Los Gatos Wildcats

After getting to the semifinal round of both the Central Coast Section and the NorCal tournaments and graduating 11 seniors, Los Gatos isn't necessarily rebuilding in 2026. They, prefer to call it reloading.

"We will be good," said senior shortstop Beau Musser. "We have a lot of good players and key returners."

Four position players and two pitchers return, along with an influx of players that have bided their time in what might be the best public-school program on the Peninsula.

"Our players deserve a lot of credit for the work they put in while they are waiting their turn," coach Mike Minkel said. "This applies to our returning seniors that maybe didn't get as much time last year and also the juniors who are coming up from last year's successful JV season."

The cupboard is far from bare.

"We like what we have," said centerfielder Brady Simon, who has played his entire career at the varsity level. "Our team goal is to go as far as possible, to accomplish everything that we did last Year, and more. That means winning one or two more games."

Musser and Simon are two of the best players on the Peninsula, while right-hander Ethan Williams is the SCVAL-De Anza Division's top returning pitcher, may be the best in the SCVAL, and Rowan Smith is a solid catcher.

Musser, who says the ankle he broke in the summer is completely healthy, is coming off a junior season that saw him hit .379. Simon, a four-year varsity player, hit .349. Smith was strong defensively and hit .329, while first baseman Max Thomas is coming off a .304 season.

Williams went 7-0 with an earned-run average of 0.89, while Chase Oberthier was 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA. Together, they provide the Wildcats with a starting tandem that can compete with any in the De Anza Division.

The Wildcats, 25-6 a year ago, will find out right away where they stack up when they again compete in the Battle for Atherton. They'll open with defending PAL Bay Division champion Menlo-Atherton before taking on Menlo School, the PAL-Ocean Division champion and NorCal Division IV champion. If they can get past those two games, there's a good chance of squaring off with CCS-Division I champion Serra in the tourney's title game.

Last year, the Padres beat Los Gatos twice – once in the Battle for Atherton final and three months later in the NorCal semifinals, a 3-0 Serra victory that wasn't decided until the late innings.

2026 Schedule

Feb. 24 at Menlo-Atherton, Battle for Atherton, 4 p.m.

Feb. 26 at Menlo School, Battle for Atherton, 4 p.m.

Feb. 28 Battle for Atherton, TBA

March 11 at Mountain View, 4 p.m.

March 13 Mountain View, 4 p.m.

March 18 at Wilcox, 4 p.m.

March 20 Wilcox, 4 p.m.

March 21 Homestead, 1 p.m.

March 25 Palo Alto, 4 p.m.

March 27 at Palo Alto, 4 p.m.

March 30 Boras Family Classic, Sacramento, TBA

March 31 Boras Family Classic, Sacramento, TBA

April 1 Boras Family Classic, Sacramento, TBA

April 2 Boras Family Classic, Sacramento, TBA

April 9 at Friendship Christian (Tennessee)

April 10 at Green Hill (Tennessee)

April 17 Santa Clara, 4 p.m.

April 18- at Santa Clara, 11 a.m.

April 22 Los Altos, 4 p.m.

April 24 at Los Altos, 4 p.m.

April 29 at Mountain View, 4 p.m.

May 1 at Santa Clara, 4 p.m.

May 6 Homestead, 4 p.m.

May 7 Los Altos, 4 p.m.

May 9 at Homestead, 1 p.m.

May 13 Palo Alto, 4 p.m.

May 15 at Wilcox, 4 p.m.