Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Preview: West Ranch Wildcats


PBR California Staff

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COVID ended the 2020 season early throughout the State but as things progress quickly for the 2021 high school season, it’s time for us to preview teams from around the State in the Yearly Preseason Preview. Schedules are being adapted to fit the ever-changing landscape and though this season may look different than history has shown us, coaches/staff, players, families, and our team are preparing for 2021 to be as successful as possible. 

We’ve submitted the Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state and their responses have been flooding in. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be using their detailed insight on our team-by-team previews ahead of the 2021 season leading into the California Power 25 Rankings. 

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With all that said let’s take a look at today’s Preseason Preview of the West Ranch Wildcats.

TEAM:

West Ranch Wildcats

HEAD COACH (years at school):

Casey Burrill (16)

OFFICIAL TWITTER:

@wrbaseball

CIF SECTION & DIVISION:

Southern Section / Division 1

CONFERENCE/LEAGUE NAME:

Foothill

LAST YEAR’S RECORD:

5-6

# OF RETURNING STARTERS:

6

# OF RETURNING PITCHERS:

5

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS:

2021 RHP/1B James Hepp - UCLA

2021 RHP Scott Bauman

2021 RHP/OF Ryan Lang

2021 RHP Trent Huff

2021 RHP/OF Austin Puett

2021 C/3B Trey Topping

2022 3B/OF Blake Schroeder

2022 LHP Jake Schwartz

2022 INF Jake Callahan

2022 OF DJ Tsukashima

2022 C Logan Mandel

THE FUTURE:

2023 INF/RHP Mathew Lloyd

2023 RHP/C Ty DePerno

SEASON OUTLOOK: 

West Ranch has had a strong run the past few years putting together teams that have had deep progress in the Gauntlet Playoffs (Southern Section of Division 1) and the Wildcats expect another run this season on the back of a deep group of pitchers. When returning 5 arms that have experience at the level, teams tend to find ways to win games. Bringing back 6 starters will also help the Wildcats reach their potential and with their ability to play strong defense, they will back the deep pitching rotation. The offense might not have the big bopper that some other Southern Section teams might, but they’ll still be able to score runs with extra bases and the ability to execute. The Foothill League tends to have its own League battles so those early-season tests will show Coach Burrill where his Wildcats can go in 2021.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Rising Stars Showcase - NorCal  CA 06/08 Islanders Field
State Games ID - NorCal  CA 06/15 Islanders Field
Rising Stars Showcase  CA 06/22 Hart Park
Northern California ProCase  CA 07/06 McBean Stadium - Lincoln, CA
SoCal ProCase  CA 07/07 Hart Park
SoCal Academic Games  CA 07/13 Hart Park
California State Games  CA 07/16-07/18 Islanders Field


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