The 2024 high school baseball season was an eventful one for local schools, with the Channel League title being decided on the final day of the regular season.
Santa Barbara High came out on top with the league title, but all three local Channel League teams fielded standout players that were named to the All-League squads.
Headlining those players was Dos Pueblos’ Jesse Di Maggio, who earned the Channel League MVP Award.
It was well deserved, as Di Maggio ended the season with a batting average of .506 and an on-base percentage of .580. He also tallied 42 hits, 33 RBI, 33 runs scored and a school-record 10 home runs in 28 games played.
Meanwhile, Santa Barbara High head coach Steve Schuck was named the Channel League Coach of the Year.
Schuck helped guide the Dons to an overall record of 18-7 and the program’s first Channel League title since the 2019 season.
Santa Barbara High
As the league champions, the Dons were the most represented team on the All-Channel League First Team with four players.
Seniors Michael Firestone and Kaden Spencer wrapped up their Santa Barbara High careers in fashion, earning spots on the All-League First Team.
Junior Zeke Adderley and Sophomore Jetner Welch each played huge roles in the league title run as well on their way to the First Team honors.
As for the All-League Second Team, senior Liam Keithley and junior Grady Wilson represented the Dons as strong pieces within the offense while also making an impact defensively.
Rounding out the All-League honorees for Santa Barbara High were junior Kai Mault and sophomore Derek Jaye, who were named All-League Honorable Mentions.
San Marcos
The Royals fell just short of their fourth straight Channel League title, finishing in second place with a record of 9-4-1 against league opponents.
San Marcos had a trio of players earn All-League First Team honors in senior Steven Bradley, senior Erik Perez and junior Alexi Stegner.
Bradley got it done with the bat and in the field, Stegner was a strong arm for the Royals and Perez provided an impact offensively and on the mound.
Sophomore Mason Crang and senior Dayne Dreste stepped up throughout the season for San Marcos, picking up All-Channel League Second Team honors.
Finally, freshman Patrick Foster and junior Ethan Stokhaug began their careers as Royals with All-League Honorable Mention caliber seasons.
Dos Pueblos
The Chargers wrapped up their season with an overall record of 15-13-1 and a fifth-place finish in the Channel League, good for an at-large berth into the CIF-SS Div. 4 Playoffs.
Other than League MVP Jesse Di Maggio, Dos Pueblos did not have any players on the All-League First Team.
Meanwhile, senior Lukas Ginder and junior Alexander Hajda turned in strong seasons for the Chargers to pick up All-League Second Team honors.
As for the Dos Pueblos All-League Honorable Mentions, the junior duo of Zach Gesswein and Charlie Potter took home that title after being solid contributors throughout the year.