Highlanders have solid core of seniors
After an outstanding 2024 season which ended in the California Interscholastic Federation Division playoffs, Piedmont High School’s baseball team is expecting more success in 2025. A core group of six seniors have been with the program four years now. There’s no reason not to think the Highlanders can improve on last year’s 19-10 record.
“I’m really excited about the group of seniors that we have,” coach Eric Olson said. “They’ve played a lot of baseball for me. They’ve obviously gotten bigger and stronger and better. Not only on the field but also their leadership. They get that it’s hard work, that you cant do it by yourself.”
Leading the group is 2024 West Alameda County Conference Foothill division Player of the Year Markos Lagios.
“He’s by far the most dynamic player in the league,” Olson said of his leadoff hitter and starting center fielder.
Another returning all-league player is Will Parker, who will hit third. The senior is a three-year starter at catcher. Senior Shafer Dando will be the designated hitter to start the season and hit fourth. Dando is returning from an elbow injury suffered during football season.
“No surgery but lots of rehab,” Olson said. “He’s still on a throwing maintenance program. But he can hit for us.”
Senior Brandon Dicke will start in left field and hit fifth. Senior first baseman Jordan Vo will hit seventh.
“Hes a calming influence on that infield,” Olson said.
Some of the talent from years past on tap for the season
Markos Lagios makes a play in center field (2023) 
Diego Delventhal singles 
Piedmont’s William Ferreira dives back to first base as University’s Thomas Whythes tags him without the ball. Piedmont won, 8-1. (Photo by Damin Esper) 
Shafer Dando launches a 3-run HR in the third inning. 
Will Parker follows through on a swing 
Brandon Dicke dives back on a pickoff throw at first. 
Piedmont’s Jack Meyjes prepares to make contact during a 2024 baseball game played at the Giants home at Oracle Park. The Highlanders defeated University, 8-1. (Photo by Damin Esper)
Senior Will Fereirra will be all over the field. He started on the mound in the second game of the season against Acalanes. He will also play second base, third base and right field as well as hit eighth or ninth when he’s in the starting lineup.
“William’s probably our Swiss Army Knife,” Olson said. “He’s a kid who’s very versatile.”
The other senior is Drake Prata, who will come off the bench with an occasional start.
“He’s got a good bat,” Olson said. “Hell be in a fourth outfielder, pinch-hitter role.”
Junior Diego Delventhal will move from second base to shortstop this year and hit second. Junior Jack Meyjes has a “hot elbow” according to Olson but is expected to be the team’s top pitcher. He’ll also play all over the infield and hit sixth on a regular basis.
Junior George Bishop was the starting pitcher in the opener against Salesian. He will play some third base as well and will hit eighth or ninth when he’s starting. Other players splitting time in the eight-nine spots in the lineup will be freshmen Massimo Mittone (3B-RF) and Jonah Cha-Foster (2B).
Olson said Berkeley, Bishop O’Dowd and Encinal will make for some tough league games.
“We think because we play in a difficult league as a smaller school it just helps us out in the long run,” he said.
The Highlanders have started 3-1, winning their first three games before falling to Head-Royce. In the opener at Salesian on February 26, Piedmont claimed a 9-1 victory. Lagios went 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored. Mittone went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Vo was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Bishop threw four hitless innings and Enzo Ong pitched the final three, allowing one unearned run.
Evan Vela took the loss for the Pride, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing nine runs (three earned) on seven hits. Joe Tarin went 2-for-3 and pitched the final 2 2/3 innings for Salesian.
On February 28, Piedmont beat visiting Acalanes 7-5. A three-run bottom of the sixth won the game for the Highlanders. A two-run error got Piedmont the lead and Meyjes followed with a run-scoring single.
Lagios was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Parker was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Fereirra started and went four innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. Delventhal went the final two innings and got the win. He allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits.
Jake Colaco took the loss for the Dons, allowing four runs (all unearned) on two hits in 1 1/3 innings. Keegan Goddard was 3-for-3 with a run scored for Acalanes. James Stadt was 2-for-4.
On March 4, Piedmont beat Albany on the road, 3-2. The Highlanders had to hold on at the end as the Cougars scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying and winning runs on base. Bishop was able to get Preston McGowen to ground out to end the game.
Parker doubled in a run in the top of the fifth to get Piedmont on the board. Dando then singled in Parker for a 2-0 lead. In the sixth, Delventhal drew a bases loaded walk.
Willem Loveless singled in two runs for Albany in the seventh.
Delventhal went 2-for-3 with the RBI walk. Dando went 2-for-4 with an RBI. McGowen was 3-for-4 while Loveless and Mikey Richards each went 2-for-4 for the Cougars.
Mittone threw four shutout innings for Piedmont, allowing four hits and striking out seven to get the win. Loveless took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits.
On March 7, Piedmont lost at Head-Royce, 7-1. Delventhal had a solo home run in the seventh for the Highlanders only run. He went 2-for-3 on the day. Lagios took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings. Ezra Goldfarb went the distance for the Jayhawks, allowing the one run on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Davis Lynch was 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Goldfarb was 1-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored.