MORAGA, Calif. - Upon conclusion of their most successful season in program history, Saint Mary's head coach Eric Valenzuela and his staff shipped off numerous players to different summer league teams to kick off their offseason work. Several players went on to have standout summer campaigns across different leagues throughout the country. 

Below is a recap of the several SMC players who put together quality summers as the team returns to campus for fall workouts. "As coaches, we understand how important the summers are for players to get more playing experience and continue to sharpen their skills", said Gaels head coach Eric Valenzuela. "We were thrilled with the efforts from our players this summer and the success they had. It's a real testament to their work ethic and commitment to their development and our program. We're excited to get fall workouts underway and start to prep for the spring" (Valenzuela). 

Ian Armstrong | C | Alaska Goldpanners (NBC)

Ian Armstrong put together one of the best freshman campaigns in Gaels history with a .364 batting average, eleven doubles, five home runs and an All-WCC Second Team selection to go down as the program's first freshman to earn a first or second team all-conference selection since 2019. 

Armstrong took his talents to Alaska as a member of the Alaska Goldpanners who went on to play for the league title this past weekend. Armstrong played in 28 games for the Goldpanners and finished with 34 hits, seven doubles, five home runs and a .304 average. He recorded a season high three hits in three different games in blowout wins over TPA Texas 180, the California Halos and the Coquitlam Angels. 

Armstrong also flexed the power throughout the season which featured an impressive run of three straight games with a home run. The Goldpanners went 2-1 over that stretch and combined for 19 runs. Armstrong will return for his sophomore season with Saint Mary's as the team's primary catcher and is poised for a big role once again following the team's NCAA Regional run. 

Lukas Sarantos | RHP | Alaska Goldpanners (NBC)   

Joining Armstrong in Alaska was fellow freshman Lukas Sarantos who emerged as the team's Friday starter late in the season. Sarantos finished his first collegiate season with a 3-1 record and a 5.32 ERA, recording three consecutive wins over his first three starts. Sarantos finished his summer league season with nine appearances, six starts, a 2-0 record and a 2.88 ERA. 

Sarantos got the start for the team's NBC Championship game against the Hutchinson Monarchs this past weekend and went 5.2 innings allowing just one run off three hits en route to the no decision. The Goldpanners would fall in walk-off fashion unfortunately after a one-out RBI double to give the Monarchs the league title. Sarantos and Armstrong will help highlight a young and talented returning group for the Gaels this upcoming season.  

Makoa Sniffen | INF | Bend Elks (West Coast League)

Playing in the West Coast League for the Bend Elks was freshman Makoa Sniffen. Sniffen can play both corner infield spots and arguably had the best summer out of any Gael, hitting .314 from the plate with 54 hits, nine doubles, 46 RBI and a team high seven homers. Sniffen also showcased his athleticism with 20 stolen bases over his 43 games played with the Elks to lead all players. 

Sniffen played in 23 games as a true freshman for Saint Mary's this past season and finished with a .235 average, 12 hits and five doubles. With the absence of Ryan Pierce and Eddie Madrigal, Sniffen will have a great opportunity to anchor an infield spot for the Gaels come the 2026 season and also fill in some of the power lost between those two players.  

Diego Castellanos | OF | Bend Elks (West Coast League)

Sophomore outfielder Diego Castellanos was also a member of the Bend Elks, finishing his summer with a .353 average, 12 hits, a pair of doubles and ten runs scored. Castellanos saw action over the last month of the season and was a well needed spark plug for the Elks offense. 

After playing in just eight games as a true freshman for the Gaels in 2024, Castellanos became the team's everyday right fielder in 2025 finishing with a .300+ batting average, 65 hits, eleven doubles and eight home runs. A successful summer after the 2024 season started Castellanos on an upward trajectory that he will look to maintain after finishing the 2025 summer on a high note with the Elks.    

Tanner Griffith | OF | Portland Pickles (West Coast League)

Joining the fan favorite Portland Pickles in the West Coast League was sophomore outfielder Tanner Griffith. After a slow start to the summer, Griffith came on late for the Pickles with 21 hits, eight doubles and a .300 batting average. The Pickles won the South Division and broke the league record with 43 wins this season as Griffith and former teammate and Seattle Mariner draft pick Aiden Taurek helped contribute to that win total.   

Griffith was a defensive staple in the Gaels outfield in 2025, making 58 starts as the team's primary center fielder. He concluded the collegiate season with a .413 on-base percentage which also included 28 hit by pitches to rank tenth most in the country. Griffith went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI in the team's 9-8 WCC Championship victory over San Diego to help send them to the NCAA Regional and will be another key returner for the Gaels 2026 squad.   

Cody Kashimoto | INF | Marion Berries (West Coast League)

Also in the West Coast League this summer with the Marion Berries was junior infielder Cody Kashimoto. Kashimoto combined for the Gaels veteran middle infield this past season along with shortstop Jared Mettam, playing in all 62 games and finishing with a .281 batting average. With the Marion Berries, Kashimoto played in 23 games recording 24 hits, two home runs, 14 RBI and 20 walks. 

Kashimoto contributed to the team's most electrifying win of the season with a grand slam in the ninth inning against the Cowlitz Black Bears to tie the game at seven. Two batters later, the Berries would walk the game off with a two-run homer from current Oregon State player Bryce Hubbard to clinch the dramatic 9-7 victory. The Berries finished the season at 16-11 good for third place in the South Division of the WCL.  

Colin Linteo | INF | Clarinda A's (Mink League)

Freshman infielder Colin Linteo joined teammates Micah Nicholson and Max Johnson in Iowa as a member of the Clarinda A's in the M.I.N.K. league. Linteo saw limited playing time this season behind veteran starter Jared Mettam but put together a quality summer, finishing with 36 hits, three triples, two homers, 16 RBI, 25 runs scored and a .293 batting average over his 36 games played. 

Linteo did a bit of everything for the A's as he also finished second on the team with 15 stolen bases and had a .400+ on-base percentage. The Danville native recorded eleven multi-hit games on the season including five three-hit games for his season high. Linteo went 3-for-4 with a triple and two home runs in a one-run defeat to the St. Joseph Mustangs. The Mustangs would go on to win the M.I.N.K. league title for the second consecutive season. 

Micah Nicholson | INF | Clarinda A's (Mink League)

Adding to the infield of the Clarinda A's was fellow freshman Micah Nicholson. The switch hitter slashed for a .284 batting average and a .395 on-base percentage this summer in his 35 games played. Nicholson had 12 multi-hit games on the season as well as a season high three hits in six different games. His season high came in a 3-1 win over the Sedalia Bombers where he went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. 

Nicholson was a great pinch-hit threat for the Gaels this past season, playing in 24 games. He finished his first collegiate season with a .333 average off the bench along with three doubles and eight RBI. 

Max Johnson | RHP | Clarinda A's (Mink League)

Rounding out the summer for Saint Mary's was another true freshman arm in Max Johnson. Despite redshirting for the Gaels this past season, Johnson went to Iowa and was a terrific backend arm for the A's, making 15 appearances and leading the team with four saves. He finished the season with 26 innings pitched, 34 strikeouts, just nine earned runs allowed and a 3.12 ERA. 

Johnson picked up his first win of the summer in his lone start, going five innings allowing just three runs off one hit in a 10-8 win over the Jefferson City Renegades. Weeks later, he grabbed his second win of the season with four scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the A's while striking out a season high six batters in a 9-8 win over the Carroll Merchants. The Clarinda A's finished with a 23-13 record for second place in the league, eventually falling to the Mustangs in the league championship on July 26th.  

Fall practices are in full swing for Saint Mary's as school started a couple weeks ago here in Moraga. The Gaels 2026 spring schedule will be announced in December with the season kicking off in February. Additional information and program updates can be found at smcgaels.com. 

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