Senior right-hander Jett Teegardin will anchor Palisades’ deep and talented pitching staff.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO
“New Look” Dolphins Are Ready to Play Ball
By STEVE GALLUZZO
CTN Contributor
The Palisades High baseball program starts the 2026 season with a new coach and a new field but a similar mission: to win the Western League championship.
On paper, the Dolphins have all the ingredients to make that happen, starting with a stable of pitchers that features seniors Jett Teegardin, Brayden Levy, Yamato Yukimoto and juniors Caleb Gitlin, Cash Cook, Zev Welles-Binns, Charlie Meyers and Sy Kalish.
“We have the best pitching staff in the City Section,” Gitlin declared.
First-year coach Jordan Myrow knows all about Palisades’ proud tradition. His dad was a center fielder on the Dolphins’ 1989 squad which lost to Kennedy 4-3 in the City 4A final at Dodger Stadium.
“Your adversity last year does not define this year,” Myrow told his players after practice last week at the Palisades Recreation Center. “You practice how you play. We need to be better.”
The Dolphins have a bevy of catchers: senior Mikko Melendez, juniors Asher Cohen, Carter Branch (who will also pitch) and Laith Thierry and sophomores Griffin Cosman and Bennett Davis.
“Our team goal is to win the Open Division,” said Teegardin, who posted a 3-3 record with a 1.19 earned run average and 52 strikeouts in a total of 47 innings pitched last spring. “I’m pumped. My slider and my curve are my mainstays but I’m adding a splitter so I have a good arsenal.”
Myrow grew playing Little League at Ladera and Encino, was a four-year outfielder at Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks (graduating in 2015) and played collegiately at UCLA and Cal State Los Angeles.
He was an assistant at Buckley High in Sherman Oaks before taking over at Palisades.
“Coming here was about what I expected,” Myrow said. “Everyone was very vibrant and open. I need to know what’s going on with my players. We have a happy balance of offense and defense, but I’m an offensive coach. We need runs to win.”
Myrow replaces Mike Voelkel, who stepped down in July after an 18-year tenure in which he racked up 316 victories.
“It’s weird practicing here,” said Teegardin, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire last January. “During the day it feels like a field, but at night it brings back memories of PPBA. I won’t forget that experience.”
Conor Greene bats during practice at the Palisades Recreation Center’s Field of Dreams.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO
Defense around the diamond is essential and the Dolphins are steady with seniors Dylan “Hawkie” Idelson (who will also play in the outfield), Andreas Konnari, Max Toro and Conor Greene (who will also pitch); juniors Hudson Ramberg, Desmond Brown, Colton McNulty, Maximo Ramirez and Alfredo Villaba; and sophomores Ethan Davis and Jet Del Giorgio.
“We’ve worked a lot more on the offensive side while keeping our core of pitching and defense,” said Yukimoto, who must provide leadership along with his fellow co-captains Konnari, Ramberg and Gitlin. “Coach knows where we’re at and the rigor that comes with the sport.”
Patrolling the outfield will be seniors Jack Kurland (who stole a team-best 32 bases last spring), Joseph Levy and Jack O’Brien (who will also see action on the mound); and sophomore Tribe Edwards, who will also pitch.
The Dolphins lost nine players to graduation, including home run leader Roman Hawk (he had six), hits leader Ian Sullivan (he had 26) and All-City outfielder Logan Bailey.
In mid-January, the team transitioned from Memorial Park in Santa Monica to the Pali Rec Center. The schedule includes a spring break trip to San Diego for the Lions Tournament.
Hudson Ramberg fields a grounder at shortstop. He is one of the Dolphins’ four captains.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO
“It’s a challenging schedule and that’s what I wanted,” Myrow said. “We want to dominate in our league. We’ve got everything we need to do it.”
Myrow has hired assistants with pro experience: Charles Grant-DeBose and D’Anthony Beckman, who have both pitched in the Pioneer League (Class C); pitching coach Nathan Gilman; and speed and agility coach Mark Iadanza, who will oversee the JV program.
“Based on what I’ve seen from fall games and scrimmages something we need to be better at is finishing games,” Myrow said. “We’re always good through the first three to six innings.”
Palisades won league 11 times under Voelkel but finished second to Venice the last two seasons. The Dolphins were 18-11 last spring and lost in the City Division I quarterfinals to eventual-champion Carson.
The Dolphins will play their home games at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center on a new field—with a grass infield, new dugouts and sound system—that Myrow expects will be ready in time for his team’s first home game February 25 against Taft.
“You’re going to find yourself in a situation you don’t like, whether it’s coming to bat after you’ve been sitting in the dugout all game or being called on to pinch run—that’s baseball,”
Myrow said. “The question is, how are you going to handle it?”
Palisades opens the season Saturday morning at Campbell Hall.
Coach Jordan Myrow is confident his team can regain the Western League title in his first season.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO
2026 Palisades Varsity Baseball Schedule
Date – Opponent – Site – Time
2/21 Campbell at Hall Campbell Hall 10 a.m.
2/25 Taft at Cheviot 3 p.m.
2/28 Windward at Windward 10 a.m.
3/03 Calabasas at Calabasas 3 p.m.
3/13 Bell at Cheviot 3 p.m.
3/14 Palos Verdes at P Verdes 10 a.m.
3/18 Hamilton* at Cheviot 3 p.m.
3/20 Hamilton* at NVLL 1 p.m.
3/21 Verdugo Hills at V Hills 11 a.m.
3/23 University* at Cheviot 6 p.m.
3/26 University* at Cheviot 6 p.m.
3/28 North Hollywood at N Hollywood 10 a.m.
3/30 San Fernando at San Diego 1 p.m.
3/31 Mission Vista at San Diego 1 p.m.
4/01 Narbonne at San Diego 1 p.m.
4/02 Clark (Las Vegas) at San Diego 1 p.m.
4/08 LACES* at Cheviot 6 p.m.
4/10 LACES* at Cheviot 6 p.m.
4/11 Marshall at Cheviot 9 a.m.
4/15 Brentwood at Brentwood 4 p.m.
4/18 Leuzinger at Leuzinger 12 p.m.
4/20 Westchester* at Westchester 2 p.m.
4/23 Westchester* at Cheviot 3 p.m.
4/29 Fairfax* at Cheviot 3 p.m.
5/01 Fairfax* at Fairfax 2 p.m.
5/02 San Pedro at Cheviot 11 a.m.
5/04 Venice* at Cheviot 3 p.m.
5/07 Venice* at Venice 3 p.m.
* Western League game