ALL-ORANGE COUNTY BASEBALL TEAM 2026
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach, Senior
When Huntington Beach’s Jared Grindlinger reclassified as a senior, a decision to make what would have been his junior season his senior season, some must have wondered if Grindlinger was ready to do that.
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He was.
This season Grindlinger batted .376 with 41 hits, 10 doubles, 26 runs scored and compiled an OPS of 1.000. On the mound he was 6-0 with a 0.85 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 57⅓ innings.
Grindlinger, who was named Sunset League MVP, has command of four pitches – a four-seam fastball, a changeup, a slider and a sweeper.
Huntington Beach finished 25-8-1 overall and won the Sunset League championship (16-2 league record).
The Oilers capped the season by winning the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship. In Huntington Beach’s 5-3 win over Cathedral Catholic in the regional championship game, Grindlinger hit a two-run home run in the first inning and in a relief role struck out the two batters he faced to lock up the title.
He was 4 for 4 and homered in a win over Patrick Henry in the first round of the regional playoffs.
Huntington Beach coach Benji Medure said Grindlinger has the requisite tools and more.
“It’s really his heart, for sure,” Medure said. “He cares about the culture of the program, which is all about being family and friends and playing for each other. Jared wants to win and he wants what’s best for everybody.”
Grindlinger turned 17 in April. Whether his next baseball destination is the University of Tennessee, where his brother Trent is playing, or is in the pros – he is projected to be first-round MLB Draft pick – Grindlinger is going to make a can’t-go-wrong choice.
Grindlinger weighed the pros and cons of the reclassification opportunity last summer.
“I went to the USA Baseball Trials to see how I matched up against the older guys there,” he said. “I had a blast. It still was a hard decision.”
A hard decision because Grindlinger enjoyed this season so much.
“My teammates are my best friends,” he said. “I love our coaches. This season brought so many great moments that I’ll cherish the rest of my life.”
Grindlinger wants to be a two-way player as long as possible. Of course, he is inspired by what Shohei Ohtani is doing.
“Shohei gives us two-way guys hope,” he said.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Drew Slevcove, Cypress, Senior
Cypress senior Drew Slevcove was at his best against the best teams.
In the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs, he held eventual Division 1 champion St. John Bosco to one run on five hits over eight innings. He struck out six and walked two.
“One bad pitch got me,” Slevcove said.
That one pitch was hit for a solo home run in the fifth inning by St. John Bosco’s Jack Champlin, who was the Trinity League player of the year. St. John Bosco beat Cypress, 2-1, in 11 innings that day.
“It still was the best stuff I had this year,” Slevcove said.
Slevcove, a left-hander who is committed to UC Santa Barbara, finished the season with a 7-0 record. Slevcove also had no-decisions in three games where he pitched into the eighth inning.
He was named Crestview League MVP. The Centurions went 10-2 in league to win the championship of a formidable league that includes El Dorado, Foothill, La Habra and Villa Park.
Slevcove pitched four shutouts, had a 0.92 ERA and 108 strikeouts with 16 walks in 76 innings.
He had to work with a new catcher partway into the season. Returning senior starting catcher Noah Johnson broke a bone in his right hand on a foul tip, so junior Benjamin Martinez stepped in behind the plate.
“I’d thrown to Noah since I was 11 years old,” Slevcove said. “But it wasn’t difficult. I’d thrown some bullpens (sessions) with Ben and I trusted him back there.”
Slevcove’s control was his chief asset. He placed his fastball, which had plenty of movement on it, his slider and changeup precisely where he intended it to go.
“I’m at my best when I’m throwing everything for strikes,” Slevcove said. “I’m attacking the strike zone against every hitter, I’m trusting all of my pitches and I have a lot of trust in ‘Web.’”
“Web” is Cypress coach John Weber, who led the Centurions to a 13th consecutive league championship.
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“He can throw three pitches for strikes,” Weber said. “He can pitch in and pitch out, and he has deception and movement. Those are all things he has which is why he’s so difficult to hit.”
Cypress had many non-seniors in key roles, which added to Slevcove’s enjoyment of his senior season.
“It was cool for us seniors to watch the younger guys grow,” Slevcove said. “They made us better. We grew together as a team and had a great season.”
Cypress finished 23-9 overall and was one of two Orange County teams that advanced to the Division 1 quarterfinals; the other team was Orange Lutheran.
Slevcove helped the Centurions get to the quarterfinals. He pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts in an 8-0 win over Sierra Canyon in the Division 1 playoffs.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jim Kiefer, Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa won the Empire League championship and finished the season at 21-8.
The computer rankings the CIF Southern Section uses to place teams in divisions for the playoffs sent the Mustangs to Division 2. Costa Mesa lost to a Trinity League team, Servite, 2-0 in the first round.
“The kids played really well all season,” said Kiefer, who has coached the Mustangs for 11 seasons. “We competed well from the beginning of the season. We got a walk-off win (3-2 over Segerstrom) in our first game of the season and kept it going from there.”
Kiefer is running a consistent winner at Costa Mesa. The Mustangs won the Golden West League championship and finished 22-7 in 2025.
ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Gavin Guy, Newport Harbor, Sr.: Guy, the Sunset League pitcher of the year, was 9-1 with a 0.67 ERA for the CIF Southern California Regional Division II champion Sailors. He was a clutch hitter, too, with 21 RBIs.
Pitcher: Gary Morse, Orange Lutheran, Sr.: Morse, who committed to Tennessee, had 91 strikeouts in 54⅔ innings and a 1.41 ERA while pitching against top national competition.
Pitcher: Caden Lauridsen, Foothill, Jr.: A Crestview League pitcher of the year, Lauridsen had a 1.63 ERA, allowed only 14 walks in 85 innings, won two CIF Southern Section playoff games and gave up two runs or less in 10 of his starts.
Catcher: Brady Murrietta, Orange Lutheran, Sr.: Murrietta had four home runs and 24 RBIs. He was a four-year starter for Orange County’s No. 1-ranked team. He is highly-regarded for his defensive abilities and work with the Lancers’ pitchers.
First base: Dane Cunningham, Huntington Beach, Sr.: Cunningham was All-Sunset League first team for the Oillers, who won the CIF Southern California Regional Division I title. He had a 1.176 OPS.
Infield: CJ Weinstein, Orange Lutheran, Sr.: Weinstein batted .351 with a 1.016 OPS, drove in 25 runs and scored 21 runs. He was All-Trinity League first team and is committed to LSU.
Infield: Justin Lopez, Villa Park, Sr.: Lopez, the Crestview League offensive player of the year, hit .441 with a 1.189 OPS, 11 doubles, was 12 for 12 on stolen base attempts and was an MVP of the Orange County Baseball All-Star Game.
Infield: Daniel Van De Kreeke, Trabuco Hills, Sr.: The South Coast League MVP, Van De Kreeke batted .370 with 11 doubles, 15 RBIs and had 32 hits.
Outfield: Ely Mason, Huntington Beach, Jr.: Mason led the Oilers in RBIs with 33 and batted .385 with a 1.027 OPS. He was All-Sunset League first team and has committed to Oklahoma State.
Outfield: Blake Bowen, JSerra, Sr.: This power-hitting outfielder batted .360 with nine home runs and was All-Trinity League first team. He is committed to Oregon State and projected as an early-round pick the MLB Draft.
Outfield: Ricardo Hurtado, Orange Lutheran, Jr.: The Lancers’ leadoff batter hit .340 with a .940 OPS, scored 27 runs and was All-Trinity League first team.
Designated hitter: Noah Hunter, Edison, Sr.: An All-Sunset League first-team selection who is committed to Washington State. Hunter batted .423, had a 1.007 OPS and struck out only five times in 91 at-bats.
Utility: Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach, Sr.: The Orange County player of the year.
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ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM
P: Tate Belfanti, Cypress, Jr.
P: Stevie Jones, Corona del Mar, Sr.
P: Cooper Sides, Orange Lutheran, Sr.
P: Branson Wade, Laguna Beach, Sr.
C: Warren Gravely IV, Santa Margarita, Sr.
1B: Ryan Williams, Newport Harbor, Sr.
Inf: Logan Honikel, El Modena, Sr.
Inf: Sebastian Navarro, Mater Dei, Jr.
Inf: Jordan Kurz, Orange Lutheran, Jr.
OF: Xavi Cadena, El Dorado, Sr.
OF: Carson Etnire, Aliso Niguel, Sr.
OF: Keoni Wun, Newport Harbor, Sr.
DH: Tyler George, Santa Margarita, So.
Utility: Tanner Brown, Huntington Beach, Jr.
ALL-COUNTY THIRD TEAM
P: Shane Wendler, Servite, Jr.
P: Logan Hoppie, Villa Park, Jr.
P: Gavin Giese, Dana Hills, Sr.
P: Vincernt De Marco, Woodbridge, Sr.
C: Bobby Brooks, La Habra, Sr.
1B: Dylan Yencho, Laguna Beach, Sr.
Inf: Jake Delaquil, Cypress. Sr.
Inf: Parker Leoff, Huntington Beach, Jr.
Inf: John Sullivan, Servite, Jr.
OF: Brayden Bianchi, Foothill, Sr.
OF: Chase Marlow, Santa Margarita, Sr.
OF: Tyler Vladic, Cypress, Jr.
DH: Eric Zdunek, Orange Lutheran, Sr.
Utility: Ryan See, Dana Hills, Jr.