GSF OTY Sports Awards Expands to Include Baseball in Fifth Year of Recognition
For the first four years, the GetSportsFocus OTY Sports Awards focused exclusively on recognizing excellence during the high school football season. Now, in its fifth year, GSF is expanding its awards platform by adding baseball and other sports, giving more student-athletes and teams an opportunity to be recognized for their accomplishments.
The addition of baseball comes after GetSportsFocus Executive Producer Alf Joaquin spent the spring covering the CCS Baseball Championships.
“Baseball, along with the other sports, has always been part of GetSportsFocus,” said Joaquin. “I’m happy to bring it back. Our main sport is football, and many football players also play other sports. ‘OTY’ stands for ‘Of the Year,’ and this recognition format is unique, at least in our coverage.”
The 2026 GSF OTY Baseball category features three outstanding Baseball Player of the Year nominees and two championship-caliber programs competing for Baseball Team of the Year honors.
Baseball Player of the Year Nominees
Ben Hayden – De La Salle
Hayden helped lead the Spartans to a 23-5 record, an NCS Championship, and a CIF NorCal Division I Championship Game appearance. The De La Salle sophomore middle infielder batted .479 with 34 hits, 24 RBIs, seven doubles, and 13 stolen bases while striking out only six times all season. His consistency at the plate and ability to impact the game with both his bat and speed made him one of the key contributors to the Spartans’ championship run.
Player Profile: De La Salle ’27 | MIF | 5’11” | 165 lbs
Felix Chang – Archbishop Mitty
Chang emerged as one of the WCAL’s most productive players, leading the league with 30 runs scored. The senior finished with 32 hits, 18 RBIs, six doubles, two triples, two home runs, and eight stolen bases. His signature performance came in the CCS Division II Championship game, where he went 3-for-3 with a home run, triple, and single while scoring two runs and helping lead Mitty to the title.
Off the field, Chang has been equally impressive in the classroom, carrying a 4.0 unweighted GPA, 4.46 weighted GPA, and a 1520 SAT score.
Player Profile: Archbishop Mitty ’26 | INF | 6’0″ | 180 lbs
Nate Miller – Valley Christian
Miller was a major contributor for a Valley Christian team that caught fire during the postseason. The senior batted .384 with 33 hits, 20 runs scored, 17 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases while posting a .495 on-base percentage. His leadership and production helped fuel the Warriors’ championship run, which ended with a CIF NorCal Division I Championship.
On December 11, 2025, Miller announced his commitment to continue his baseball career at Webster University. Behind the plate, Miller has developed into one of the region’s top defensive catchers, recording a 1.9-second pop time while providing versatility as both a catcher and utility player.
Player Profile: Valley Christian (CA) ’26 | Trosky Baseball | 6’1″ | 180 lbs | C/UT | 1.9 Pop Time | Committed to Webster University
Baseball Team of the Year Nominees
De La Salle Spartans
The Spartans finished 23-5, won the NCS Championship, and advanced to the CIF NorCal Division I Championship Game. The season also marked the conclusion of legendary Head Coach David Jeans’ 16-year tenure at De La Salle.
Jeans leaves behind one of the most successful coaching resumes in California high school baseball. During his time at De La Salle, he guided the Spartans to 20 official championships, including three CIF NorCal Championships (2022, 2023, and 2025), 10 North Coast Section Division I Championships, and seven East Bay Athletic League championships. He also compiled an extraordinary 330-77 overall record, helping establish De La Salle as one of Northern California’s premier baseball programs.
His final team added another chapter to that legacy by capturing the 2026 NCS Championship and advancing to the CIF NorCal Division I Championship Game.
Valley Christian Warriors
Valley Christian finished 23-9 overall and proved that championships are won by teams that peak at the right time. After finishing second in the WCAL, the Warriors dominated the postseason, winning the CCS Division I Championship and the CIF NorCal Division I Championship. Their final five victories were all shutouts, including a commanding 12-0 victory over Elk Grove in the NorCal championship game.
The Warriors are led by Head Coach John Diatte, who has guided the program for more than three and a half decades. During his tenure, Diatte has built Valley Christian into one of Northern California’s premier baseball programs, leading the Warriors to multiple CCS and Northern California championships while establishing a tradition of excellence that continues to thrive today.
As GetSportsFocus continues to grow its coverage beyond football, the addition of baseball to the OTY Sports Awards represents another step in recognizing student-athletes and teams across multiple sports. The nominees in this year’s baseball category have established themselves as some of the best players and programs in Northern California, making this one of the most competitive OTY races yet.