Baseball: Riverside JW North likes its class of 2016

In the Inland Empire, Riverside JW North, with seven returning starters and a glittering junior class that could produce as many as five scholarship athletes, is ready to make an impact in baseball.

Leading the way is junior shortstop Shane Martinez, an Arizona commit. There’s also junior second baseman Christian Koss and junior outfielder Manny Galvan, plus senior catcher Austin Gorrell, a Nevada commit. Freshman Tony Bullard, who’s 6 feet 3, is already drawing rave reviews.

North went 17-12 last season and had the unlucky task of having to face Jack Flaherty of Harvard-Westlake in his final high school appearance to open the playoffs. Flaherty threw a no-hitter.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer