Menlo School Knights

Menlo School Knights: 2025- 24-8, 13-1, PAL Ocean Division champion. CCS-Division V champion, NorCal Division IV champion. Coach: David Trujillo.

The only team on the Peninsula with back-to-back Central Coast Section championships is located in Atherton. The same address is also home to a NorCal tournament title and the longest active winning streak on the Peninsula.

Menlo School brings a 12-game winning streak into the new season. That'll get tested in the opening week when the compete in the Battle for Atherton and a loaded field that includes Serra and Los Gatos. Add to the mix the fact that they are getting bumped up to the PAL Bay Division and their road to a CCS three-peat has been made bumpier.

Then again, the Knights proved last year that a high school baseball season is long, thus allowing time to turn things around. They got out of the game by winning just three of their first 10 games.

"I think we were just a little young and a little fresh at the start, coming off of a really strong season," said right-handed pitcher Jackson Flanagan. "We had some young players, and everyone was slowly feeling learning the ropes. We eventually got it."

Did they ever. The Knights reeled off nine straight wins before losing to Sequoia in late April. They never lost again, finished the season by winning 21 of their final 22 games, including a CCS-Division V championship game victory over Monterey and a NorCal Division IV-clinching win against Santa Clara.

"Once our young guys adjusted, we caught fire," said senior shortstop Jack Freehill, who is coming off a solid season as Menlo's quarterback in football and looks forward to his final season of high school baseball before playing at Columbia University in the Ivy League next year. "Coach (David) Trujillo is doing a really great job developing a competitive baseball program that will continue to grow and compere."

There's reason for optimism in 2026 because the nucleus of last year's squad was led by underclassmen, including four freshmen who contributed mightily last year, and all nine starters are returning.

Leading the group is Freehill. The senior shortstop hit .354 with 20 RBI last season. He bats leadoff but has some pop in his bat. He had eight doubles and two homers last year.

Catcher Chuck Wynn hit .360 with two homers, six doubles and two homers, while freshman infielder Zach Roeder hit .341 with 21 RBI and freshman centerfielder Fletcher Cahill hit .312. First baseman Matthew Majalya hit .298 last year, while third baseman Liam Widner drove in 18 runs as a freshman.

"We played extremely well together," Wynn said. "Every single one of us came through when it really mattered."

On the mound, Flanagan won 11 games by being able to locate his pitches while relying on his defense. The right-hander doesn't throw hard, but he had four complete games and 1.69 earned-run average.

Reid Plamondon strung together a 2.72 ERA as a freshman and might have been Menlo's best pitcher in the postseason. Look for Freehill to come in to close a big game from time to time.

2026 Schedule

Feb. 24 James Logan in the Battle for Atherton, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 26 Los Gatos in the Battle for Atherton, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 Battle for Atherton finals, TBA

March 3 San Mateo, 3:30 p.m.

March 5 Westmont, 3:30 p.m.

March 7 Santa Clara, 11 a.m.

March 11 Riordan, 3:30 p.m.

March 13 Piedmont Hills, 3:30 p.m.

March 18 Hillsdale, 4 p.m.

March 20 at Hillsdale, 4 p.m.

March 25 at Menlo-Atherton, 4 p.m.