The562’s baseball coverage in 2025 is sponsored by the Millikan, Long Beach Poly, and Lakewood baseball boosters
After a decade of sustained success on the diamond, expectations are understandably high for the Millikan High baseball program.
Over the past 10 seasons, Millikan has averaged exactly 10 wins per year during Moore League play, collecting six league titles–representing the program’s best stretch since the 90’s–along with a CIF-SS championship in 2021.
It’s been an impressive run success, with head coach Ron Keester and his veteran coaching staff overseeing a majority of those victories. With that as the backdrop, there’s even more reason to be excited about the 2025 version of the Millikan Rams, who are stocked with experience throughout the lineup, and have some exciting top-end talent hoping to lead them to new heights.
“So many guys are three-year varsity guys, so you have a connection with a lot of these kids for a long time. Just that alone is special,” said Keester about this year’s group. “So there’s a lot of experience, but they’re really just neat kids to be around. And it’s a cool experience to be able to be a part of what we’re able to do right now.”
The Rams return the co-Moore League Player of the Year in centerfielder Anthony Pack, a bona fide star who will draw consistent attention from MLB scouts this season. Pack is committed to the University of Texas, but if things go well the next few months, he may never make it to Austin.
Pack could be hearing his name called in the first few rounds of this year’s MLB Draft, and it’s been a whirlwind year of showcases, events, and tournaments leading up to his senior season as he looks to solidify his draft stock.
“That just comes with a routine. You know, whether I get drafted or go to college, you’re gonna need a routine,” explained Pack, who has found ways to manage his hectic schedule. “To start that (process) early, to be able to balance all that is big for me, not only in baseball, just life. So, I have a whiteboard in my room and I write down my schedule and times, and just stick to that every day. That helps me.”
It would have been easy for Pack to turn his attention elsewhere for his last year of high school ball, but he said he’s focused on having a successful senior season with longtime teammates and friends.
“We have a lot of seniors, a lot of dudes that I played freshmen ball with, so we want to end it with a bang,” he said. “We went 12-0 last year in Moore League, so of course we’re trying to do that again this year. And our goal is just to stay focused, stick to our plan, and that’s gonna take us to glory.”
Expect to see Pack’s pure lefty swing and blazing speed in the No. 2 hole for the Rams, who will be surrounding him with a potent lineup. Senior shortstop Andrew Perez should lead off, and Keester said he’s added some strength that should help him at the plate. Perez is a three-year starter with a reputation as a smooth fielder at short, but his ability to set the table might be his most important contribution in 2025.
RBI machine Ben Keisler is back in the No. 3 spot in the order while holding down third base. The senior has great size and feel for the game, and will be filling two important roles for Millikan this year.
“This team is actually really special because of all the returners we have,” said Keisler. “I think that’s going to help us a lot in big games, because we’ve been there before. Also, I’ve been really happy with the newer guys that have come through, they look like they’re ready to go. Our preseason games, most of them have been one-sided, and we’ve hit the ball really well and won. So I feel very comfortable about this season.”
With Pack in center and Perez at short, the Rams will be really strong up the middle defensively with three-year starter Connor Patton back behind the plate. Patton is a solid backstop with a strong throwing arm, but is also a middle-of-the-order left-handed bat. In fact, the Rams feature a plethora of lefties in the lineup, and could have as many as 6 or 7 in their lineup on any given day.
Junior first baseman Adrian Ramirez is another lefty with pop who will hit in the middle of the order. He’ll be joined on the right side of the infield by senior Noa Morales, a smooth fielder who will help turn the lineup over, though Keester said in previous seasons he’d warrant batting higher in the order.
Senior Matt Ness is an experienced returner in right field who missed last season due to injury, but is a three-year varsity player. Left field will have a competition between three juniors–Xavier Kennard, Daunte Bell, and Shane Wally–who will all be in the mix at DH as well.
The Rams should clearly have the deepest and most dynamic lineup in the Moore League once again, but what helps this group stand out is the pitching staff they have to go with it. Senior Owen Waytas got a lot of experience finishing out games in Moore League play last season, and will be part of a compelling three-headed monster on the bump.
He’ll also have 6-foot-3 senior Thomas Ramsey and 6-foot-2 left-handed junior Daunte Bell in the rotation with him, and all three are capable of getting big outs and filling different roles.
“It’s really those top three pitchers, and any given day they can throw a shutout,” Keester said. “We believe all three are really good pitchers, and having that many guys kind of takes the pressure off. It doesn’t have to be just one guy.”
Rams pitching coach Keven Gail is very excited about the group he gets to work with this season, and is particularly high on Bell’s upside with a great changeup and a developing curveball to go with a high-80’s fastball. Ramsey is the hardest thrower in the group, touching 90 with his heater, and only allowed one run during the fall and winter in over 20+ innings of work.
“I have a really good problem this year,” Gail said. “We have 196 innings for a 28-game season, and I want them each to get 50. They’re all gonna be starters, they’re all gonna be mid-relievers, they’re all gonna be closers, and I’m gonna play the hot hand. Whoever’s hot is gonna go.”
For baseball fans hoping to get a look at the Rams this season, they’ve only got three Blair Field games on the schedule, and will find themselves on their campus field more than usual. Millikan’s Moore League schedule starts on Mar. 14 with a home game against Compton, before a big game against Long Beach Poly a week later under the lights at Blair.
Millikan’s CIF division will be determined at the end of the season, and another trip to the gauntlet that is Division 1 would certainly provide a challenge. But this group of Rams appears to have a special mix of talent, experience, coaching, and chemistry, and they’re the class of the Moore League until another school says otherwise.
Projected Starting Lineup
C – Connor Patton (Sr.)
1B – Adrian Ramirez (Jr.)
2B – Noa Morales (Sr.)
SS – Andrew Perez (Sr.)
3B – Ben Keisler (Sr.)
LF – Xavier Kennard (Jr.) / Duante Bell (Jr.) / Shane Wally (Jr.)
CF – Anthony Pack (Sr.)
RF – Matt Ness (Sr.)
DH – Jacob Paulune (Sr.) / Xavier Kennard (Jr.) / Duante Bell (Jr.) / Shane Wally (Jr.)
P – Owen Waytas (Sr.) / Daunte Bell (Jr.) / Thomas Ramsey (Sr.)
