NEWMAN, Calif – Seven Orestimba High baseball players are back for the 2025 season.

Along with new faces, the Warriors have already played a handful of non-league games in preparing for the Trans-Valley League action.

“I am looking for them to continue to get better in all facets of the game,” said Orestimba head coach Harold Peeples.

Orestimba has had a rough start at 2-10 record entering Thursday’s non-league road game at Golden Valley of Merced. First pitch is scheduled at 4 p.m.

Returning players

The Warrior players back on the diamond this season are three seniors in Colby Cabral, Nathan Ceja and Donovan Torres.

Jaden Sotelo, along with Payton Marcotte and Richie Rivas, are juniors who started as sophomores on the 2024 team, and Ray Montes, a sophomore who was a freshman on the ’24 team, round out the returning players.

Newcomers

The new Orestimba players on the varsity team this season are freshman Landon Marcotte, sophomore John Navarro, senior Christian Mendoza, junior Gio Gudino and Bryce Graham.

Strengths

Peeples feels that fielding and driving the ball to the alleys is a plus for the Warriors this season.

Orestimba has made some progress on defense.

“We need to be a good defensive team to be successful,” Peeples said.

TVL

Orestimba will face stiffer competition this season after years competing in the Southern Athletic League.

“The TVL is as good of a baseball conference as any in the area,” Peeples said. “From top to bottom it is a complete conference filled with talented teams.  It should be fiercely competitive and a fun challenge.”

The Warriors posted an 8-6 record in the Southern Athletic League during the 2024 season for a fourth place finish. Orestimba earned a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth.

Upcoming games

After Thursday’s contest at Golden Valley, Orestimba will open league play at Sonora on Wednesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. Sonora is also a new member of the league after competing in the Mother Lode League from 2014 until last spring.

The home-and-home series continues on Friday, March 21, when the Warriors host the Wildcats. This game has a 4 p.m. start.

Mike Bush is a multimedia journalist who was born and raised in the Stanislaus and Merced County areas. Follow him on X/Twitter @MikeBMultimedia and Instagram @mikebushmedia.