SAAS in Baseball

By: Eli Herst

While it may seem far from the start of the baseball season, but these athletes are already preparing for their respective 2024 seasons.

Hudson Hilen (Sr.)

Hudson is currently the only committed baseball player out of SAAS (Claremont McKenna). Hilen, a crafty left-handed pitcher, was primarily featured out of the bullpen last season for the Lincoln High School Varsity Lynx Baseball team that won the 3A state championship. However, this season, with many Lincoln’s pitchers from the previous year graduating, Hilen will likely be one of the Lynx’s main starters in 2024. In 2023, Hilen posted a 2.33 ERA over nine innings of work, with hitters managing just a .182 batting average against him.

Hudson Hilen Pitching

Hudson Scout Video

Eli Herst (So.)

Despite only being a sophomore, Eli already holds D1 offers and interest from many big-name D1 programs. Eli is ranked as the #4 baseball player and the #2 pitcher in Washington for the ‘26 class. Herst is heading into his second season on the Garfield High School Varsity Baseball team this spring. Last season, Herst was primarily used as a closer for Garfield; he finished with a 2.80 ERA over 15 innings, including three saves and 20 strikeouts. As a hitter, Herst finished his freshman campaign with a .259 batting average with a .379 on-base percentage. Looking towards the 2024 high school season, Herst will likely be the #1 pitcher, and as a batter, Herst will probably be a middle-of-the-order hitter for the Bulldogs.

Eli Herst Pitching

Eli @PBR Future Games

Dashiell Story (So.)

Dashiell is as raw as a baseball talent gets. In the spring, Dashiell will begin his first full season on Garfield Varsity. In 2 games played on Varsity in 2023, Story went 1-4 at the plate with a clutch single, trailing by one against Seattle Prep in the bottom of the 7th inning off of Oregon State Commit Reeve Boyd. Story also pitched the last inning of the season for Garfield, working a clean inning and striking out Stanford Commit Sebastian David. I expect Story to play a significant role as a pitcher on the Garfield team, likely as the #3 starting pitcher or a main reliever, as well as a middle to bottom of the order bat playing in the outfield.

Liam Mahoney (Jr.)

Liam is the definition of a leader behind the plate at catcher. Liam caught more than double anyone else on the Garfield JV team in 2023 with 73.2 innings. Mahoney is expected to be a part of a position battle for the role as the starting catcher on the 2024 Garfield Varsity team. In his one 2023 Varsity appearance, he drew a walk, leaving Mahoney with currently a perfect 1.000 Varsity on-base percentage.

Oliver Connell (Jr.)

Oliver pitched to a 2.69 ERA last season on Garfield JV, including a 5-inning shutout outing versus a tough West Seattle JV squad. Connell also hit for a .381 average last spring and was as sure-handed as you get in the field, as he didn’t make a single error.

Cole Becker (So.)

As a freshman, Cole posted a .317 batting average and a .455 on-base percentage on the Garfield JVC team. This fall, Becker hit .333 on the Varsity fall ball team. This coming spring, Becker is expected to be an impact player and the starting shortstop on the Garfield JV squad.

Quinn Haupert (So.)

Quinn is a solid defensive shortstop/second baseman and will likely be another key piece on the 2024 Garfield JV team. Haupert is a hard worker, and as size and strength continue to grow, so will his power and offensive output.