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The San Fernando Valley and surrounding area is loaded with high school baseball talent. As the 2023 spring season gets underway, the Daily News will look at the best players to watch on the field, from the mound and at the plate.
Be on the lookout for lists that highlight the area’s best pitchers, infielders, outfielders and hitters.
TOP INFIELDERS
Some of the area’s best players from last season return to make noise this spring.
Saugus’ Zach Plasschaert is an Arizona commit that plays first base, third base and can play in the outfield. The 6-foot-4 athlete batted .350 as a junior last year in the Foothill League. Hart junior Brayden Jefferis is sure to wow fans at least once a game with an eye-popping play at shortstop. Jefferis has tremendous flair in his game, making plays like Derek Jeter.
West Ranch’s top infielder is senior Josef Brosche. Castaic senior Aaron Gonzalez is a third baseman that batted .443 and had 31 hits for the Coyotes. Valencia’s top infielders are Lance Mittleman at third base and Evan Jaquez at shortstop.
In the Marmonte League, sophomore Matthew Witkow returns at third base after being named the Daily News Freshman of the Year last season. Teammate Nate Castellon is a standout junior at shortstop. Westlake’s Nolan and Nate Johnson (twins) play up the middle for the Warriors. Nolan is the catcher and Nate plays shortstop. Newbury Park senior Derek Turner will command the infield for the Panthers.
In the Mission League, Sierra Canyon will lean on a duo of seniors Kehden Hettiger, who will play catcher and first base, and Omar Cisneros at shortstop. St. Francis’ first-year coach Shaun Kort inherits young, promising infielders in junior Holden Dietch and sophomore Jordan Lewallen. Notre Dame’s Madden Ocko is at first base, Greg Pierantani is at shortstop and Levi Sterling is at the hot corner.
Harvard-Westlake’s Bryce Rainer is…
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