The Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro baseball team: Jax Gimenez grows into a Whitney all-timer
Just under four years ago, Jax Gimenez intimidated no one. He was a shy freshman at Whitney High School in Rocklin, a 5-foot-6 bundle of energy and effort but hardly a young man who turned heads on the baseball diamond, in the weight room or at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
These days? The recently graduated senior looks the part of player at 6-1 and 195 pounds, and his shy nature has given way to good cheer, leadership and confidence. He turned out to be quite a baseball player, as good as any to have played for the Wildcats of Placer County. Gimenez punctuated his career by winning MVP honors in the best league in the Sac-Joaquin Section, MVP honors in the Optimist All-Star game for senior stars and now Sacramento Bee Player of the Year honors to headline The Bee’s All-Metro teams.
Headed to Oregon to play baseball and to maintain the 4.0 grades he sported in high school, Gimenez is Whitney’s all-time hits leader. He led his club this spring with a .431 average, in hits with 47, in runs with 41, in slugging percentage at .743, in doubles with 11, in triples with four, in home runs with five, in stolen bases with 36 and in reputation as the ideal team and campus leader. He homered in big prep games, including the Optimist All-Star game in his final outing in school colors.
The Bee’s preseason No. 1-ranked team, Whitney finished 21-12 before falling to Division II finalist Elk Grove in a three-game semifinal series. Gimenez this summer will play for the Lincoln Potters, a summer collegiate league, before heading to Eugene to study and play ball.
“It’s been great to see how far Jax has come,” Whitney baseball coach Jackson Watt said. “He’s gone from a 5-6 freshman, a little guy, to this, a Division I athlete who looks like a monster.”
Gimenez was so respected on campus that he earned the vote from his student peers to be the “Voice of Whitney”, a role that includes serving as the school’s spirit leader, the emcee for rallies in the gym, lunchtime activities and more.
Gimenez explained his role as, “Trying to do everything I can, to leave a legacy.”
He did. Mission accomplished.
ALL-METRO BASEBALL TEAMS
Coach of the Year: Paul Martinez, Oakmont
A winner at all of his coaching stops and the only one in Sac-Joaquin Section history to win section championships at three different schools, Martinez pulled more of his managerial magic in leading the Vikings of Roseville to a repeat section championship showing and a CIF Northern California banner. Oakmont went 30-7 and chalked up big nonleague wins over area powerhouse programs such as Whitney (4-0), Woodcreek (4-3) and McClatchy (13-10) before rolling through the Foothill Valley League and postseason.
Large School Player of the Year: Jordy Lopez, Franklin, CF, Sr.
The Cal-bound senior led the Delta League champions with a .441 batting average, an 0.563 on-base percentage, 23 stolen bases, 41 hits, 42 runs scored, a .731 slugging percentage, six doubles, nine triples and a 0.66 ERA in going 7-1 on the mound. He was superb in the outfield and as a leadoff hitter, and he bows out as one of the top players in program history.
Medium School Player of the Year: Tony Lira, Oakmont, 1B, Sr.
The Arizona-bound slugger tied for the section lead with seven home runs, batted .404, had a 0.511 on-base percentage, a .988 fielding percentage, 42 hits, 31 RBI, 12 doubles and a .721 slugging percentage for the D-III section champions, who won the school’s first NorCal banner for a spring sport. Lira competed with calm and leadership.
Small School Player of the Year: Micah Nicholson, Bradshaw Christian, INF, Sr.
In helping power the Pride to the program’s 10th section title and second NorCal banner in three seasons, the Saint Mary’s-committed Nicholson batted .465 with a .565 on-base percentage, 46 hits, 44 runs, 37 RBI, 19 doubles, four triples and a .677 slugging percentage for a team that went 32-1. He is one of the program’s greatest players.
Smallest School Player of the Year: Drew Perry, Leroy Greene, OF, Sr.
The repeat winner for this award and the best player in program history, Perry never slowed down. He batted .511, had a .616 on-base percentage and belted a section-best tying seven home runs with 45 hits, 47 runs, 45 RBI, 15 doubles, four triples and a 1.011 slugging percentage as the Lions of Sacramento repeated as section champions.
FIRST TEAM
P Nic Abraham, Franklin, Sr.
P Jagger Beck, Sutter, Sr.
P Ned Frutchey, Elk Grove, Sr.
P Daniel Panteloglow, Rocklin, Jr.
P Trevor Wilson, Oakmont, Jr.
INF Chase Bentley, Granite Bay, Jr.
INF Cash Brennan, Rocklin, Jr.
INF Eric Erdmann, Jesuit, Jr.
INF Nathan Erickson, Valley Christian, Sr.
OF Ethan Groves, Elk Grove, Sr.
OF Trajan Rogowski, Whitney, Sr.
OF Dylan Westbrook, Oak Ridge, Sr.
C Jadyn Ramos, Franklin, Sr.
UTL Tucker Baird, Rocklin, Sr.
UTL Connor Barth, Woodcreek, Sr.
UTL Wyatt Bickel, Woodland Christian, Sr.
UTL Tyler Bolyard, Vista del Lago, Jr.
UTL Ben Brown, Del Oro, Sr.
UTL Jace Bystrowski, Granite Bay, Jr.
UTL Ty Collum, Laguna Creek, Sr.
UTL Ayden Dringenberg, Oakmont, Jr.
UTL Jacob Halseth, Laguna Creek, Sr.
UTL Kaden Nicholls, Bear River, So.
UTL Levi Nyberg, Cordova, So.
UTL Austin Nye, Woodcreek, Sr.
UTL Luke Oyler, Whitney, Sr.
UTL Corden Pettey, Whitney, Jr.
UTL Jake Redding, Lincoln, Sr.
UTL Jacob Schreiber, Casa Roble, Sr.
UTL Martin Vega, Florin, Sr.
UTL David Wiser, Bradshaw Christian, Jr.
UTL Kenny Winters, Lincoln, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
P Matt Henry, Twelve Bridges, Sr.
P Joey Lorenzini, Rocklin, Jr.
P Russell Pettis, Elk Grove, Sr.
P Ethan Rickert, Bradshaw Christian, Jr.
P Dylan Wood, Franklin, Jr.
INF Jason Harris, Franklin, So.
INF Sam Marr, Rio Americano, Sr.
INF Jimmy Radler, Granite Bay, Sr.
INF Matthew Thomas, Twelve Bridges, Jr.
INF Troy Ueltzen, Rocklin, Jr.
OF Connor Campbell, Casa Roble, Jr.
OF Timmy Reed, Granite Bay, Sr.
OF Owen Tessier, Woodland Christian, Jr.
C Evan Gentil, Elk Grove, Sr.
UTL Brodie Bieneman, Del Campo, So.
UTL Landon Carter, Bradshaw Christian, Jr.
UTL Alan Quirarte-Guzman, Pleasant Grove, Sr.
UTL Jack Ghufran, Granite Bay, Sr.
UTL Ty Hennessy, Woodcreek, Sr.
UTL Van Froling, Inderkum, Sr.
UTL Rylan Giovannoni, Sutter, Sr.
UTL Cooper Kunis, Oakmont, Jr.
UTL Garrett Lewis, Colfax, Jr.
UTL Dylan Minnattee, Franklin, So.
UTL Grant Munoz, Rocklin, Sr.
UTL Mario Navarro, Monterey Trail, Sr.
UTL Jackson Norton, Inderkum, Sr.
UTL Kyle Pettersen, Roseville, Jr.
UTL Colby Pudge, Rocklin, Jr.
UTL Korey Ramson, Leroy Greene, Sr.
UTL Ari Silva, McClatchy, So.
UTL Kade Spomer, Lincoln, Sr.
UTL Noah Warner, Whitney, Jr.
UTL Chase Weldon, Casa Roble, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Pitchers: Gavin Ashton, El Dorado, So.; Zack Baker, Rio Americano, Sr.; Garrett Brink, Placer, So.; Drew Brown, Inderkum, Sr.; Mitchell Clements, Del Campo, Jr.; Caden Clive, Delta, Sr.; Cade Colombara, Jesuit, Jr.; Jesse Cuthill, Rocklin, Sr.; Andrew Del Pizzo, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Brady Estes, Whitney, Jr.; Brady Fearn, Oakmont, Jr.; Mason Ferris, Woodcreek, Sr.; Isaac Holland, Christian Brothers, Sr.; Bradley Hunter, West Park, So.; Brian Kucserka, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Kade LeCompte, Liberty Ranch, Jr.; Kai Lorenzo, Rocklin, Jr.; Vance Moe, Liberty Ranch, Jr.; Jaiden Oldwin, Vacaville, Jr.; Ethan Palumbo, Antelope, Sr.; Max Powers, El Camino, Sr.; Tyler Ritter, Roseville, So.; Brady Rea, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Nik Rostak, Vacaville, Sr.; Sammy Sanchez, Pioneer, Jr.
Infielders: Ben Barley, Bear River, Sr.; Spencer Buckley, Delta, So.; Lincoln Dorway, Rio Americano, Jr.; Kai Mulitsch-Reynolds, Dixon, Jr.; Bradley Nave, Coflax, Sr.; Max Wiesner, Jesuit, Sr.; Dom Yacovetti, Vacaville, Jr.
Outfielders: Connor Anderson, Casa Roble, Sr.; Carson Bishop, Sutter, Jr.; Wyatt Pennman, Oakmont, So.; Gabe Viegas, Bradshaw Christian, Sr.; Ryan Sisson, West Park, Sr.
Catchers: Eddie Ames, Leroy Greene, Jr.; Masen Belding, Del Oro, So.; Ryan Hubbard, Oak Ridge, So.; Jack May, Foresthill, Sr.; Alfonso Maya, Cordova, So.; Beau Ogles, Oakmont, Jr.; Nate Petz, River City, Sr.; Tyrus Vogt, Casa Roble, Sr.
Utility: Carmine Bermudez, Valley, Jr.; Tyler Chalk, Vacaville, Sr.; Alex Crosno, Bradshaw Christian, Jr.; Mason De O’Campo, El Dorado, Sr.; Ayden Deome, West Park, So.; Logan Fox, Roseville, Sr.; Jackson Halverson, McClatchy, Sr.; JaLon Johnson, Florin, Sr.; Lucas Johnson, Kennedy, Sr.; Matias Michel, Pioneer, Sr.; Izaya Rubio, Delta, Sr.; Drew Van Court, Pioneer, Jr.; Robby Silski, Placer, So.; Derrick Smith, Florin, Sr.; Mason Susnara, Roseville, So.; Malachi Thompson, Colfax, Sr.
THE BEE’S FINAL TOP 20
Baseball
1. Oakmont (30-7)
2. Granite Bay (24-10)
3. Rocklin (24-11)
4. Whitney (21-12)
5. Franklin (26-7)
6. Elk Grove (22-14)
7. Bradshaw Christian (32-1)
8. Oak Ridge (16-16)
9. Woodcreek (21-11)
10. Jesuit (18-11-1)
11. Vacaville (20-8)
12. Laguna Creek (21-6)
13. Vista del Lago (23-6-1)
14. Davis (12-16)
15. Bella Vista (15-10-1)
16. West Park (16-14)
17. Sutter (24-7-1)
18. Roseville (17-9-1)
19. Woodland Christian (26-4)
20. Leroy Greene (23-5)
▪ How the teams were selected: The Bee’s All-Metro baseball teams were selected based on personal observation, input from area coaches/media and team playoff success.