Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now.
DAILY NEWS 2022 ALL-AREA BASEBALL TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jaden Noot, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
Anywhere Jaden Noot went, the radar guns followed.
The right-handed pitcher, who stands 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, touched 97 miles per hour this season, and hovers consistently around 94 mph, has MLB scouts salivating.
“It’s been an exciting year for me and my family,” Noot said. “All the MLB stuff really ramped up last summer. Now, here we are. It’s all happening very fast.”
The four-year varsity baseball standout from Sierra Canyon had a stellar year from the mound and the plate. The LSU commit went 10-0 from the bump, had 94 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings and allowed just two earned runs all season. At the plate, Noot batted .367, had 33 hits, 29 RBIs, scored 15 runs and had a team-high five homers.
The Trailblazers (26-4) had a record-setting season, setting new school record in consecutive wins (22), shutouts (12), strikeouts (274) and home runs (15).
“I knew we’d be good, but I didn’t think we’d accomplish what we did this year,” Noot said. “We won 22 games in a row. I did not expect that.”
Noot is prepping for the upcoming MLB Draft in July. He plans to participate in a combine soon but said he will not be throwing. He’ll be able to show off other things, like his body and athleticism, for example.
“Plenty of people have seen me throw in the last year, especially this past season,” he said. “I don’t think I need to throw anymore.”
The 18-year old has been projected to be the first or second California high school pitcher taken, there are other projections that show he could be taken in the 5th or 6th round.
Jaden Noot is 3 for 3 today, including this RBI single. Sierra Canyon 3, Simi Valley 0. B5 pic.twitter.com/olQ0lesAYB
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 5, 2022
“There’s a little bit of anxiety, a little stress,” the normally mild-mannered Noot said. “Maybe, more excitement? I’m trying not to get caught up in it too much.”
Noot will have a decision to make in July, because one thing is almost certain, he will be drafted. He’ll either go pro or decided to play college baseball, where he’ll have to stay for three years, according to MLB rules.
“I’m super excited about LSU,” Noot added.
Noot racked up some nice awards this spring. He was named Gold Coast League MVP, earned All-CIF honors, and is the Daily News Player of the Year – joining recent names like Harvard-Westlake’s Pete Crow-Armstrong and Thousand Oaks’ Max Muncy. Both of which were drafted in the first round of their respective MLB Drafts. Crow-Armstrong (outfielder) is in the Cubs organization and Muncy (infielder) is with the Oakland A’s.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Cole Clark, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, Sr.
Clark went 8-2 in 13 appearances with an ERA of just 1.68 and tallied 63 strikeouts in 71 innings.
Cole’s best games came later in the regular season and in the postseason. He threw a complete-game, two-hit shutout in the opening round of the Boras Classic, helping Notre Dame beat Corona 7-0.
His next gem came in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, where he threw a complete-game, one-hitter with seven strikeouts in a 3-0 win over Mira Costa.
The LMU commit then went toe-to-toe with top-seeded Orange Lutheran in the quarterfinals, throwing six innings, striking out four and giving up no runs in an eventual 5-4 victory in eight innings.
Clark helped Notre Dame reach its first-ever Division 1 title game and first CIF final since 2008 where he started on the mound against JSerra. The Knights fell short 3-1.
His efforts earned him All-Mission League and All-CIF honors.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Matthew Witkow, Calabasas
Witkow played in 27 of the Coyotes’ 29 games this season as a freshman. The youngster made 81 plate appearances, had 22 hits, nine RBIs and stole seven bases. He also scored 15 runs.
He only struck out nine times all season, showing promise and patience.
Witkow’s most impressive play came in the field at third base, where he played most of the season. He finished the year with a fielding percentage of .951 (just three errors), 16 putouts and 42 assists.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Marcus Alvarado, Chatsworth
Alvarado led Chatsworth to its first City title victory since 2009 and 10th all-time, which is now the most of any program in the City Section, with a 2-0 win over Birmingham Charter at Dodger Stadium on May 28.
Chatsworth became the lowest seed (ninth) to ever win a City title in the Open Division era and did it by taking down No. 8 Carson 11-8, No. 1 Granada Hills 6-4 and Roosevelt 4-3 at USC in the semifinal.
Alvardo, the son of longtime Kennedy baseball coach Manny Alvarado, who won five City titles at Dodger Stadium, has not started his own championship legacy.
Jose Ruedas delivers Chatsworth baseball first City title since 2009 in win over Birmingham
Manny ended his coaching career 5-0 at Chavez Ravine. Marcus is off to a good start at 1-0.
ALL-AREA TEAM
Zach Perez, Granada Hills, Sr.
Perez was 8-1 from the mound in 11 appearances with an ERA of 1.21. He struckout 64 batters in 58 innings and was named West Valley League Pitcher of the Year.
Tommy Bridges, Harvard-Westlake, So.
The super sophomore went 8-1 from the mound in 12 appearances with an ERA of 1.98. He struck out 66 batters in 63 2/3 innings.
Isaiah Magdelano, Crespi, Jr.
Magdelano went 6-0 (5-0 in the Mission League) from the mound in eight appearances with an ERA of just 0.91. He struck out 55 batters in 46 1/3 innings and was named the Mission League Pitcher of the Year.
Logan Reddemann, Quartz Hill, Jr.
Reddemann went 11-1 in 13 appearances with an ERA of 2.08. He struck out 83 batters in 67 1/3 innings, was named Golden League MVP and received All-CIF honors.
Nick Forrest, Burroughs/Burbank, Jr.
Forrest was the catalyst for Burroughs’ CIF Southern Section Division 4 title and was named the Pacific League MVP.
Jose Ruedas, Chatsworth, Sr.
Ruedas went 9-5-1 with an ERA of 2.43. He struck out 76 batters in 80 2/3 innings and was named the Open Division City Player of the Year after leading Chatsworth to its first City title at Dodger Stadium since 2009.
Jaden Onaca, Oaks Christian, Jr.
Onaca had an ERA of 1.74 in 12 starts and struck out 55 batters in 76 1/3 innings. He was named the Pitcher of the Year in the Marmonte League and earned All-CIF honors.
Matt Quintanar, Hart, Sr.
Quintanar had 35 hits, 30 RBIs, five homers, batted .380 and scored an eye-popping 37 runs in 30 games. He also received All-CIF honors.
Robert Pitts, Birmingham Charter, Sr.
Pitts batted .370, had 12 doubles, five triples, drove in 25 runs and hit two homers. He also stole 22 bases this season. Pitts was named co-West Valley League MVP and earned Open Division All-City honors.
Bryce Rainer, Harvard-Westlake, So.
The 2021 Daily News Freshman of the Year had a stellar sophomore campaign. Rainer had a team-high 35 hits, drove in 21 runs, belted five homers and batted .393 in 27 games. He also received All-CIF honors.
Jack Gurevitch, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, Sr.
Gurevitch is one of the best hitters in Southern California. He had 41 hits, 39 RBIs, four homers and batted .357 in 35 games. He was named Mission League MVP and earned All-CIF honors.
Elijah Clayton, Oaks Christian, So.
Clayton led his team in hits (41) and stolen bases (15), and also tallied 15 RBIs, eight doubles and three homers as the lead-off hitter. He led the Lions to a CIF-SS Division 3 championship and was named the Player of the Year.
Jose Mariano, Valencia, Sr.
Mariano had one of the biggest bats in the area, belting nine home runs on his 29 hits. He had 39 RBIs. batted .354 and was named Foothill League co-MVP. He also earned All-CIF honors.
Phoenix Call, Calabasas, Jr.
Call had 35 hits, 15 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, hit two homers and batted .398 in 29 games. Call was named Marmonte League MVP and earned All-CIF honors
Will Michelman, Agoura, So.
Michelman had a breakout season, maybe the biggest in the area. He had 29 hits, seven doubles, three homers, 23 RBIs, scored 21 runs and stole seven bases while batting .391 from the two hole.
Max Martin, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
Martin had 31 hits, 25 RBIs, scored 30 runs, stole 23 bases, hit two homers and batted .383 in 81 at-bats.
Sean David, El Camino Real, Sr.
David had 35 hits, a team-high 27 RBIs, hit 11 doubles and batted .361 with an OPS of 1.077. He earned Open Division All-City honors.
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here