Cuesta Baseball returned to the top of the Western State Conference rankings to claim their third title over four seasons since the pandemic. The Cougars endured a slow start against the WSC but went 9-3 during their second swing through the loop to grab their crown and clinch a playoff berth. In the post-season, Cuesta swept Southwestern, 10-3 and 10-4, to open the playoffs and advance to the CCCAA Super Regional hosted by the #1-seed Mt San Antonio. The Mounties, who knocked the Cougars out of the post-season, are set to host the 2025 CCCAA State Tournament this weekend. Cuesta Baseball finished its 2025 campaign with a 27-17 overall record and was well represented on the all-Western State Conference teams. Eleven Cuesta ballplayers were accorded all-Western State Conference honors, including WSC Player of the Year Tristan Usher.
Freshman First Baseman Tristan Usher powered the Cougars' batting order and was recognized as the Western State Conference Player of the Year. Usher, who also hurled six innings and recorded a save on the mound, was a mainstay at first base and in the clean-up spot on offense. His 13 home runs and 57 runs batted in were both team-highs, while his .715 slugging percentage landed him #7 all time at Cuesta. with best mark by a Cougar since 2008. Usher's MVP performance also earned him an automatic spot on the 2025 CCCAA All-State team.
All Regional and all-WSC Centerfielder Aidan Botti blossomed during his sophomore season, moving from the infield to the outfield and igniting the Cougars' offense from the leadoff spot. Botti's batting average jumped from .180 in 2024 to a team-high and the State's Top 20 at a .404 clip. Botti was not just a hit machine, he added 27 base-on-balls and eight hit by pitches, while also swiping team-leading 14 bases, to ignite the offense with a .508 on-base percentage. In the field, Botti, who did not commit an error this season, garnered respect at his new position and was accorded a WSC Gold Glove.
Shortstop Victor Heredia returned from his Redshirt season to repeat as the WSC's top Shortstop. Heredia is the first Cuesta Shortstop to repeat as an all-WSC First Team Pivot since current Chicago Cubs Hitting Coach Dustin Kelly turned the trick for the Cougars in 2003-04. Heredia hit .321 on the season and moonlighted as the Cougars' closer. On the mound, he posted a 2-1 record and a team-high four saves, while recording a 1.59 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 22.2 innings of work.
Freshman Third Baseman AJ Martinez joined Heredia to provide the Cougars an all-WSC First Team leftside of the infield. Martinez's defense showcased his strong arm and incredible range at the "Hot Corner", but his bat also kept him in the heart of the Cougars' batting order. Martinez batted .356 on the season and was third on the team with 44 runs driven in.
Freshman Designated Hitter Jacob Johnson spent most of the season batting behind Usher, where he waited to make pitchers pay if they walked his teammate. Johnson did spend some time in the field, but it was his bat that earned him a spot on the all-WSC First Team. Johnson batted .346 on the season and only Usher counted more than his 20 extra-base hits.
Sophomore Righthander Justin Cortez developed into the Cougars' Ace and earned a spot on the 2025 All-WSC First Team. Cortez led the Cougars with nine victories on the season, including a 6-1 mark in conference play. He was 9-3 overall with a team-leading 69 strikeouts and finished the season with 5.34 ERA. His best performance of the season was a 3-hit complete game victory at rival Santa Barbara, where he struckout a career-high 10 batsmen, while holding the host Vaqueros without an earned run.
The Cougars landed one infielder, one outfielder and their catcher on the WSC's Second Team. Second Sacker Sean Strittmatter repeated on the all-WSC Second Team, while Catcher Jack Gradel and Outfielder Jak Sinclair both landed on the loop's second squad after their first season. Strittmatter was a mainstay in the Cougars' line-up and helped anchor the infield. His batting average dipped from .353 in 2024 to .301 this season, but he nearly doubled his walks (11-to-21), while increasing his RBI and run totals. Gradel spent almost every inning behind the plate, while batting .295 and finishing 4th on the team with 34 runs batted in. Sinclair was the Cougars' regular rightfielder and was second on the team with both seven home runs and 47 runs batted in.
Two Cuesta Pitchers were tabbed as 2025 All-WSC Honorable Mention selections: Sophomore Lukas Ward and Freshman Jack Stannard. Ward earned accolades from the WSC circuit for the season straight season. His 58.1 innings on the hill trailed only Cortez among the Cougars' staff, while he posted a 4-2 record, plus a save. Stannard showed progress throughout his rookie season and also finished the season with a 4-2 record.
2025 Western State Conference Baseball Awards
1B- Tristan Usher- Player of the Year, All State
CF- Aidan Botti- First Team, All-Region, Gold Glove
RHP- Justin Cortez- First Team
SS- Victor Heredia- First Team
3B- AJ Martinez- First Team
DH- Jacob Johnson- First Team
C- Jack Gradel- Second Team
2B- Sean Strittmatter- Second Team
OF- Jak Sinclair- Second Team
RHP- Lukas Ward- Honorable Mention
RHP- Jack Stannard- Honorable Mention
Italics- Repeat Selection
