15 named to ALL-ESL baseball teams
Fifteen players from local high schools loaded that All-east Sequoia League’s three teams this season after being selected for their strong performances throughout league competition.
Leading the pack was CIF Central Section Division VI champions Lindsay with seven players selected, Strathmore followed with five and Granite Hills had three. The Cardinals (19-12, 11-4 ESL) finished second in ESL behind the undefeated Golden Bears of Sierra Pacific (25-2-2, 15-0 ESL) who had the league’s Most Valuable Player in junior pitcher Will Springer.
Senior David Jimenez and junior Ryan Scheufele were both first-team pitchers with a combined win-loss record of 10-4. Jimenez (61), a first-team pitcher last season, had a 0.38 ERA and finished with 40 strikeouts despite battling multiple injuries throughout the season and breaking his glove hand before the season started.
“David Jimenez has been the stabilizing force for the past two years,” LHS head coach Brett Kendig said. “Fierce competitor but controls his emotions very well. Dave has carried the team on his shoulders at times...nothing was going to stop Dave from competing and helping his team succeed.”
Scheufele (4-2) was voted by his team the Most Improved Player. He finished league with a 1.96 ERA and 34 strikeouts.
“[He] really blossomed this season,” Kendig said. “He is a very dedicated player who has a calm tenacity that is fun to watch...ryan became a guy that we felt confident in at any time of a ball game. He came of age in the rain-soaked game against Sierra Pacific when he had to come in early after we were down 7-0 in the first inning. He pitched five innings with seven strikeouts and never looked back.
“He really solidified his stock after pitching a complete game shutout over Corcoran late in the season. He pitched outstanding throughout out the playoffs and picked up the win in the finals,” Kendig added.
Also on the first team for the second year in a row was senior infielder Isaiah Duran. Duran had an on-base percentage of .557 and batted .390 in league with seven RBIS and 20 runs scored. Second-team catcher, senior Mark Ibarra, led the league in runs scored with 24 while also batting .460 with 13 RBIS and nine doubles.
“Isaiah Duran and Mark Ibarra had two of the most consistent seasons I have seen in a long time,” Kendig said. “Neither one ever went on any type of long slump. Even if they weren’t tearing the cover off the ball they were finding ways to get on and help the team... they both had very strong seasons defensively as well. As the season went on they both matured greatly and became very good leaders on our team.”
Duran is headed to play for Reedley next season while Jimenez will pitch for Porterville College. Ibarra plans to walk-on at California State University, Sacramento.
Also on the secondteam for Lindsay was senior infielder Cameron Smith who hit .302 and had nine RBIS.
“[He] became a team leader this season through sheer grit and determination,” Kendig said. “Cam has always been a solid player but he rose to a different level this season. He came of age in the Easter tournament. We moved him to lead-off spot and he found ways to get on base time and time again. [He also] played outstanding defense at second base. He continued that strong play throughout league play and helped control the middle of the field with Isaiah.”
The Cardinals also had two honorable mentions in senior outfielder Jake Macias and junior pitcher Angel Perez. Macias batted .289 with seven RBIS in league. “Jake Macias was also another young man who rose to a new level this season,” Kendig said. “It was really fun watching Jake mature into a fine young man and a very good baseball player. Nothing flashy with Jake. Just hard nosed no nonsense baseball from the guy with great personality. Jake really drove in some big runs down the stretch.”
Strathmore (11-14, 5-10 ESL) finished fourth in the ESL but did well enough at the start of the season to be one of the first teams in the areas to qualify for the playoffs. Seeded seventh the Spartans fell 12-6 to the Cardinals in the quarterfinals of the Div. VI Valley playoffs.
Sophomore slugger William Reece was Strathmore’s lone first team selection as a utility player. A clutch hitter for the Spartans, Reece batted .525 on the overall season with 42 hits, 27 runs scored and 38 stolen bases. He was the team’s main shortstop but also pitched for Strathmore where he went 1-0 on the mound with a 1.85 ERA and one save.
“Will had a remarkable year,” SHS head coach Thad Reece said. “He hit over .500 and lead our league in hitting. And he’s only a sophomore. He was only thrown out stealing once; and that was on a pitch out against Lindsay. He solidified our infield at shortstop and we used him to pitch us out of a few jams this season.”
Freshman catcher Jacob Flores and junior outfielder Josue “Jackie” Topete were secondteam selections while senior pitchers Arley Landis and Adam Saleh were honorable mentions. Landis also played infield and outfield while Saleh was also an infielder.
“Jacob was absolutely a beast this year for us,” Thad Reece said. “As a freshman you really couldn’t ask more from him. Hitting over .400 and leading the league in slugging percentage. Wow. And we have him for three more years. Jackie played his first year as a high school baseball player this year as a junior. He was nails in center field and led our team in runs as our lead-off hitter. He will be even better next season.”
On the season Flores hit .417 and had 30 hits, 24 RBIS, nine doubles and two triples. Topete batted .341 with 29 runs scored and seven doubles. Granite Hills (5-23, 2-13) had three players make ALL-ESL teams in senior Jordan Flores along with sophomores Omar Carranza and Alonso Bedolla. Jordan Flores made the first team as a utility player while outfielder Carranza and infielder Bedolla were second team selections.
Flores was a fouryear varsity player and a team leader according to, GHHS head coach Al Garcia. He hit .378, scored 11 runs and had 26 stolen bases in the ESL. Flores also pitched for the Grizzlies going 2-7 with a 3.53 ERA and 33 strikeouts.
“Out of need I used him as pitcher early in the season and he ended up being our ace, along with his shortstop duties,” Garcia said. “He was also our lead-off hitter and led the division in stolen bases during the regular season.”
Carranza hit. 308 in league while Bedolla hit .300.
“Omar batted at or over .400 most of the year and had a bunch of clutch hits for us,” Garcia said. “Alonso was our catcher and moved to infield out of need which settled down our defense. His leadership as sophomore grew all year. I expect Omar and Alonso to have great junior and senior years going forward.”