San Diego, CA
UCSD ace, USD slugger among San Diego’s top prospects in this year’s baseball draft
For more than a decade, San Diego-area baseball players were the talk of the MLB Draft.
From 2011 to 2022, 19 players with ties to San Diego were taken in the first round.
The list included future major leaguers and current top prospects Joe Musgrove, Kris Bryant, Bradley Zimmer, Alex Jackson, Connor Joe, Kevin Newman, Tyler Nevin, Mickey Moniak, Korey Lee, and Alika Williams as well as top prospect Marcelo Mayer, Carson Williams and Spencer Jones.
Now, there’s a question if there will be a San Diego player taken on the first day of the MLB Draft when it starts Sunday.
Ryan Forcucci, a right-handed pitcher from UC San Diego who played at San Marcos High School, and power-hitting USD outfielder Jakob Christian, who played at St. Augustine High School, are San Diego’s top prospects.
For the third straight year, there figures to be no players taken directly out of a San Diego high school.
Forcucci and Christian both come with questions.
Forcucci, who wasn’t a prospect coming out of high school, was off to a great start this season, going 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA.
With a fastball that hits 96-97 mph, a sound delivery and a budding slider, he had 37 strikeouts in 25 innings and just six walks in five starts.
An arm injury ended his season early.
Still, MLB.com has him ranked as the 86th-best prospect in the draft; Baseball America has him at No. 88.
Christian wasn’t a prospect in high school, either.
As a senior at St. Augustine, he hit. 333 with three homers, 13 doubles and 26 RBIs.
He has since blossomed into one of the top power hitters in college baseball.
As a sophomore at Point Loma Nazarene, Christian hit 28 home runs and drove in 70.
Wanting to prove himself at a higher level, he transferred to USD and hit 26 homers and drove in 67 this season.
MLB.com has him rated as the 216th-best prospect in the draft. Baseball America has him at 457.
“What are the scouts seeing that I’m not?” USD coach Brock Ungricht asked.
”All the guy does is produce. It’s not like he’s 5-foot-9. He’s 6-5. He can run. He plays great outfield defense. And he’s a great teammate.
“Scouts tell me he should be drafted at the bottom of the first round or the top of the second. Yet he gets no respect in the player rankings.”
What scouts don’t like is that Christian didn’t hit with power in wood-bat college summer leagues, knocking just two homers in 26 games in the Northwoods League and one homer in 19 games with Yarmouth Dennis last summer in the prestigious Cape Cod League.
While scouts like Chrisitian’s raw power, they say he has a loopy swing, question that his power won’t translate from aluminum to wood and wonder about the level of the competition.
“Say what you want about our competition, but look at what he did in the NCAA Regional, look at what he did against USC, Cal State Fullerton, Michigan and Dallas Baptist,” Ungricht said.
“That should tell you something.”
Christian went 5-for-12 with three homers and seven RBIs in three Regional games against Oregon, Fresno State and UC Santa Barbara. He was 4-for-13 with three homers and five RBIs in four games vs. Michigan. One of those homers was in Dodger Stadium.
He was 3-for-9 with three RBIs vs. Dallas Baptist and 4-for-11 with two homers and four RBIs in games vs. USC and Cal State Fullerton.
The only other San Diego players ranked among the top-500 prospects are UCLA second baseman Duce Gourson, who played at Point Loma High School; Texas A&M shortstop Ali Camarillo, who played at Otay Ranch; and Long Beach State closer Mike Villani, who played at El Camino.
Gourson is ranked No. 158 by MLB.com and No. 231 by Baseball America.
Camarillo is No. 180 by Baseball America and No. 246 by MLB.com.
Villani checks in at No. 453 by Baseball America.
Santa Fe Christian outfielder Jack Haferkamp is the only San Diego high school player in the Top 500, checking in at No. 274 on Baseball America’s list.
Hard-throwing right-hander Will Sanford drew a lot of attention from scouts.
Baseball America calls this draft “among the weakest ever for high schoolers.”Haferkamp and Sanford, however, both indicated they are likely headed to college — Haferkamp to UC Santa Barbara and Sanford to Oregon.
“I’ve got a great college option,” Haferkamp said. “After talking to coaches, my adviser and people we trust, college looks like the best thing right now.
“UCSB is a great program, so I can’t go wrong either way.”
Sanford echoed Haferkamp’s comments.“Pro ball is the ultimate goal,” Sanford said. “But it might not happen immediately. I’ll get a good education, play great baseball and grow up some at Oregon.
“So we’ll see what happens.”
San Diego has a number of other outstanding high school players, including right-handers Stunner Gonzalez and Cooper Walls and catcher Kalen Applefield of La Costa Canyon, left-hander Brady Dockan of Rancho Bernardo and catcher Jack Giordano of Patrick Henry.
All, however, appear to be headed to college.
MLB Draft facts
When: First 74 of 615 picks Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. on the MLB Network Tuesday is Rounds 3-10. Wednesday is Rounds 11-20.
San Diegans most likely to be selected in MLB Draft
Name, Position, School, Comment, Projected roundRyan Forcucci, RHP, San Marcos HS/UC San Diego, Injured after 5 starts, but has fastball that touches 96-97 mph, 2-3
Jakob Christian, OF, St. Augustine HS/USD, Big power with 67 college HRs, 2-10
Duce Gourson, 2B, Point Loma HS/UCLA, Lefty swinger and slick fielder, 3-5
Ali Camarillo, SS, Otay Ranch HS/Texas A&M, Skilled defender with CWS experience, 5-10
Peyton Schulze, 1B, Rancho Bernardo HS/Cal, Good power gap hitter, 7-15
Josh Randall, RHP, USD, Fastball sits at 95-96 MPH, 10-15
Austin Machado, C, La Costa Canyon HS/Hawaii, Superb defender with power, 10-15
Mike Villani, RHP, El Camino HS/Long Beach State, Could profile as a reliever, 12-20
Matt Halbach, 3B, UC San Diego, Injured after 19 games, but hit .408 with speed, 12-20
Ryan Fenn, IF, Granite Hills HS/Cal Poly SLO, Gap hitter with speed, 12-20
Ariel Armas, C, St. Augustine HS/USD, Gold Glove winner, 12-20
Austin Smith, LHP/OF, Granite Hills HS/USD, Was 7-0 and hit 7 HR, 12-20
Makana Olaso, C, Palomar College, Big kid with 20 HRs, 16 doubles, 12-20
Justin DeCriscio, SS, USD, Slick fielder, gap hitter, 12-20
Jake Entrekin, C, Steele Canyon HS/ Point Loma Nazarene, Catchers are coveted, 15-20
Other college players
Randy Abshier, LHP, Otay Ranch HS/Hawaii, Lefty with good stuff, Senior sign
Scott Anderson, IF, Sage Creek HS/Point Loma Nazarene, Has power, drives in runs, Senior sign
Mac Bingham, OF, Torrey Pines HS/LSU, Solid player with speed, Senior sign
Ray Cebluski, LHP, Eastlake HS/Point Loma Nazarene, Veteran just wins, Senior sign
Jack Costello, 3B/OF, USD, Has power, drives in runs, Senior sign
Alec Jones, C, Rancho Bernardo HS/Cincinnati, Teams value catching, Senior sign
Izaak Martinez, LHP, UC San Diego, Close. Pitched well in the Cape, Senior sign
Dylan Miller, RHP, Coronado HS/Point Loma Nazarene, Innings-eater workhorse, Senior sign
Ivran Romero, RHP, Poway HS/USD, Fastball sits at 95, Senior sign
James Sashin, LHP, Point Loma Nazarene, Tall closer with 18 saves, Senior sign
Calvin Schapira, LHP, USD, Fastball sits 94-95, Senior sign
Eric Smelko, OF, Helix/Point Loma Nazarene, Older veteran who just hits, Senior sign
Ricky Tibbett, RHP, Eastlake HS/UC Irvine, Veteran with good stuff, Senior sign
High school players
Kalen Applefield, C, La Costa Canyon HS, Strong lefty hitter, Committed to Cal
Brady Dockan, RHP, Rancho Bernardo HS, Big man who teams like, Committed to Cal State Fullerton
Jack Giordano, C, Patrick Henry HS, Teams covet catchers, Committed to USD
Stunner Gonzalez, RHP, La Costa Canyon HS, Big man, Committed to LSU
Jack Haferkamp, OF, Santa Fe Christian HS, Rare combo of power and speed, Committed to UC Santa Barbara
Will Sanford, RHP, Point Loma HS, Hard thrower with great stats, Committed to Oregon
Cooper Walls, RHP, La Costa Canyon HS, Hard thrower who was hurt late, Committed to Hawaii
San Diego, CA
Man fatally struck by hit-and-run vehicle in San Diego
A man in the Mission Bay Park community of San Diego was fatally struck Sunday morning by a hit-and run vehicle, authorities said.
The victim was also struck by a second vehicle and that motorist stayed at the scene to cooperate with officers, the San Diego Police Department reported.
The initial crash occurred at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the area of West Mission Bay and Sea World drives.
The pedestrian was in the southbound lanes of the 2000 block of West Mission Bay Drive when he was struck by a silver vehicle also in the southbound lanes. That vehicle fled the scene, continuing southbound, police said.
A 28-year-old man driving his vehicle southbound ran over the downed pedestrian.
“That driver remained at the scene and is not DUI,” according to a police statement. “The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Anyone with information regarding the initial crash was urged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
San Diego, CA
Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records
San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.
The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.
Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.
El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.
Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.
Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.
Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.
Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.
Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.
Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.
Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.
San Diego, CA
Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title
OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.
“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.
So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.
With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.
The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.
Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”
One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.
“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”
Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.
Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.
“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.
As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.
Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”
That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.
The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.
“She’s a great player,” said Brown.
“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”
Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.
“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”
Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.
Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.
About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”
Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.
Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.
“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.
Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.
“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”
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