Meet The Bee’s 2025 Baseball Players of the Year and All-Metro teams
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- Dylan Minnatee led Franklin to a title, earning The Bee’s 2025 Player of the Year.
- Brandon Pelechowicz powered Yuba City to section and NorCal titles as hitter and ace.
- Del Oro, Lincoln and Woodland Christian claimed section titles behind standout stars.
Dylan Minnatee doesn’t just play the game of baseball, he feels it. He understand the nuances of the sport, of pitches, of playing defense.
And he is hooked on this.
The Franklin High School of Elk Grove infielder capped his stellar junior campaign by being named The Bee’s Player of the Year to top the 2025 All-Metro teams. He was a tough out at the plate, a terror on the basepaths, a rock on defense and a leader in example and in leadership.
In the 23-year history of the Elk Grove Unified School District program, Minnatee is just the fifth Wildcat to start on the varsity baseball team as a freshman, a rare four-year starter heading into next season. He is already an all-time program great, the next star from a program that has for years rolled them out like an assembly line.
“Dylan had an impact for us every single game,” Franklin coach Bryan Kilby said. “Just a great player. He led our team in hitting, batted third, and was so, so good defensively. Unbelievably good player. Gold Glove first baseman, a great feel for the game with a baseball IQ that is so high.
“He’s so knowledgeable about the game, studies the game, works on it. It’s always great when your best player is also one of the hardest working guys. Great kid, great example.”
Minnatee was the driving force behind the region’s top-ranked team. He batted .441 for the Delta League champions who won the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship, qualified for the CIF Northern California Division I playoff field as the No. 2 seed and finished 26-8.
Minnatee led the Wildcats with an 0.995 fielding percentage, had a team-high 45 hits, drove in a team-high 34 runs, scored 30 times, swatted a team-best 13 doubles and eight triples and led the way in causing headaches for opponents tasked with trying to deal with him.
With a verbal commitment to play at LSU, Minnatee dreams of playing this sport until his arms fall off. His summer is already in motion, competing in the Major League Baseball Breakthrough Series, a national developmental program for highly regarded players.
“I have learned a ton of great information, new and old, from my travel ball team and the MLB Breakthrough Series,” Minnattee said. “We get information from former pro players and coaches that the average player doesn’t get, and It think it has helped my game a ton, just focusing on the little things in the game and playing the game the right way.”
Making sure he plays the game the right way has been Minnatee’s, father, Derek, and the sharp eye of his mother, Denise, who knows a thing or two about pressure at-bats. Derek played football at the University of Idaho and Denise played softball at Texas Tech.
“My dad knows my swing the most out of anyone,” Minnatee said. “If I’m ever struggling with my at-bats, my dad see it instantly and we go to the cage to correct it together. He’s there for me when i need patting practice. He’s always there for whatever I need. It means a lot that my parents are always helping me.”
Of what baseball means to him, Minnatee said, “I love baseball and want to make this my job in the future. I’ve made friends from all over the country and relationships I wouldn’t even have had because of this game. The job’s not finished as I have to keep working to maintain all of the work I have put in to get to this point.”
Belding powered Del Oro to fist title since 1991
Masen Belding wasn’t just a tough out for the Golden Eagles of Loomis, he was not easy to run on.
The powerhouse junior catcher delighted in throwing out runners out who attempted to steal bases, and he led Del Oro in batting (.344), on-base percentage (.500), home runs (eight), RBIs (30), slugging percentage (.688) and in leadership in earning Bee Medium School Player of the Year honors.
Del Oro overcame a controversial forfeit of nine victories — tied to an ejected assistant coach and a clerical issue online with the CIF — to storm to the Division II section championship, the program’s first banner in the sport since 1991.
Del Oro went 24-9 on the field and competed in its first CIF NorCal Regional tournament, doing so in Division I in the CIF’s “competitive-equity” model.
Pelechowicz leads Yuba City to NorCal crown
Brandon Pelechowicz was a one-man wrecking crew with quite a bit of support around him in leading the storied Honkers to more glory.
The slugger and ace pitcher was the power source for Yuba City’s 31-5 season and march to the section Division III championship and the CIF NorCal Division II crown.
He led Yuba City in batting average (.473 average), on-base percentage (.567), home runs (six), stolen bases (22), fielding percentage (.990), hits (53), runs (43), RBIs (36), slugging percentage(.777), doubles (10), triples (three), ERA (1.36) and with a 10-1 pitching record.
Plaut fuels Lincoln with bat and arm
Landyn Plaut had all the clout for the Zebras of Placer County in recording a senior season for the ages.
He led Lincoln in batting (.495), on-base percentage (.581), home runs (a section-leading 15), hits (51), RBIs (44), runs scored (40), doubles (nine) and slugging percentage (1.019).
He also went 9-4 on the mound with a 1.41 ERA for a team that went 24-10, won the CIF Division V section championship and competed in the CIF NorCal Regional tournament.
Badhesha leads Woodland Christian to CIF repeat
Jayden Badhesha was at the forefront of Woodland Christian’s repeat march in the CIF section playoffs, and then securing the No. 1 seed in the NorCal D-IV bracket as the Cardinals finished 27-7.
Badhesa is The Bee’s Smallest School Player of the Year after batting .467, swatting seven home runs among his 43 hits and driving in 47 batters.
Castaneda coaches Yuba City to CIF crowns
A year after going 16-12 and missing the playoffs, Maury Castaneda challenged his team to rise above. They responded, and he is The Bee’s Coach of the Year.
In securing the program’s first postseason win in five seasons to open this playoff march, the Honkers never slowed down. They finished the season with a 14-game winning streak, a 31-5 record, the program’s first section crown in 10 years and the school’s first CIF NorCal Regional title.
“We play great baseball here, always have, and it’s great to see this happen here again,” Castaneda said after Yuba City won the section crown. “I’m so proud to be coaching this program and these great kids.”
The Bee’s 2025 All-Metro Baseball Teams
Player of the Year
Dylan Minnatee, Franklin, INF, Jr.
Large School Player of the Year
Masen Belding, Del Oro, C, Jr.
Medium Player of the Year
Brandon Pelechowicz, Yuba City, UTL, Sr.
Small Player of the Year
Landyn Plaut, Lincoln, UTL, Sr.
Smallest School Player of the Year
Jayden Badhesha, Woodland Christian, UTL, Jr.
Coach of the Year
Maury Castaneda, Yuba City
FIRST TEAM
Pitchers
Jackson Cook, Lincoln, Sr.
Dylan Wood, Franklin, Sr.
Kaden Nicholls, Bear River, Jr.
Joey Lorenzini, Rocklin, Sr.
Tyler Ritter, Roseville, Jr.
Infielders
Ayden Deome, West Park, Jr.
Eric Erdmann, Jesuit, Sr.
Sammy Kane, Jesuit, Jr.
Ramiro Pereda, Del Campo, Jr.
Outfielders
Jace Bystrowski, Granite Bay, Sr.
Kael Lumbert, Del Oro, Sr.
Royal McKinney, Franklin, So.
Catcher
Kyle Pettersen, Roseville, Sr.
Utility
Landon Carter, Bradshaw Christian, Sr.
Cade Castles, Davis, Sr.
Tyler Cody, Franklin, Sr.
Ayden Dringenberg, Oakmont, Sr.
Brady Estes, Whitney, Sr.
Jason Harris, Franklin, Jr.
Jonny Munger, Sutter, Sr.
Levi Nyberg, Cordova, Jr.
Vance Moe, Liberty Ranch, Sr.
Aaron Palmer, Woodcreek, Sr.
Colby Pudge, Rocklin, Sr.
Riley Salvemini, Woodland, Fr.
Ari Silva, McClatchy, Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers
Mitchell Clements, Del Campo, Sr.
Alex Crosno, Bradshaw Christian, Sr.
Tristan Hofferber, Antelope, Sr.
Bryson Ruiz, Woodcreek, Sr.
Andrew Schurmann, Union Mine, Sr.
Infielders
Bryce Farris, Whitney, So.
Brody Miller, Yuba City, Jr.
Dylan Nusz, Rocklin, Sr.
Ethan Rickert, Bradshaw Christian, Sr.
Outfielders
Antonio Cuevas, Elk Grove, So.
Eliaja Moncher, Yuba City, Sr.
JoJo Quezada, Woodland, Sr.
Catcher
Eli Burnham, Davis, Sr.
Utility
Uriel Angulo, Burbank, Sr.
Tristen Bartlett, Elk Grove, Jr.
Carson Bishop, Sutter, Sr.
Brayden Boyle, Pleasant Grove, Sr.
Andrew Jones, Granite Bay, So.
Connor Elliott, Laguna Creek, Sr.
Kade LeCompte, Liberty Ranch, Sr.
Dre Lee, Christian Brothers, Sr.
Christian Murphy, Woodcreek, Sr.
Beau Ogles, Oakmont, Sr.
Ian Peatross, Casa Roble, Sr.
James Romanov, Twelve Bridges, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Bradshaw Christian: Evan Rickert, So.; David Wiser, Sr.; Max Wolf, Jr.
Center: Andy Hintz, Jr.; Emare Viera, Sr.
Christian Brothers: Henry Ramsey, Sr.; Hudson Schempp, Sr.
Cosumnes Oaks: Izzy Davis. Sr.
Davis: Cade Castles, Sr.; William Donald, Jr.
Del Oro: Jack Tews, Sr.; Will Stark, Jr.
Destiny Christian Academy: Hyeongho Park, Sr.; Carson Soderstrom, Fr.
Elk Grove: Julian Arguello, So.; Chase Groves, Jr.; Matt Soares, Sr.
Folsom: Logan Hutton, Sr.
Franklin: Kyle Pott, Sr.; Kyle Timmons, Jr.; Brandon Williams, Fr.
Granite Bay: Adejare Williams. Sr.
Jesuit: Cade Colombara, Sr.; Aiden McKinnon, Sr.
Kennedy: Laney Fukuoka, Sr.
McClatchy: Finn, Ferris, Sr.; Elias Ortega, Jr.; Camden Sailsbury, So.;
Oakmont: Zayne Ball, Jr.; Cooper Kunis, Sr.; Brayden Saucedo, Jr.
Pleasant Grove: Cole Davis, Sr., Varin Verma, Sr.
Rio Americano: Carter Dean, Sr.; Derek Gale, Jr.
Rocklin: Kai Lorenzo, Sr.; Daniel Panteloglow, Sr.; Troy Ueltzen, Sr.
Roseville: Austin Chang, Jr.; Benjamin Jordan, Fr.
Vacaville: Jaiden Oldwin, Sr.; Peyton Olds, Sr.
Valley: Carmine Bermudez. Sr.
West Park: Christopher Fisher, Sr.; Jace Oliver, Jr.
Whitney: Tyler Jordan. Jr.; Noah Warner, Sr.
Woodland: Joseph Cadotte, Sr.; Cohen Dwyer, Fr.
Woodland Christian: Armaan Badhesha, Jr.; Kyle Misner, Sr.; Jordan Villanueva, Jr.
Yuba City: Ashton Decker, Sr.; Cesar Guizar, So.
The Bee’s final Top 20
1. Franklin (26-8)
2. Rocklin (24-7)
3. Yuba City (31-5)
4. Del Oro (24-9)
5. Davis (21-10)
6. Oakmont (25-8)
7. Jesuit (21-11)
8. Whitney (20-9)
9. Roseville (23-12)
10. West Park (24-8)
11. Bradshaw Christian (27-4)
12. Elk Grove (20-10)
13. Woodcreek (18-10)
14. McClatchy (22-7)
15. Granite Bay (12-17)
16. Del Campo (17-14-1)
17. Lincoln (24-10)
18. Oak Ridge (13-15)
19. Christian Brothers (21-8)
20. Vista del Lago (18-12)
▪ How these teams were picked: The Bee’s All-Metro teams were selected through personal observation, statistics inputted by coaches on MaxPreps, and local coach and media input with a heavy emphasis on postseason success.
This story was originally published June 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM.