MORAGA, Calif – Saint Mary's Baseball has announced their 2023 early signing commitments, with 15 new Gaels ready to join the program next fall. The new commits are a solid mix of pitchers, position players, high-ceiling potential, and ready-to-contribute prospects.
 
THE SIGNEES
 
Diego Emerling will come to the Gaels from College Park High in Pleasant Hill, Calif. The right-handed pitcher put up a 2.76 ERA as a junior in 11 appearances. Head Coach Eric Valenzuela describes Emerling as "a physical pitcher with a ton of upside.
 
"And he comes from right here in Northern California," Valenzuela added. "So, we are very excited to be keeping him here close to home. Diego has a chance to make an immediate impact here in Moraga."
 
The six-foot-three, 205-pound Emerling comes from an athletic family, as his dad played college baseball and his sister is a catcher at North Carolina. He was named First Team All Diablo Foothill League as a junior and Second Team as a sophomore.
 
Sam Kretsch is another high-upside arm that SMC is looking forward to having aboard, after registering a 2.76 ERA as well in two seasons at Serra High in San Mateo, Calif.
 
"We are very excited to add Sam and his family to Gael Nation," said Coach Valenzuela. "Sam comes from Serra High School in the very competitive West Catholic League, and has all the makings of a big-time starter in our program. He is an ultra-competitive power arm with upside."
 
Kretsch was selected to the WCAL All League Team, was a Prep Baseball Report National Champion, and a member of the USA National Tournament third place team.
 
Talin Gardini comes to the Gaels from Patrick Henry High in San Diego, where he shined as a pitcher and a hitter.
 
"We are very excited about the two-way potential of Talin," Valenzuela said. "He is an athletic and versatile player, a winner, and one of the best players coming out of the San Diego area. He is a physical left-handed pitcher and hitter that we are excited to get to campus. Two-way players have always been a staple of this program and we look forward to having Talin continue that in a Gael uniform."
 
Gardini was a First-Team All-Western League selection last year, Western League Pitcher of the Year, Second Team All CIF, a San Diego Section All-Star game selection, and Second Team all San Diego Section as well.
 
Not only does he have an ERA of 1.48 in 122.2 innings pitched, but he is a career .309 hitter on top of that. This past season he hit .300 with a .491 on-base percentage, and slugged .534, while going 4-2 with a 1.64 ERA in 42.2 innings.
 
Barrett Ronson was a very productive hitter as a junior at Santiago High, with a .384 average, a .445 OBP, and a whopping .626 slugging percentage in 30 games played in 23.
 
"We are very excited to bring the offensive presence of Barrett to Moraga," Assistant Coach Daniel Costanza said. "Barrett is a physical right handed first baseman from Santiago High School in Corona. He has had nothing but success both in high school and on the summer circuit. His hit tool and power potential give him a chance to make an impact in our program immediately."
 
He was named All League of the very prestigious Big VIII in California's Southern Section, where he was all CIF and All State as well.
 
Justin Heffler is another San Diego area product, and is a very versatile player out of St. Augustine High. He's played middle infield and centerfield in high school, has a .305 career batting average, and .437 OBP.
 
"Justin is a very athletic shortstop and centerfielder that continues to get better the more he plays," said coach Costanza. "He has a ton of position versatility that will allow us to use him in a number of ways throughout his career. He's a very advanced offensive player that runs really well and brings a dynamic speed and hit combination." 
 
Sean Cannon comes from Coronado High in San Diego's Eastern Athletic League, who regularly hits 93 with his fastball.
 
 "Sean has elite stuff on the mound that we are excited to be getting to campus," Coach Valenzuela commented. "Sean showcases an arsenal with an electric fastball-slider combination that will be really tough on opposing offenses."
 
Brady Petit will join the Gaels from La Costa Canyon High in the San Diego Area, where he won two Open-Division championships. He hit .278 with a .342 OBP last season, on his way to being named to the Coastal League First Team as well.
 
"Brady has been a mainstay in the infield for La Costa Canyon High School in the San Diego area and should have an immediate impact once he gets on campus," said Assistant Coach Jack Meggs. "He is an elite defender at third base and a physical presence in the batter's box."
 
Colin Linteo is a Danville, Calif. native who was All-EBAL First Team last season, and helped San Ramon Valley High to a league title.
 
"Colin is a dynamic and twitchy infielder that possesses a ton of offensive upside," according to coach Costanza. "He is one of the best players in Northern California with a unique hit and power offensive combo that we are really excited about."
 
Linteo is a career .341 hitter in 44 games at the varsity level, and had a .459 OBP and a .532 slugging percentage last year as a junior.
 
Micah Nicholson has been an offensive force at Bradshaw Christian, hitting exactly .500 as a junior (45 for 90) with seven home runs. He's a career .456 hitter, after hitting .471 as a junior and .341 as a freshman. He enters his senior season with a career slugging percentage of .696 after putting up a gaudy .866 slug last year.  
 
"We are happy to announce the signing of Micah Nicholson, as he has been a standout for Bradshaw Christian high school in the Sacramento area for the last couple of seasons," coach Meggs said. "Micah is a switch hitter who is extremely versatile on the field and is able to play multiple positions, which will help us immediately."
 
Dylan Leoff is a Redondo Beach native that went to Redondo Union High, where he put up a 2.29 ERA last season.
 
"Dylan comes to Moraga with a sterling track record of success," said Valenzuela. "He continues to get better and better, features three plus-pitches that he can command effectively, and has all the makings of an impact pitcher in our program."
 
Jaden McNeely out of Centennial High in Carona, Calif. is a lefty who went 8-3 last season with a 3.06 ERA on his way to being named the team's pitcher of the year. He made 10 appearances with nine starts, including one complete game, and struck out 46 batters in 50.1 innings to just 14 walks.  
 
"Jaden is a left-handed pitcher with a ton of upside," Valenzuela said. "He features a plus change up and elite strike throwing ability that we are excited to have here on campus."
 
Braden Ruiz was named the Mater Dei High Defensive Player of the Year last season, but also hit a walk-off home run for the Monarchs in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoff game this past May.
 
"Braden is an elite defensive shortstop from Mater Dei High School in Southern California," said Costanza. "He has a chance to come in and make an immediate impact on the diamond, and has offensive potential that has us excited to have him in a Gael uniform."
 
Lukas Sarantos is a six-three, 200-pound, right-handed pitcher with a good fastball and curveball combo out of San Juan Hills High in Ladera Ranch, Calif.
 
"He's a projectable right hander that has advanced feel for three pitches," said Meggs. "Lukas is just beginning to scratch the surface and projects to be a frontline starter for the Gaels moving forward."
 
Zak White comes to the Gaels after showcasing a fastball around 90 mph this summer and fall. He is athletic, moves well on the mound, and throws from a lower 3/4 arm slot which gives his fastball even more deception and run through the zone.
 
 "Zak is a physical specimen of a RHP standing at six-foot-four," said Valenzuela. "He has the chance to have power stuff on the mound, as he is a good athlete that we are really excited to add to our pitching staff."
 
Makoa Sniffen is a six-foot-one, 190-pound, third baseman and outfielder with a lot of experience at a competitive level.  
 
"He has been a big part of the lineup for Archbishop Mitty High School in the prestigious West Catholic Athletic League," Meggs said. "Makoa has continued to only improve both offensively and defensively. He has a chance to come in and help us immediately with his physicality and his ability to play multiple positions."
 
The Gaels are set to begin the 2024 season in Moraga on February 16. Deposits for tickets for the 2024 Saint Mary's Baseball season can be placed by clicking here.
 
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