One of Samohi’s top baseball prospects will be staying local to continue his career in the college ranks. Last month, Vikings senior Tony Ponce committed to East LA College to advance his education and stay on the mound, where he excelled for the 2024 baseball squad.
In 12 appearances for the Vikings, Ponce became a key contributor in the bullpen, going 4-1 with an 0.68 earned run average and recording two of the Vikings’ three saves this season. In 31 innings of play, Ponce struck out 32 batters while giving up just 17 hits.
Arguably the senior’s most crucial mound appearance was in the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs against Ganesha, where Ponce struck out eight of 11 batters faced while giving up just one hit in the 3-2 Vikings win. Another Vikings senior heading off to college is ace pitcher Jackson Klein, who will be attending UC Davis.
Klein is currently undecided on continuing in the college ranks after a senior campaign that put him amongst California’s top hurlers, throwing multiple no-hitters and collecting 10 wins.
