SBLive's All-LA City Section high school baseball team: Jose Ruedas is 2022 Player of the Year

With the spring 2022 California high school baseball season in the books, it’s time to hand out some awards.

After covering dozens of games and talking to coaches from every corner of the Los Angeles City Section this spring, here is SBLive's 2022 All-LA City Section high school baseball team. The Section-wide team features 24 players - 12 position players and 12 pitchers - and was compiled by SBLive reporter Connor Morrissette.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jose Ruedas - Chatsworth senior RHP

Ruedas went 9-5 this season with a 2.43 ERA. He threw 80 2/3 innings striking out 76 batters. What separated Ruedas from the rest of the Player of the Year candidates was his play in the Open Division title game against Birmingham, a 2-0 Chancellors win.

Ruedas threw a complete game in a performance Chatsworth head coach Marcus Alvarado called Ruedas' "best" of the season. The senior allowed only four hits and struck out six. In the bottom of the seventh inning, he gave up a leadoff single, but retired the next three batters he faced to win.

"It was a big occasion and I love big occasions," Ruedas said afterwards. "This is where I thrive. It just pumps me up. I turn into a different animal."

COACH OF THE YEAR

Marcus Alvarado - Chatsworth

Alvarado was hired at Chatsworth in June of 2020 following a successful run at Kennedy. Back in 2020, his goal was to build his own legacy with the Chancellors and in only two seasons in charge, he's already reached the top.

Chatsworth ended a 13 year championship drought with their Dodger Stadium win last month. The Chancellors may have the most City titles all time (10), but their most recent prior to this year came in 2009. Before this season, Chatsworth fell short in championship games in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017. 

"This means that all of the players that put on the uniform and didn't have the opportunity to be here and the players that were here and didn't win it, this is for them," Alvarado said after Chatsworth's Dodger Stadium triumph. "This is for the program. This is for the people that put in the work, for everybody here."

ALL-LA CITY SECTION TEAM

Catcher: Matthias Nolasco - Roosevelt - Junior

In addition to being one of the top defensive catchers in the Section, Nolasco hit .419 with four home runs and 29 RBI's this season. He also scored 19 runs. 

First baseman: Alden Quintanilla - Granada Hills - Senior

Quintanilla was named the co-West Valley League MVP this season. He had a 1.202 OPS with five home runs and 23 RBI's.

Second baseman: Gavin Taylor - Birmingham - Junior

Taylor hit .337 with six doubles, six home runs, 18 RBI's, 28 walks and 13 stolen bases this season. 

Third baseman: Brandon Garfinkel - Granada Hills - Senior

Garfinkel had an 0.847 OPS, three home runs, 10 RBI's and 19 walks this season. On the mound, he posted a 1.82 ERA with five saves. 

Shortstop: Barry Menjivar - Chatsworth - Senior

Menjivar hit .326 this season. He had 30 hits, which led Chatsworth. He also stole a team high 13 bases and had 15 RBI's. 

Left fielder: Roberto Pitts - Birmingham - Senior

Pitts was the other co-MVP of the West Valley League along with Quintanilla. He hit .370 with 12 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 10 walks, 22 stolen bases and 25 RBI's. 

Center fielder: Owen Martin - Narbonne - Junior

Martin didn't make an error all season. He was also one of the deadliest hitters in the Section. In Narbonne's Division 1 semifinal win over Taft, he hit a home run. In the Gauchos' championship setback against Garfield, he hit a triple at Dodger Stadium. 

Overall on the season, Martin hit .398. He stole a team high 32 bases and scored a team high 41 runs. He finished the year with 41 hits. 

Right fielder: Dominick Camas - Chatsworth - Senior

Camas batted .338. He was hit by a team high 23 pitches in 2022. He also scored a team high 25 runs. 

Designated hitter: Josh Klein - El Camino Real - Senior

Klein hit .411 this season. He had 37 hits and 23 walks. All three of those marks led the Royals. 

Utility: Drew Gustafson - Granada Hills - Senior

Gustafson recorded an 0.865 OPS this season. He also hit a home run and had seven RBI's. On the mound, Gustafson went 5-0 with a 1.97 ERA and 45 strikeouts. 

Utility: Dom Cervantes - Birmingham - Senior

Cervantes was a standout outfielder for the Patriots. He was also a four year player who hit .349 as a senior with 10 doubles, four home runs and 18 RBI's. In the regional playoffs, Cervantes went 3-for-7, with two home runs, a double and six RBI's. 

Utility: Sean David - El Camino Real - Senior

David hit .361 with 35 hits and 27 RBI's this season. He played catcher along with Klein for the Royals. 

PITCHERS

Jose Ruedas - Chatsworth - Senior

Ruedas went 9-5 this season with a 2.43 ERA. He threw 80 2/3 innings striking out 76 batters. In the LA City Section Open Division championship game, Ruedas threw a complete game shutout against Birmingham. 

Oscar Lopez - El Camino Real - Junior

Lopez had a 1.33 ERA and threw six complete games in his junior year. Overall, he went 9-3 on the season with 47 strikeouts in 78.2 innings. Lopez was one of the most accurate pitchers in the Section. He walked only 21 batters all year.  

Lino Zepeda - Roosevelt - Senior

Zepeda struck out 99 batters and posted a 1.17 ERA in 2022. He went 6-4 on the season. 

Daniel Flores - Birmingham - Junior

Flores pitched 82 2/3 innings going 10-3 on the year with a 2.03 ERA. He struck out 75 batters. 

Zach Perez - Granada Hills - Senior

Perez was named the West Valley League Pitcher of the Year. He went 8-2 with a 1.64 ERA this season striking out 66 batters. 

Frank Garcia - Sylmar - Senior

Garcia put together a fantastic season both as a pitcher and hitter in 2022. On the mound, he had a 1.25 ERA and a 7-1 record. At the dish, Garcia led Sylmar in nearly every offensive category. He batted .449 and had 26 RBI's. 

Jesse Pineda - Poly - Senior

Pineda threw a complete game in Poly's 5-2 playoff win over Marshall. He also threw a complete game in a 2-1 win over Cleveland in the regular season. Pineda was the Parrots best player this year. 

Zack Geiss: San Pedro - Senior

Geiss went 6-3 this season with a 3.12 ERA. In the Marine League, Geiss went 5-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He lost games against Torrance, Roosevelt, and Palos Verdes this season. 

Daniel Vergara: Marshall - Senior

Vergara went 8-1 with a 1.14 ERA this year. He struck out 84 batters. 

Miles Hughes: Carson - Senior

Hughes went 8-4 with a 0.68 ERA this season. He struck out 66 batters. 

Mason Edwards: Palisades - Junior

Edwards had a 1.20 ERA this season. He threw 64 1/3 innings striking out 102 batters. 

Ricardo Martinez: Birmingham - Senior

Whether he was asked to start or come out of the bullpen, Martinez was up for the challenge this season posting a 1.35 ERA and 5-0 record. He also finished the year with more strikeouts (49) than innings pitched (46).