Menlo-Atherton Bears

The Bears, the defending PAL Bay Division champion, were gutted by graduation, but Jordan Paroubeck returns three key players.

It was a solid 2025 for Menlo-Atherton, which ran away with the Bay Division by winning seven of its first eight league games. The Bears lost back-to-back games just once, dropping consecutive games in March to Mitty and St. Ignatius Prep.

"I like our team this year," says senior second baseman Ryder Kelly. "I think if everyone stays locked in and dialed in the whole season, we could be unstoppable."

That's a big statement, considering the Bears will rely on younger players this year after getting hit hard by graduations. Still, they have a trio of players – two position players and pitcher Wes Peterson – that are as lethal as any threesome in the Bay Division.

Kelly, who has signed to play ball at UC-Davis in the fall, is looking for his third straight stellar season at the varsity level. Last year he hit .363 with 33 hits, 29 runs scored and 19 RBI.

Junior outfielder Merrick Lee might have been the most underrated player on the Peninsula last year. He did everything right, stepping into a veteran lineup as a sophomore and hitting .366 with 34 hits, 24 runs scored and 18 RBI.

Senior Masataka Shudo, who saw action at both third base and in the outfield, also returns after hitting .254 with 18 hits a year ago.

"Offensively, we should be pretty balanced," Paroubeck said. "On the bases, we have pretty good team speed. There might be some young guys that will be able to contribute."

Meanwhile, Peterson, who changed his commitment to the University of Virginia from Duke in the summer, is the Bay Division's top returning pitcher. Last year, he was 7-3 with a 1.06 earned-run average. After struggling with his pitch count early in the season, he was dominant in the second half, getting deep into games by striking out fewer batters, but getting more batter's out. He still finished with 44 strikeouts in 46 innings.

An injury to Joe Pagee, who didn't allow a run in nearly 10 innings of work last year, bites into M-A's pitching depth, Paroubeck said.

"We have good arms, but not much depth," he said.

2026 Schedule

Feb. 24 vs. Los Gatos at the Battle for Atherton, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 26 vs. Serra at the Battle for Atherton, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 The Battle for Atherton championship round, TBA

March 6 at Woodside, 3:30 p.m.

March 10 at Saint Francis, 3:30 p.m.

March 11 at Leigh, 4 p.m.

March 18 at Burlingame, 4 p.m.

March 20 Burlingame, 4 p.m.

March 21 Palo Alto, noon

March 25 Menlo School, 4 p.m.

March 27 at Menlo School, 4 p.m.

March 28 Sacred Heart Prep at Stanford's Sunkin Diamond, 5:30 p.m.

April 1 at Mitty, 4 p.m.

April 3 at Pioneer, 4 p.m.

April 15 Carlmont, 4 p.m.

April 17 at Carlmont, 4 p.m.

April 22 at The King's Academy, 4 p.m.

April 24 The King's Academy, 4 p.m.

April 25 at Sacred Heart-Cathedral, noon

April 29 at Sequoia, 4 p.m.

May 1 Sequoia, 4 p.m.

May 6 at Capuchino, 4 p.m.

May 8 Capuchino, 4 p.m.

May 13 Hillsdale, 4 p.m.

May 15 at Hillsdale, 4 p.m.