High School Baseball 2011 Preview

With spring high school sports starting to ramp up, this Valley is going to see some of the finest baseball it has witnessed in quite some time.

2010 defending champs Murrieta Valley and Vista Murrieta are preseason favorites to battle for another Southwestern league championship. Murrieta Mesa, with coach Matt Mosiello leading the team, will play their first full season as a varsity program. Here is a breakdown of the three local teams:

Vista Murrieta Broncos

First Year Varsity Coach Kurt Ruth:

Even with the start of a new coaching era at , things will pretty much look and feel the same as last year.

Coach Ruth said, "The team has pretty much stayed in tacked other then a couple of graduating seniors from last season and experience will be one of our biggest assets this season."

This team is loaded with two and three-year varsity players, many of whom have CIF playoff experience.

Over the summer, this Bronco team was crowned American Legion Champion for the State of California.

The biggest loss to the Broncos' season might have already happened in December, when All-League pitcher/outfielder Matt Silberman had to undergo Tommy John surgery.

"Matt was going to be the starting lefthander and everyday player for the Broncos this year and he will be sorely missed," Coach Ruth said.

Team captain and third-year varsity player Spencer Giron and Anthony Datil will be the starters and behind the plate, as will be captain and three-year starter Jaison Craig.

Around the infield. there is captain and fourth-year starter Holger Robalino at third base, with third-year starter Clayton Antista at first base.

Up the middle, there are Aaron Blackwell, Jeff Moberg. Then there's super sophomore Joven Afenir, who will hit leadoff, play second base and hold down the closer's roll in late innings.

In the outfield, the anchors will be captain and third-year varsity player Joe Ortuno, along with Jagade Snyder, an All League Defensive player for the football team who possesses lightning speed.

There have been a few surprises this year, too.

"Bruce Sims who has worked hard not only all summer but this winter as well, and with that effort has earned himself a starting roll in the outfield with our team," Ruth said.

Although Bruce is not a captain coach Ruth said he is an emotional leader on this team, "for sure."

Off-the-bench seniors Torey Roberts, Billy Crothers, Chase Bacon and junior Tyler Rausa, an all-league kicker on the football team this year, will be called upon often to make it happen for the Broncos.

Murrieta Valley Nighthawks

Second Year Varsity Coach Scott Widner:

The Nighthawks start this season as defending Southwestern Baseball Champions and as Coach Widner recalled last year he said, "It was just remarkable."

Widner understands that everyone would be gunning after the Nighthawks this year, looking to grab that championship title away from them. After last season ended, he said he decided to take a good look at all the talent throughout his program to prepare for this year. 

Over the summer, Widner split the squads and really evaluated his younger talent. With that strategy, he was able to create a team not only loaded with fantastic senior talent, but one that will be loaded next year with good talent as well.

This year's roster has nine juniors and one sophomore and as Widner said, "every player on this team has a chance to play if they work hard."

Two Nighthawk players, Michael Jordan (Pepperdine) and Gunner Vanden bossche (Cal Baptist) have already signed letters of intent to play college baseball next year. By the end of this season, there could be several more--with maybe one or two being drafted to the big leagues, Widner said.

Starting pitching will be team captains Michael Jordan and Kyle Nielsen. Three-year varsity player Gunner Vanden bossche will be behind the plate.

With the tournament schedule that is coming up, Widner is looking for pitchers like Phillip Jones, Kyle Orwig, Casey Howley and closer Cody Weatherbee to really step up and help the team.

One of the teams biggest competitors, Widner said, is Kyle Neilsen. When he is not pitching, Neilsen will anchor the outfield along with Nighthawks soccer star and centerfielder Chris Sanders.

Most of the infielders will be brand new for the Nighthawks this year, with Ryan Bartley and Tyler Wade battling for the third-base position.

Up the middle, Jason Padlo, who played junior varsity last year, is looking like the starting shortstop. Over at second, there is another great battle going on between juniors Brandon Brintz and Mathew Matlock for that starting spot.

First base will be occupied by Michael Jordan. When he is pitching, Phillip Jones will play first.

"There is such parity in our league that any team can win on any given day," Widner said. "We have the opportunity to do some good things this year, it’s just going depend on how our young guys step up and do the job.”

The defending Southwestern champs will start their run at another championship season Saturday.

Murrieta Mesa Rams

Second-Year Varsity Coach: Matt Mosiello

Mesa Baseball starts this season with a full varsity schedule in its second year as a varsity program.

With a very young team mostly composed of juniors and sophomores, the Rams have their work cut out for them. Mosiello is no stranger to hard work and what it takes to win, as was evident in 2007 when he helped coach Vista Murrieta to its first CIF baseball title.

He is a well-respected coach in this valley and is excited about developing a great baseball program at .

Reflecting on last year's season in the Southwestern League, Mosiello said, “The best thing about last year was that we called it one long spring training."

This year's philosophy is, “play hard," he added.

The starting rotation to this point is Miles Schuler and Chase Chambers, with Jakob Thomas behind the plate.

The infield will be anchored by sophomore shortstop Ruben Gonzalez, with Chris Franklin, Chase Chambers and others looking to win a starting spot.

In the outfield, Darron Jones looks to have a big year with the stick.

Freshmen infielders Samori Buchanan and Brando Kock look to find a spot in coach Mosiello’s lineup this year.

"No team at Mesa High School has ever won a league game in any sport to this point, so the baseball team will hopefully be the first,” Mosiello said.