The 44th edition of the Cal-Hi Sports All-State baseball teams has been released, spotlighting the elite talent from across California. The first team roster reads like a who’s who of the state’s top prospects, with St. John Bosco leading the pack by placing three of its standouts on the list.
First Team Spotlight
Among the Bosco representatives are infielder James Clark, who contributed five homers and 29 RBI, and pitcher Julian Garcia, both of whom helped the team to a dominant season. Their inclusion underscores the school’s continued impact on the sport.
Outfielder Jared Grindlinger from Huntington Beach was singled out as the Mr. Baseball State Player of the Year, a testament to his all‑around performance and leadership at the plate.
Pitcher Dustin Dunwoody also earned attention for his near‑perfect campaign, finishing the year 10‑0 with a 0.22 ERA that left batters baffled.
Another Bosco standout, Graham Schlicht, set a new state record by retiring 62 consecutive batters, a milestone that highlighted his command on the mound.
The first team also features a parade of offensive threats: Trey Ebel of Corona, who smashed nine homers and drove in 47 runs; Alex Harrington of Cathedral Catholic, a shortstop batting .384; Archer Horn of St. Ignatius, a national recruit posting a .406 average; Dylan Seward of Norco, who led his squad with a .436 average; Blake Bowen of JSerra, a top prospect at .360; Austin Finegan of Buchanan, a .413 hitter headed to Cal; Anthony Murphy of Corona, who closed his career with 35 homers and a .394 average; Joshua Priest of Cathedral Catholic, who topped his team at .528; James Tronstein of Harvard‑Westlake, who posted a .584 average and 10 homers; and Jordan Ayala of Norco, a two‑way player who went 8‑0 on the mound while adding strong bat numbers.
The breadth of schools represented stretches from the Bay Area to Southern California, encompassing institutions such as St. John Bosco, Notre Dame, Oaks Christian, Royal, Kingsburg, De La Salle, Cypress, Los Gatos, Norco, JSerra, Buchanan, Huntington Beach, Corona, Cathedral Catholic, and Harvard‑Westlake. While the first team garners the spotlight, the second and third teams, detailed in a separate post, continue to showcase depth across the state.
The recognition not only celebrates individual excellence but also reflects the growing competitiveness of high school baseball in California, a trend that promises even more excitement in the seasons ahead.