawn Pasqualatto should offset the impact those losses play.  The Panthers likely return not only the deepest pitching staff but perhaps the most talented. Coach Hallead and his staff will have their work cut out for them trying to find the innings to keep those talented arms sharp.  Certainly, they will rely heavily on the right arm of Bryce Robison and his sub 2 ERA (67Ks/54 IP).  Austin Raleigh (LHP), Peyton Cole (RHP), Noah Carabajal (RHP), and Jaden Agassi (RHP) will no doubt be competing for time in the rotation as well.  Transfer, Paul Shawn Pasqualatto could proove an interesting option at the backend of the game. 

Offensively, the Panthers appear to be as potent as they have ever been with a complete offensive attack.  They have a nice “table setter” in 2B, Nathan Bartlett (.386) and plenty of guys behind him to drive him in: Peyton Cole (.467/6/18); Josiah Cromwick (.369/7/31); and Tyler Kim (.291/3/19).  A host of other players could impact the lineup as well: Bryce Robison (.287/5/15), Austin Raleigh, and Jaden Agassi, not to mention transfers Thomas Di Landri, Paul Myro and Paul Shawn Pasqualatto.

It is still unclear as to the playing status of Di Landri and Myro as reports have their eligibility presently under review. If a vulnerability does exist, it could be on the defensive side of the ball.  The Panthers fielded .957 a year ago.  Their pitching and offensive prowess provided them the margin for error to overcome their defensive miscues, propelling them to the state title. Another area of concern for Coach Hallead and his staff might be over confidence.  They won the title a year ago and have seemingly improved their team.  They will certainly receive their opponents’ best effort day in and day out as everyone will be “gunning” for them.  Getting to the top is tough, but staying there is tougher.

Below is PBR Nevada’s projected starting lineup for the Panthers: 

1. 2B        Nathan Bartlett
2. CF        Paul Myro
3. SS        Peyton Cole
4. C          Josiah Cromwick
5. RF        Thomas Di Landri
6. P          Bryce Robison
7. 3B        Paul Shawn Pasqualatto
8. 1B        Tyler Kim
9. LF        Noah Carabajal