Walnut, Calif. – Just in time for the postseason, the defending state champion Mt. SAC Baseball Team has worked their way back into the spotlight, landing at No. 19 in the final CCCBCA Home Run 30 rankings after spending much of the season off the list.
The Mounties closed out the regular season by splitting a two-game series with Mt. San Jacinto, dropping the finale 8-4, but still finishing on a high note. They earned a share of the South Coast Conference title alongside El Camino, with both teams posting identical 19-5 conference records.
Now, the focus shifts to the postseason, where Mt. SAC enters the SoCal Regionals as the No. 16 seed in the south. The Mounties will compete in a three-team bracket that includes No. 24 seed Mt. San Jacinto and top-seeded Palomar, with only one team advancing to the Super Regionals.
Mt. SAC opens regional play with a familiar matchup against Mt. San Jacinto on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Palomar, and as we know, the numbers suggest a tightly contested battle.
The Eagles bring speed and pitching to the table, led by Alex Pintal's 18 stolen bases and Gavin Warner's seven wins and 60 strikeouts, both among the top marks in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference. Ivan Salas anchors the bullpen with five saves, while as a team, Mt. San Jacinto has produced 346 runs with a .303 batting average and a .418 on-base percentage.
The Mounties, however, counter with consistency and depth of their own. Andrew Alva leads the offense with 44 RBIs, ranking among the top in the South Coast Conference, while Tomas Bilvado's eight wins and Hudson Castillo's 3.07 ERA headline a steady pitching staff.
Offensively, Mt. SAC has tallied 331 runs on a .323 batting average with a strong .429 on-base percentage, showing an ability to string together quality at-bats and generate scoring opportunities across the lineup.
Looming in the bracket is No. 1 seed Palomar, a team that has dominated statistically all season. The Comets are powered by Elijah Stephens, who leads the Pacific Coast Conference with a .455 batting average, 12 home runs, and 62 RBIs—ranking second in the state in RBIs.
Michael Rodda adds another 52 RBIs, while Joey Navarro and Ryan Herrod have each recorded eight wins on the mound. As a team, Palomar's offensive production stands out, with 446 runs scored, a .357 batting average, and a .477 on-base percentage, making them one of the most dangerous lineups in the field.
It's no secret that the Mounties will face a significant challenge in slowing down Palomar's high-powered offense. But as the defending state champions, Mt. SAC is no stranger to high-pressure moments and will look to carry that experience into another potential deep postseason run.
With momentum building and a title to defend, the question now becomes whether the Mounties can once again rise to the occasion. Their playoff journey begins Friday—and if history is any indication, they're a team no one can afford to overlook.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.