The562’s coverage of St. Anthony athletics is sponsored by Jane & B.I. Mais, Class of 1948.
The562’s baseball coverage in 2025 is sponsored by the Millikan, Long Beach Poly, and Lakewood baseball boosters
This may become a tale of two seasons for St. Anthony baseball.
The Saints have a quality core group of returners who went 17-7-1 last season, and they will get some help from a few game-changing transfers. However, the new additions won’t be able to join the St. Anthony lineup until they’ve completed the CIF Southern Section mandated 30-day sit out period.
“Things are more unsettled than they’ve ever been,” St. Anthony coach Kris Jondle said. “But that’s a good thing. We’re very versatile, and the transfers will be in the mix right away when they’re eligible. It’s coming along slowly but it’s coming along. We have to just hang on in the first half of the season.”
All-League senior and four-year varsity player Benny Lane is the team leader who thinks that Jondle is the right coach to navigate the uncertainty.
“He’s really passionate about the team and it’s more of a group effort for him than sticking with the best guys,” Lane said. “Coach creates a tight knit group of people and he brings passion and energy to every game.”
Lane will be the pitching staff ace who also can play multiple infield positions, and he has experience with the big differences in those roles.
“I feel like pitching and throwing are different because to be a dominant pitcher you have to have the mindset of a pitcher who can read the hitters,” Lane said. “You have to be on the same page as your catcher.”
Lane added that he’s lucky to have a catcher he can count on in sophomore Owen Frazier. He started for JV last year and has worked hard to win the job and the second spot in the lineup.
Frazier will also be catching pitchers Lucas Fredette and Jaylen Butler, who need to go deep into games early in the season with limited depth coming out of the bullpen.
The junior Butler will also play first base and be a big bat in the lineup. He is one of a handful of players who routinely stay after practice to hit in the cages that have been rebuilt at Clark Field.
The 6’1” 210-pound freshman Luke DeGiorgio is a solid defensive third baseman who will add another power bat.
Up the middle, senior three-year starter John Arnold will move from second base to shortstop while junior Austin Cassidy returns to the keystone. Jondle thinks that Arnold makes the defense a lot better and that Cassidy is the fastest player on the team who could move to the outfield when the transfers officially arrive.
Sophomore Aidann Ruiz is one of the key transfers who was an All-League shortstop at Salesian last year thanks to his speed and good hands. Joining the Saints as a utility infielder is junior Nick Galluccio who comes from Mater Dei. Anthony Valdez will also make an imitate impact at any position, and all three transfers can pitch.
“This is easily the most athletic team I’ve had at St. Anthony, without a doubt,” Jondle said.
Sophomore center fielder Matthew James and senior left fielder Noah Buchanan will use that athleticism to lead what Jondle called, “the best defensive outfield we’ve had.”
Senior Kyle Shisbey played right field last year, but a labrum injury will limit him to designated hitter duties.
“We need to be humble no matter the opponent,” Lane said. “We just need to play our own game, and make sure that throughout every game we’re taking with the same intensity as if it were our last.”
Projected Starting Lineup
C – Owen Frazier (So.)
1B – Jaylen Butler (Jr.)
2B – Austin Cassidy (Jr.) / Aidann Ruiz (So.)
SS – John Arnold (Sr.)
3B – Luke DeGiorgio (Fr.)
LF – Noah Buchanan (Sr.)
CF – Matthew James (So.)
RF – Anthony Valdez (So.)
DH – Kyle Shisbey (Sr.)
P – Benny Lane (Sr.) / Lucas Fredette (Sr.) / Jaylen Butler (Jr.) / Nick Galluccio (Jr.)
