Five honored by Cal-Hi

SCV players earn statewide recognition

While some baseball players have wrapped up their Valley Invitational Baseball League games and summer training, West Ranch’s Christos Stefanos is moseying around the Southwest, taking part in the Perfect Game 17U tournament in Arizona and a multitude of other camps.

He’s preparing for next season, but he’s still got his mind on last year’s success. Especially after being named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass first team as a catcher on July 7.

“I think I’m still in the process,” Stefanos said. “I’m still trying to switch from last year to this year. I think it’s been kind of hard because it’s been such a fun year last year that I’ve got to be able to try and switch to the new year.”

Stefanos, who was also named the Foothill League Player of the Year and a Division 1 All-CIF player, was honored by Cal-Hi Sports as a catcher, but he also excelled at third base and at the plate. He hit .396 with 36 hits, 28 RBIs and 26 runs scored this past season.

The rising senior plans to be a catcher in college, but for now he’s reaping the benefits of understanding the high school game from multiple perspectives.

“It kind of helps because you know, like, different positions, they do different things,” said Stefanos. “It helps at each position to know what to do.”

Four other Santa Clarita Valley baseball players earned a spot on one of CalHi Sports’ All-State lists.

Joining Stefanos as an All-State underclassman is Hart’s Cole Roederer, who was honored as a second-team outfielder. Roederer was also named a MaxPreps underclass All-American earlier this week.

Hunter Greene, a recent Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks grad who just signed a contract with the Cincinnati Reds, was named a first-team multi-purpose player.

Valencia’s Chase Farrell, the Foothill League Pitcher of the Year, is an AllState second-team pitcher and his teammate Ben Fariss is a third-team outfielder.

Farrell is headed to UCLA this year to continue his playing career, while Farris will be at UC Santa Barbara.

Katharine Lotze/The Signal West Ranch’s Christos Stefanos is a Cal-Hi Sports AllState Underclass first-team catcher.

Katharine Lotze/The Signal (See additional photos on signalscv.com) Valencia’s Chase Farrell throws a pitch during a baseball game at West Ranch on March 29.