Dax Hardcastle, Trey Howell-Chase, Ben Jordan and Nateo Victorio headline the section's best.
A total of 79 players have been selected as members of the 2026 MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section baseball team.
Dax Hardcastle of
St. Mary's (Stockton) is the Sac-Joaquin Section Player of the Year after leading the Rams to the Division I championship for the second time in three seasons.
The selection process was based on individual performance during section play. An emphasis was placed on team success. League and strength of schedule were taken into account.
Special mention goes to coaches who provided complete statistical information to MaxPreps as they helped their players gain recognition.
Player of the YearDax Hardcastle,
St. Mary's (Stockton)P/3B | Class of 2026The Mississippi State commit dazzled from both sides of the field. He batted .394 with three home runs, 39 hits and went 8-1 with a 0.56 ERA and 116 strikeouts while only allowing five earned runs over 62.1 innings. He saved some of his best work for the section playoffs when he allowed just one run over 19 innings while punching out 39 en route to the Rams' sixth section crown.
Junior of the YearTrey Howell-Chase,
Rio Americano (Sacramento)IF | Class of 2027The Capital Valley Conference MVP helped the Raiders grab their first section title in 30 years. He hit .477 with 52 hits, 27 RBI, 38 runs and 39 stolen bases. He went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI in the Division III championship game vs. El Capitan.
Sophomore of the YearBen Jordan,
RosevilleIF | Class of 2028The last time Roseville won a section crown before Jordan joined the team was 2015. Now the Tigers have back-to-back blue banners with the sophomore leading the team with a .402 average, five homers, 27 RBI and 25 stolen bases.
Freshman of the YearC | Class of 2029
Helped the Mustangs reach their first section title game since 2012 and in contention for a NorCal crown. By the end of the season, Victorio was hitting .326 with two homers and 33 RBI.
First Team
Jayden Badhesha,
Woodland Christian (Woodland)P/UTIL | Class of 2026The big lefty dominated on the bump and with the bat with a 5-0 record and a 0.72 ERA along with a .539 average, 11 home runs, 57 RBI and 40 runs scored.
P | Class of 2026
Through 59 innings, the UCLA signee struck out 78 batters and posted a 7-2 record with a 1.54 ERA.
IF/OF | Class of 2027
Was named the Monticello Empire League's Offensive Player of the Year with a .542 average, 52 hits, 52 runs and 37 stolen bases.
Brad Blankenheim,
Amador (Sutter Creek)IF/P | Class of 2026The Sierra Valley Conference MVP helped bring Amador its first section crown since 2001 with a .535 average, seven homers, 37 RBI and 61 hits plus a 6-2 record, 0.91 ERA and 73 strikeouts over 46.1 innings.
Ryan Cody,
Franklin (Elk Grove)P | Class of 2027Paced the Wildcats to a return trip to the Division I final and ended with a NorCal championship with a 10-1 record, 2.09 ERA and 55 strikeouts while also hitting .370 at the plate.
Ayden Deome,
West Park (Roseville)SS | Class of 2026The Arizona commit hit .375 with three home runs, 31 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
Joey Dormann, Rio Americano
P | Class of 2027Went 10-1 with a 0.96 ERA and 74 punchouts, including a five-inning perfect game in the postseason.
Cohen Dwyer,
WoodlandIF/P | Class of 2028The sophomore put up solid numbers for the D-V runner-up with a .525 average, 34 RBI, 53 hits and 26 stolen bases and posted a 2.81 ERA in 32 innings.
Cooper Gaoiran,
El Capitan (Merced)IF | Class of 2026The Central California Conference MVP guided the seventh-seeded Gauchos to the Division III final with a .429 average, 45 hits and 39 runs.
Chase Groves,
Elk GroveIF | Class of 2026Hit .357 with 40 hits, 30 RBI, 36 runs and 12 steals for the Division II champion Thundering Herd.
Peyton Heath,
East Union (Manteca)C | Class of 2027The Valley Oak League MVP hit .433 with five homers, 29 RBI and 15 steals while going 7-1 with 61 Ks over 46.2 innings.
Sammy Kane,
Jesuit (Carmichael)SS | Class of 2026The Oregon commit hit .286 with three homers while posting an 8-2 record, a 1.07 ERA and 66 strikeouts.
IF | Class of 2026
Hit .440 with 20 RBI, 40 hits, 44 runs and 18 stolen bases in being named the Metro League Offensive Player of the Year.
1B/P | Class of 2026
The LSU commit hit .391 with two homers, 28 RBI and went 3-0 with a 0.68 ERA in 41.1 innings.
OF | Class of 2026
Led the Raiders to the D-IV championship game with a .407 average, four homers, 18 RBI and 28 stolen bases.
Tyler Ritter, Roseville
P | Class of 2026The UC Davis commit and Foothill Valley League Defensive Player of the Year, Ritter went 11-0 with a 0.62 ERA and 124 Ks, lifting the Tigers to back-to-back blue banners and a NorCal championship.
Nick Schikore, Rodriguez
P | Class of 2026The MEL MVP went 9-2 with a 1.56 ERA and 96 punchouts in leading the Mustangs to their first section final in 14 years.
P/UTIL | Class of 2026The Georgia signee was the Valley Oak League Pitcher of the Year with a 6-2 record, 1.33 ERA and 63 Ks in 42 innings and also hit .329 with 27 RBI.
Ari Silva,
McClatchy (Sacramento)P/1B | Class of 2026The Metro League Defensive Player of the Year was 9-0 with a 0.70 ERA and 81 strikeouts while hitting .434 with two homers and 31 RBI.
Pierce Tully, Rio Americano
P | Class of 2026Went 6-1 for the D-III champions, including a 1.72 ERA and 68 strikeouts. One of two Raider pitchers to throw a perfect game in the postseason.
Second Team
Armaan Badhesha, Woodland Christian
C | Class of 2026Former section champ hit .571 with two homers, 38 RBI, 44 hits and 11 doubles.
Chase Barton,
WheatlandP | Class of 2026The senior helped the Pirates to their first championship as members of the Sac-Joaquin Section with a 11-2 record, 2.74 ERA and 74 strikeouts.
Nico Busalacchi,
Del Oro (Loomis)1B/P | Class of 2027Hit .413 with a team-high eight home runs and 25 RBI with 38 hits for the Golden Eagles.
Trenton Cloward,
Ripon Christian (Ripon)P/OF | Class of 2028The Trans-Valley League Most Outstanding Player was 8-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 90 Ks while hitting .323 with 18 RBI for the Division VI runners-up.
Mason Hackler,
TurlockIF/P | Class of 2027Was named the Central California Athletic League MVP with a .357 average and a 2.35 ERA with 88 strikeouts over 62.2 innings.
Jayden Hernandez, Elk Grove
IF/C | Class of 2028Batted .405 with 47 hits and 31 RBI while hitting in the heart of the lineup for the Division II champions.
Dylan Knell,
LincolnIF | Class of 2026Led the Fighting Zebras to a 22-4-1 record with a .477 average, 42 hits, 38 runs, 19 RBI and 26 stolen bases.
Bryce Kurihara, Rio Americano
UTIL | Class of 2028Hit .380 with 28 RBI, 38 hits and 19 stolen bases for the Division III champion Raiders.
Parker Lipp, Jesuit
P/UTIL | Class of 2026Hit .412 with five homers, 26 RBI and 40 hits while posting a 3.90 ERA and 42 Ks in 32.1 innings.
Trace Murchison,
Woodcreek (Roseville)OF | Class of 2027The CVC Offensive Player of the Year hit .344 with 31 hits, 31 runs and 20 stolen bases.
Kale Nakamura, Wheatland
C/UTIL | Class of 2027The backstop for the Division V champion Pirates hit .414 with 36 hits, 32 RBI and 31 runs scored.
Kaden Nicholls,
Bear River (Grass Valley)P | Class of 2026Workhorse went 6-3 with a 1.34 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 57.2 innings and also hit .319 with two homers.
Gavin Otis,
Placer (Auburn)P/1B | Class of 2027
Batted .382 with three homers and 18 RBI while going 5-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 48 strikeouts.
Riley Salvemini, Woodland
P/UTIL | Class of 2028Helped the Wolves reach the Division V final with a .367 average, 33 RBI and 25 stolen bases and an 8-3 record, 0.79 ERA and 96 strikeouts.
Isaac Schroeder,
Granite BayIF | Class of 2028Hit. 443 with four home runs, 32 RBI, 51 hits and 25 runs scored for the Grizzlies.
Ethan Silva, St. Mary's
IF | Class of 2026The Hawaii commit hit .369 with six home runs, 33 RBI and 47 runs scored for the Division I champions.
Nate Slikker,
MantecaP/UT | Class of 2027Led the Buffaloes to a 22-10 record with a .340 average, four homers, 31 RBI, 35 hits, 36 runs and 14 doubles.
Ethan Vander Plaats, Ripon Christian
IF | Class of 2028The TVL MVP as a sophomore, Vander Plaats went 4-0 on the mound with a 1.37 ERA and hit .267 with 12 RBI for the D-VI runners-up.
Jasen Womack,
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)OF | Class of 2026The versatile athlete hit .351 with 34 hits, two homers, 27 RBI and 13 doubles for the Trojans.
Aiden Zwissig,
SutterP/UTIL | Class of 2026Helped Sutter to 25 wins with a 6-2 mark and a 2.53 ERA on the mound while hitting .414 with 13 RBI at the plate.
Third Team
Tristen Bartlett, Elk Grove
OF/P | Class of 2026Steadied the Thundering Herd lineup with a .373 average, 47 hits, 21 RBI, 37 runs and 10 steals.
Anthony Bascherini, Elk Grove
P | Class of 2026One of the aces for the Division II champions with an 8-2 record, a 2.18 ERA and 56 punchouts in 61 innings.
Benny Centeno, El Capitan
P | Class of 2026Helped catapult the Gauchos into the section final with a 9-1 record, a 1.78 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 67 innings.
Austin Chang, Roseville
OF | Class of 2026Possesses the clutch gene in multiple sports. Hit .364 with three homers and 20 RBI while going 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA on the bump.
Dylan Eddings,
Vacaville Christian (Vacaville)P/1B | Class of 2026Hit .559 with 26 RBI, 33 hits and 16 stolen bases and had a 3.28 ERA with 97 strikeouts for the Division VII runner-up.
Evan Fujii-Sisler,
Bradshaw Christian (Sacramento)C/IF | Class of 2026Led the Pride to 23 wins with a .381 average, two homers, 27 RBI, 32 hits, 27 runs and 29 stolen bases.
Ethan Gustus, Roseville
P | Class of 2026Provided a pitching punch for the Division IV champions with a 7-1 record, 1.34 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 52.1 innings.
Hudson Hall, Elk Grove
C | Class of 2026Hit .380 with 41 hits, 25 RBI and 29 runs for the Thundering Herd.
Andrew Hancock,
RocklinP | Class of 2027The Thunder ace helped redirect Rocklin's slow start, allowing just three earned runs over his final seven starts, finishing with a 6-2 record and a 1.16 ERA.
Jackson Howell, Ripon Christian
P/IF | Class of 2026Got it done on both sides of the field with a .500 average, four homers and 31 RBI and a 6-1 record with a 1.98 ERA ad 33 Ks.
Cam Kelley,
Turlock Christian (Turlock)P/IF | Class of 2027Went 7-1 with a 1.56 ERA and 80 strikeouts as well as a .359 average and 22 RBI for the Division VII champions.
Austin Krebs, Rodriguez
P | Class of 2027Went 6-2 with a 1.65 ERA and 75 punchouts over 59.1 innings for the Mustangs.
Dawson Labarthe, St. Mary's
OF/IF | Class of 2027Posted a .426 batting average with four homers, 22 RBI, 40 hits and 28 runs for the D-I champion Rams.
Brodee Malecha, Wheatland
P/1B | Class of 2027Hit .407 with 33 hits, 19 RBI and 10 stolen bases and had a 0.31 ERA in 22.1 innings for the Pirates.
Kayden McHenry, Central Catholic
IF/P | Class of 2027Paced the D-IV runners-up with a .280 average, two homers and 14 RBI and a 4-1 record, 0.46 ERA and 48 strikeouts.
Michael Miller, Turlock Christian
C | Class of 2026Hit .486 with 34 hits, 20 RBI, 46 runs, 11 doubles and 13 stolen bases for the D-VII champion Eagles.
Levi Nyberg,
Cordova (Rancho Cordova)P/SS | Class of 2026Hit .375 with 33 hits and 16 RBI while posting a 2.32 ERA and 64 strikeouts over 50 innings for the Lancers.
Jordan Villanueva, Woodland Christian
SS | Class of 2026Posted big numbers for the Cardinals, including a .506 average, 21 RBI, 42 hits, 51 runs, 10 doubles and 25 stolen bases.
Jax Whitesides,
Twelve Bridges (Lincoln)OF/IF | Class of 2026Paced the Raging Rhinos with a .391 average, three homers, 30 RBI, 34 hits, 33 runs and 13 steals.
Ethan Williams,
VacavilleP | Class of 2026Led the Bulldogs with eight of their 20 wins, a 1.31 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 58.2 innings.
Honorable Mention
