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The margin for error in Moore League baseball remains extremely small, and no team has experienced that more in recent seasons than the Wilson Bruins.
In 2022, Wilson went 10-2 in league play, part of a 20-win season that included a CIF playoff win. During that season, the Bruins went 4-1 in Moore League games decided by two runs or fewer.
Last year, the breaks never seemed to go their way. Injuries to key players certainly didn’t help their cause, and Wilson ended up going 0-3 in those close league games, pushing them down to a fourth place finish.
Now in 2024, with a large group of returners and veteran talent in key positions, the Bruins are hopeful that there’s a bounceback season coming up.
“I think the strength is in our depth,” said Wilson head coach Andy Hall of this year’s group, which includes 11 seniors. “We have a lot of nice pieces, we’re just putting the puzzle together so to speak. And a lot of it comes down to the dumb luck of baseball, and a lot of it comes down to preparedness. I think our guys have worked really hard this fall in the weight room and out here on the field to get ready and give me a chance to evaluate the talent.”
Coach Hall will have a veteran coaching staff around him this season, with two other longtime head coaches working as assistants. Former Jordan head coach Marc Prager remains in the fold, and new assistant coach Cameron Chinn will be working as the pitching coach this season. Chinn was the head coach for extended stretches at Paramount High and Edison High, giving him knowledge of the area and a great track record of success on the diamond.
“We’re all coaching the same game, but sometimes when you hear it from somebody else’s voice, it just gives a different perspective,” said Hall about the addition of Chinn. “And he’s brought a lot. He’s been a tremendous, tremendous addition to our staff.”
On the field, the Bruins will have some returning talent that should get fans excited. Shortstop Taylor Kirk is a three-year varsity starter with a ton of games under his belt and all the tools you’d want from that position. He’ll be among the leaders for Wilson offensively, defensively, during practice, and in the dugout.
“In addition to being a really good student, and a really hard-working player, he’s just a really good kid,” said Hall of his senior shortstop. “He doesn’t have any ego at all. He wants to work extra, he wants to be a good teammate. I think that he’s gonna have a great year and end up someplace and make a college coach pretty happy, because I think he has the tools.”
Kirk was the leading hitter for Wilson last season, posting a .346 average while leading the squad in hits (28), runs scored (26) and stolen bases (14). He’s started off the 2024 season by reaching base in nine of his first 12 plate appearances, setting the tone for the entire Bruins lineup from the leadoff spot.
“I think I just want to be more aggressive on the base paths,” said Kirk of what he’s hoping to add to his game as a senior. “Every time I get a lead-off walk, or lead-off single, just try to turn it into a double as quickly as possible so we don’t have to waste an out bunting, which obviously is a big thing in the Moore League. But hopefully just take any base we can to get as many scoring opportunities as possible.”
Kirk was a First Team All-Moore League selection a season ago, and is one of the select few returners league-wide from that group. He feels the Bruins are in a better spot than they were last season, and he’s got his eyes on an improvement from their fourth-place finish.
“I don’t think we were a bad team last year, just a little bit unlucky with a lot of injuries,“ Kirk said. “I think we’re a more complete team (this year), I think we’re gonna be able to swing the bat a little bit better, pitch a little bit better with more depth in the rotation. And I think the goal is obviously to try to win the Moore League and make a decent run in CIF.”
One of those injuries was to Aaron Mingo, who missed the last few weeks of his junior season but is back healthy and with a new position as a 12th grader. Mingo has made the transition from third base to center field, where his athleticism should help make up for his inexperience in the outfield. He’ll also add some valuable pop to the middle of the Wilson batting order.
Senior Matt Pappas is in his third year on varsity, and he’ll slide over from second base to third this year, with senior Owen Ehmann covering the keystone while batting second in the order. Ehmann has battled injuries off and on, but if he can stay healthy he should also be a contributor on the mound. There’s also an opportunity for Mingo to see innings as a hard-throwing right-hander, either as a starter or a late-game reliever.
Junior Rudy Carlos is back after seeing extensive playing time as a 10th grader. He’ll bring some left-handed pop to the heart of the Bruins lineup while also playing first base and getting a lot of innings on the mound. Carlos had a 2.59 ERA in 11 pitching appearances last season.
Classmates Ryan Kaiser and Jaaden Romero will also be key arms for Wilson this year. Kaiser missed time with an injury toward the end of 2023, but Coach Hall likes his tools on the mound. Romero, meanwhile, was a big part of last year’s rotation with a strong 1.54 ERA across 45.1 IP, leading the team in both categories.
Sophomore Cole Mountain pitched extensively during the fall season and has earned his innings this year as well, helping the Bruins go 8 or 9 deep in their rotation.
Handling the pitching staff will be senior Dawson Precht, who’s expected to see the lion’s share of innings behind the plate. Fellow senior Danny Royle will get a late start to the year coming back from injury, but should see plenty of time in left field. Senior Andres Molinar is expected to start in right, adding even more experience to the Wilson lineup.
“I think as a whole, we have enough of the right pieces to be really competitive this year,” Hall said. “It’s going to take some breaks and some luck to beat the Millikan’s and Poly’s of the world. I think that we’ll match up with them just fine, I just think realistically, they’ve got a few more guys maybe than we do right now. We’ll see, you know, it’s baseball.”
Wilson will open Moore League play on March 6 against Jordan at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, and will also get the chance to play in a big league ballpark later this season. The Bruins are taking on Moreno Valley on Friday, March 29, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
Projected Starting Lineup:
C – Dawson Precht (Sr.)
1B – Rudy Carlos (Jr.) / Logan Smith (Jr.)
2B – Owen Ehmann (Sr.)
SS – Taylor Kirk (Sr.)
3B – Matt Pappas (Sr.)
LF – Gram Ludwig (Jr.) / Angel Urias (Sr.)
CF – Aaron Mingo (Sr.)
RF – Andres Molinar (Sr.)
DH – Logan Smith (Jr.) / Andres Molinar (Sr.)
P – Rudy Carlos (Jr.) / Ryan Kaiser (Jr.) / Jaaden Romero (Jr.) / Cole Mountain (So.) / Aaron Mingo (Sr.) / Owen Ehmann (Sr.)
