POSTSEASON PRIME 31: 21-16

21. LUKE ORNELAS

Senior, right field, Terra Nova

The Skinny: You get the feeling Luke Ornelas' best baseball is still ahead of him, which is saying something when you consider the season he just authored. The senior right fielder who's bound for the College of San Mateo was Terra Nova's leader – one of the few seniors on a squad that reached the CCS tournament by starting three sophomores. The Tigers reeled off an 11-game winning streak despite playing the entire season on the road while their own diamond was undergoing renovations. It required Orneles to step up both on and off the field. "If you would have told me what we achieved before the season, I would have been surprised for sure, considering how young were," he said. "By the end of the season, our age didn't matter, and we deserved to be there."

Season Highlight: The Tigers extended their winning streak to 10 games – a school record – on April 3 with a 5-4 victory over Woodside that wasn't secured until the final out when Ornelas fired a one-hop throw to catcher Joey Donati, who knocked down the ball, picked it up and tagged out Matteus Mokhtarani, who tried to score from second on Junior Cattaneo's single. "That meant a lot to me," Ornelas said. "I don't want to be known as a guy who hits and then is replaceable in the field. Plays like that are special because they show the impact I can make on defense, too."

"My goal for CSM is to take in all the information and experience and develop as much as I can. The goal is definitely to transfer to a Division I school, but that's secondary to just getting as good as I can get during my time there."

The numbers tell the story: Ornelas collected 34 hits, scored 30 runs and had an on-base percentage of .515, thanks to 15 walks.

Eye-popping stat: He had 10 extra-base hits, including three triples.

What Others Say: "Luke was a true five-tool player for our program. He exemplified great leadership through his actions and stepped up in big moments for us all year. He was the spark plug in our lineup." – Jared Milch, Terra Nova coach.

20. CRUZ TORRES

Junior, outfield, Woodside

The Skinny: Cruz Torres says he finally found his swing just as the PAL Ocean Division began. The junior outfielder was on a streak the rest of the year, winning the league batting title and in the conversation for player of the year honors. After two straight big seasons at the varsity level, what does he do for an encore? "I would really like to improve my ability to pull the ball comfortably when I need to," he said. "I need to start letting my hands really work. This can be huge, to consistently hit the ball to all fields." That's not what opposing pitchers want to hear. A dangerous hitter can be even more lethal. A summer of travel ball that features tournaments in Georgia and Arizona will only help, he says. "Playing some really high-level baseball is huge in getting me ready for my senior year."

Season Highlight: In early May, the Wildcats got thumped by Menlo School, which would go on to win the league, the CCS-Division V title and the Northern California-Division IV crown, but Torres had two hits, including a home run – his first high school homer to be pulled over the left-field fence at Woodside. "That was probably my best swing of the year," he said. "It came against Menlo, and I've always had a little bit of a rivalry against them.

"Our team sort of struggled, but I felt like I kept my confidence up and was able to produce for my team all year. I really found my swing when league play started, which was big. I got hot and stayed hot."

The numbers tell the story: Torres had 39 hits and scored 26 runs while collecting 11 extra-base hits – eight of them doubles.

Eye-popping stat: An OPS 1.100 – a .475 on-base percentage to go alone with a .625 slugging percentage – placed him among the best on the Peninsula in that category.

What Others Say: “His competitiveness and energy make him a good ballplayer. He’s always hyped up and ready to play as hard as he can.”
– Trent Amoroso, Woodside senior.

19. TYLER HARRISON

Senior, centerfield, Serra

The Skinny: Mired in a slump to start the season, coach Mat Keplinger decided to give senior centerfielder Tyler Harrison the day off on April 4 for the final game of a WCAL series against Valley Christian and its tough lefty Brock Ketelsen. "Kep told me to clear my head but told me I would pinch-hit late in the game," Harrison said. He wound up hitting a seventh-inning home run in the Padres' 10-4 loss to the Warriors. Call it a reset. "I was ready for the moment. Everything just came together after that day," he said. The next day, he hit another home run, doubled and had three hits in a 9-6 win over St. Ignatius Prep. "We are really proud of the year Tyler had," Keplinger said. "He is an extremely talented athlete and flashed big power. ... Tyler has a bright future." The College of San Mateo signee remained hot over the final month of the season, adding two more home runs, hitting for average and playing an errorless centerfield to help Serra win a CCS-Division I championship and a runner-up finish in the Northern California-Division I tournament.

Season Highlight: The Northern California tourney is still in its infancy stage. At a traditional power like Serra, a Central Coast Section championship has always been the finish line and when the Padres rallied for a 3-2 victory over Valley Christian at Excite Park last month, the season was made complete with their first CCS crown since 2009. "Winning that game was definitely the highlight of my season," he said.

"I need to work on keeping my mind right in tough situations, looking at the good side of things and building off the little things."

The numbers tell the story: Harrison collected 37 hits, including nine doubles and a triple. He also scored 22 runs.

Eye-popping stat: Playing home games at Dan Frisella Field – one of the most challenging diamonds on the Peninsula – Harrison was perfect in 65 chances in centerfield, where a defender plays shallow and must be willing to attack low line drives to take away base hits.

What Others Say: "Hitting that home run against Valley lifted a weight off his shoulders. He got hot after that. And when he gets hot, no one hits like Tyler." – Davis Minton, Serra senior third baseman.

18. DJ DELANEY

Junior, right field, St. Ignatius Prep

The Skinny: The top of the St. Ignatius Prep batting order – Archer Horn, Emmett Johnson and DJ Delaney – was as potent as any team on the Peninsula. Horn and Johnson were known quantities, but Delaney was something of a question mark after hitting just .231 in limited playing time as a sophomore. He would become an exclamation point in 2025. "I feel like I contributed positively it each game whether I was hitting, on the bases or in the field." The Wildcats played the toughest schedule on the Peninsula, opening with a road upset of Granada, the defending Northern California champion, traveling the North Bay and then navigating the tough WCAL schedule. "I would say there is no game where we laid down, which is definitely something to build on for next year."

Season Highlight: Delaney points to April's trip to Sacramento for the Boras Baseball Classic. "Being with all the SI boys for a couple of days and playing some of the best players in the area was awesome," he said. There was also his home run in the opener against San Marin. "That was just a really cool moment to be able to perform in that environment."

"The main thing for me was just realizing I could compete with anyone. Baseball is a mental battle. Just building the confidence needed to go out and play my game really helped me."

The numbers tell the story: Delaney collected 27 hits, including a long home run over the scoreboard in right-centerfield at Dan Frisella Field on April 5. He also scored 22 runs and stole 18 bases.

Eye-popping stat: In two seasons of playing right field for the Wildcats, whose home field is foggy, frigid – and sometimes windy – Fairmont Park in north Pacifica, Delaney has made just one error in 88 chances.

What Others Say: "He hits the ball hard. He finds the gaps and plays super aggressively. He's going to go after that first pitch if he likes it." – Gino Cappellazzo, junior catcher, Saint Francis.

17. LOGAN MATHIAS

Senior, catcher, Sequoia

The Skinny: No one questions Logan Mathias defensive skills behind the plate. Sequoia coach Mike Doyle lauded him in January as the PAL's best catcher. He might not have been embellishing, although the position is loaded with talent when you consider Lucas Zayac of Capuchino and The King's Academy's Nate Plata. However, Mathias set a goal to become a better hitter this year. Mission accomplished. The Rochester University signee batted at the top of a potent Sequoia batting order and led the Ravens in hitting. "I significantly improved from last year," he said, posting eye-dropping numbers in batting average and slugging. It was enough to get the Ravens into the CCS-Division III tournament, where they were done in by a tough first-round draw with Los Altos and bowed out after one game. "It's unfortunate that we lost in the first round because I thought we were playing some good baseball as a team."

Season Highlight: It's always a big deal when a public school knocks off a team from the WCAL. The Ravens knocked off Saint Francis, 3-2, in Mountain View on March 14. "That game was so much fun," Mathias said. "Beating a team that everyone expects you to lose to is awesome. ... I love playing WCAL teams because it feels like a much more intense game, and our drive to win is much higher."

"Ultimately, it was a great season. I am very proud of myself and the team's effort this year."

The numbers tell the story: Mathias has 34 hits, including six doubles, and had an on-base percentage of .489. He also scored 25 runs. Defensively, he had a .965 fielding percentage.

Eye-popping stat: In 97 plate appearances, Mathias struck out just eight times.

What Others Say: "He's more on the quiet side but leads by example and works hard to get everyone focused on what we're trying to do." – Drew Ostrander, Sequoia senior infielder.

16. ROHAN KASANAGOTTU

Senior, pitcher, Valley Christian

The Skinny: Early in the new year, there was some doubt about whether Rohan Kasanagottu would pitch in his senior year at Valley Christian. An elbow injury kept him on the shelf all fall. "There was a lot of uncertainly if I would play," said the University of Southern California signee. "I battled through a lot of adversity to get to pitch on a pitch count." Kasanagottu worked mainly out of the bullpen, but did make the start against Cincinnati's Archbishop Moeller in the championship game of the All Faiths Classic in Las Vegas. He was the closer, the guy called on to slam the door for the Warriors, who featured the best pitching staff in Northern California and likely the entire state. Consider that Valley held its opponents to two runs or fewer in 24 of its 34 games. Included in that number is 10 shutouts. "It's definitely a great feeling to know I was a part of something like that. Our pitching staff was awesome. We all pushed ourselves to be better, and it paid off."

Season Highlight: The Warriors, who struggled offensively in the early going, found their mojo in Las Vegas. And getting the start in the Moeller game, Kasanagottu said, was definitely the turning point to his season. His lasting memory. "It was there that I felt back at full strength," he said. "I got to start that game and I dominated." He went six innings and struck out nine, while allowing three runs. More importantly, he threw 101 pitches, proof he was back.

"Coming out of the bullpen was definitely more of an attack mindset. You compete from the get-go and attack the hitter. To dominate was always the mindset."

The numbers tell the story: Kasanagottu's seven saves tied him with Serra's Nate Hui for most in the WCAL.

Eye-popping stat: Kasanagottu still threw 47.2 innings in 2025, despite being on a pitch count. That's only seven innings fewer than a year ago. In two seasons, he compiled a 11-2 record and struck out 134 batters in 102 innings.

What Others Say: "His splitter is one of the best pitches I've seen. It's one of those pitches that just falls off late. ... He knows how to clutch up in big situations." – Brock Ketelsen, senior pitcher and centerfielder, Valley Christian.