LOS ANGELES, CA – The week of July 18 will be a memorable one for baseball fans in Southern California and around the world. For the first time in 42 years, Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game will take place at historic Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 19.
On Wednesday, July 20, some of college baseball’s top players will compete in the California Collegiate League’s premier event—the CCL Showcase Game presented by the Amateur Baseball Development Group (ABDG)—down the 110 Freeway at the MLB Academy in Compton, Calif. Sixty of the CCL’s most outstanding collegiate players from all across the country will display their talents before a national audience on Bally Sports TV. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST. Tickets may be purchased at the gate.
California Collegiate League team managers have submitted their prospect list to the Showcase Game Selection Committee. Final North and South Division rosters will be announced on Saturday, July 16. The head coaches of the game will be decided by the winning percentage based on league wins up to July 15.
Los Angeles Angels radio broadcaster Trent Rush will be working with Denny Hocking, current USA Baseball 18u manager, and reporter Anna Connelly, to cover the CCL Showcase Game live on Bally Sports. Replays of the game will be broadcast regionally in July and August. Check your local listings for viewing instructions.
As part of USA Baseball’s Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP), CCL Showcase Game position players will take part in pre-game workouts at 2:30 p.m. in front of MLB scouts and college coaches. The PDP is a collaborative effort between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball that establishes an official identification and player development pathway for amateur baseball players in the United States.
There is a strong connection between the CCL and the MLB’s 93rd Midsummer Classic. Three CCL alumni – New York Mets left-fielder Jeff McNeil (Santa Barbara Foresters), St. Louis Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley (Santa Barbara Foresters), and Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron (San Luis Obispo Blues) – were named to this season’s National League All-Star roster.
The CCL will be represented in the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which is set to for Saturday, July 16, at Dodger Stadium. Three-time World Series Champion and Conejo Oaks co-founder, Mike Scioscia, will be at the helm of the National League Futures squad, while MLB Academy Barons manager and former MLB player, Kenny Landreaux, will serve on the coaching staff. Former Forester and Oregon Duck, Spencer Steer, now a Minnesota Twins prospect, has been selected to play in the game.
CCL North Division:
Healdsburg Prune Packers: 21-5 overall, 4-2 Week 5
After starting week 5 at 2-2, the Prune Packers’ offense exploded, posting 43 runs in two victories over the Fresno A’s. Healdsburg also defeated the Santa Rosa A’s, lost to the Crawdads and went 1-1 against Sonoma.
Among the many contributors to the Packers’ week 5 success at the plate was Torin Montgomery (Missouri), who went a combined 6-14 with five runs and 10 RBIs. Samuel Brown (Portland) had a standout performance in Healdsburg’s 21-3 win over the Santa Rosa A’s on Thursday, going 3-3, hitting two homers and bringing in three runs.
On the hill, Grant Cherry (Tennessee) was dominant this week, striking out nine batters and allowing no hits in 6.0 combined innings pitched. Right-hander Tyler Stasiowski (Cal) had his work cut out for him in week 5, as he logged 10 K’s, five hits against and two earned runs in 10.0 innings of work.
Next week, the Packers will face the Novato Knicks, Crawdads, Mudcats twice and Stompers three times.
Lincoln Potters: 23-14 overall, 3-3 Week 5
The Potters opened week 5 with two impressive victories over the Stompers and surging Crawdads. Lincoln then lost two in a row to the ‘Dads and West Coast Kings but split a two-game series with the Blues.
Arizona Wildcat Garen Caulfield (Arizona) had a productive week despite only going 4-17 at the plate. The senior shortstop provided a team-leading eight RBIs and scored two more runs himself. JT Waldon’s (Undecided) power was on full display over the past couple of games, as the Fair Oaks, Calif. native posted two bombs, five RBIs and eight hits in 15 at-bats.
Pitcher Hunter Hayes (University of the Pacific) was lights out in 3.0 innings this week, throwing six strikeouts, conceding no hits and improving his season ERA to 2.45.
The Potters will begin week 6 in Santa Barbara to take on the Foresters. They will then return to McBean Stadium to host a three-game series against the Medford Rogues before rounding out their week with contests against the Crawdads and Mudcats.
Sonoma Stompers: 10-17 overall, 2-4 Week 5
For a second consecutive week, the Stompers posted a 2-4 record. While Sonoma went 1-1 vs. the Mudcats and first-place Prune Packers, they came out on the wrong end of two decisive decisions against the Potters and Novato Knicks.
Alexander Gouveia (UC Davis) led the Stompers on offense this week with seven hits, four runs and four RBI in 24 at-bats. Aggie teammate Jack Gallagher (UC Davis) was also solid, going 3-16 with five RBI.
Zachary Garcia (Texas A&M – Corpus Christi) boasted a 0.00 ERA through 5.0 innings pitched, as he struck out seven batters and allowed five hits.
The Stompers will play the West Coast Kings, Mudcats, Crawdads and Prune Packers three times next week.
Solano Mudcats: 9-15 overall, 1-1 Week 5
The Mudcats had a short week and only played two games. They lost their first game against the Stompers, 4-2. They played the Stompers again later in the week and pulled off a win, 6-3.
Caleb Davis (San Joaquin Delta) played extremely well in the game yesterday against the Stompers. Pitching an ERA of 5.17, he had five strikeouts yesterday and an impressive total of 23. Also from San Joaquin Delta College, Cole Santander, was a standout player during week 5. In the last game against the Stompers, he hit one home run and two RBIs. Santander has a whopping total of 11 RBIs and now two home runs.
On Sunday, they will play against the Packers hoping to start week 6 with a win.
Walnut Creek Crawdads: 18-10 overall, 3-4 Week 5
The Walnut Creek Crawdads have an impressive record overall with 18 wins under their belt. This week they went 3-4. They won their first game against the Packers, 4-3. They were not able to keep their winning streak alive and lost the next game against the Potters, 12-3. They played the Potters again a few days later and this time beat them 8-4. They went on to rout the Cal Bees, 11-3, but were shut out 12-0 by the Foresters the next day. They closed out week five with another loss against the Foresters, 3-2.
Ryan Brome (Texas Tech) has again this week proved himself as a consistent hitter and player for the Crawdads. This past week he had one home run, and five RBIs. Brome has been a prominent player for the Crawdads all season and has proved himself game and game again.
The Walnut Creek Crawdads are playing on Sunday against the Blues hoping to secure their first win of week 6.
CCL South Division:
Conejo Oaks: 14-8 overall, 4-1 Week 5
The Oaks were 4-1 in Week 4 of CCL Play. They opened the week with a tough loss against the Foresters in Santa Barbara on Sunday, but bounced back and shut out the Barons in Compton on Tuesday. The winning continued when Conejo travelled up to San Luis Obispo and beat the Blues in a close 6-5 contest. The wins kept coming when the Oaks went back down to Compton and defeated the Barons on Friday 14-5. The Oaks closed out the week on Saturday at home for the first time in Week 4 in an 8-7 victory over the Riptide.
Austin Carrillo (Cal Lutheran) led the charge for the Oaks in Week 5. Playing all five games of the week, Carrillo had an impressive .529 batting average with nine hits, four RBIs, and one homerun. Alexander Rivas (Cal Lutheran) was the standout pitcher for the Oaks this week. The right-handed hurler gave up zero earned runs and struck out eight batters in seven innings pitched
The Oaks will play the Saints, Barons, Blues, and Riptide during Week 6 of CCL play.
OC Riptide: 13-11 overall, 4-2 Week 5
The Riptide started out their week hot, winning their first four games in a row. They started out on Sunday defeating the Barons 5-4. They then travelled up to Pasadena and took down the Saints 4-2 on Independence Day. The Riptide returned back to Orange County to take on the Foresters, winning 6-2 on Wednesday night. The Riptide then travelled far north to San Luis Obispo and cruised to a 5-2 win on Thursday. Their good fortune ran out during an intense game against the Saints on Friday, losing 8-6 in a game that went to 10 innings. The Riptide then played their fourth road game of the week, heading up to Thousand Oaks and falling to the Oaks 8-7 on Saturday.
Zach Thomas (Utah Tech) was on fire for the Riptide this week. The junior from Lakewood, Calif. had seven hits, three runs scored, and two RBIs over four games. He posted a .368 batting average and a .429 on base percentage over those four games. Matt Maloney (New Mexico St.) led the pitching staff for the Riptide, posting a 0.00 ERA and striking out seven in 6.0 innings of work.
The Riptide will face off against the Barons, the Blues, the Foresters, and the Oaks in the coming week.
San Luis Obispo Blues: 12-18 overall, 2-4 Week 5
The Blues started Week 5 hot, with the offense exploding for a 9-1 win on Sunday night against the Saints. The tides turned quickly, however, with the Foresters coming in and beating them 11-4 on Tuesday. The Blues lost again on Wednesday night, falling to the Oaks 6-5. Their fourth loss of the week was against the Riptide, losing 5-2 on Thursday. San Luis Obispo took their final loss of the week on Friday, getting shutout 4-0 by the Potters. The Blues bounced back and beat the Potters on Saturday 4-3 to end Week 5.
EJ Kreutzman (Columbia) was the batting leader for the Blues in Week 6. The junior from San Diego, Calif. played in five of the six games this week. He picked up five hits and two RBIs, posting a .375 batting average and .500 on base percentage over the stretch. Ryan Beaird (UTSA) and Jared Villalobos (California Baptist) were electric on the mound for the Blues. They combined for a 0.00 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and only five hits over 9.2 innings of work.
In Week 6, the Blues are tasked with playing the Crawdads, the Riptide, The Barons, the Oaks, and the Saints.
Santa Barbara Foresters: 16-10 overall, 4-3 Week 5
Two big victories over the Crawdads salvaged an otherwise average seven-game stretch for Santa Barbara. The Foresters also defeated the Blues and Oaks this week, but lost to the Ventura County Pirates, Riptide and Saints.
Miguel Santos (Dallas Baptist) had quite the week at the plate, as he went 14-24 with two homers and 11 RBIs. Hunter Ensley (Tennessee) was also a key contributor on offense, posting nine hits, nine RBIs and a homer in 18 at-bats.
Graham Osman (Arizona State) looked strong on the mound, picking up six strikeouts and four hits against. Parker Smith (Rice) had a heavy workload in week five, appearing in 7.0 innings, recording five K’s and allowing two hits.
Santa Barbara has a relatively light week ahead of them, as they will face the Potters, Barons, Riptide and Saints twice.
Arroyo Seco Saints: 11-11 overall, 4-2 Week 5
The Arroyo Seco Saints had a monumental week as they achieved their first winning streak. They started off the week slow with two tough losses, 9-1 against the Blues and 4-2 against the Riptide. They went on to finish their week winning four games against the Barons, 13-5, the Foresters, 13-6, the Riptide, 8-6, and against the Barons, 12-6.
Chris Stamos (California) has been a cannon on the mound this past week with eight strikeouts alone during the game on the 4th. In total, he has cumulated 35 strikeouts over the entire season. At the plate, Matt Wong, Hawaii, has continued to perform and hit two home runs in one game this past week against the Foresters. In total, he now has five home runs this season.
They will face the Oaks on Sunday and are hoping to extend their winning streak to five.
MLB Academy Barons: 8-12 overall, 0-5 Week 5
The Barons had a difficult week as they played five games and lost all of them. They opened up week 5 against the Riptide and fought but lost a close game 5-4. They next faced the Oaks and were shut out 5-0. Mid-week they played the Saints losing, 13-5, and then the Oaks and lost again 14-5. They ended their week with another game against the Saints and lost 12-6.
Although the Barons struggled to win a game, they were still able to have success within their team. Maxwell Dias (New Orleans) has been a consistent hitter over the past five weeks and hit a home run in the game against the Oaks making that a total of three home runs for Dias.
On Sunday, they are playing against the Riptide and are hoping to start the new week on a positive note with a win.
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Contributors:
CCL North Division:
Healdsburg Prune Packers: 17-3 overall, 4-1 Week 4
The Prune Packers put together another solid week, going 4-1 and maintaining their position as the #1 team in the CCL North. Healdsburg defeated the Menlo Park Legends and split a two-game series with the Potters before picking up two straight victories over the San Francisco Seals.
Joey Kramer (CSUN) had a great week in the batter’s box, going 9-19 with seven RBI and two homers. Jared Sundstrom (UC Santa Barbara) shined in Healdsburg’s 11-4 win against the Potters, as he went 2-4 with a bomb and three RBI.
Right-handed pitcher Sam Stoutenborough (TCU) appeared seemingly unhittable during Saturday’s victory over the Seals. In 4.0 innings, the Monterey, Calif. native dealt eight strikeouts while only conceding a single hit and picking up the win. Jason Franks (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) had a strong outing at Lincoln, recording six K’s, allowing three hits and maintaining a 0.00 ERA on the season.
The Packers have a busy week ahead of them, as they are set to face the Crawdads, Santa Rosa A’s, Stompers twice and Fresno A’s twice.
Lincoln Potters: 20-11 overall, 4-2 Week 4
The Potters opened week four with a bang, defeating the Humboldt Crabs and Prune Packers to cap off a five-game winning streak. Lincoln would go .500 for the remainder of the week, as they beat the Stompers and Mudcats but dropped contests to the Packers and Crawdads.
Catcher Chase Stanke (Minnesota) had an extremely consistent week, logging 10 hits and seven RBI in 22 plate appearances. Jeffrey David (New Mexico) continued to be an offensive force for the Potters this week. The junior from Granger, Texas went a combined 8-26, providing seven RBI and a homerun.
Hunter Hayes (University of the Pacific) was exceptional on the mound this week, striking out seven batters and surrendering three hits in a combined 3.0 innings pitched.
Next week, the Potters will take on the Stompers, West Coast Kings and Crawdads twice before heading to Central California for a two-game set with the Blues.
Sonoma Stompers: 8-15 overall, 2-4 Week 4
With a pair of wins over the Mudcats this week, it’s clear the Stompers have had Solano’s number of late. But outside of those two victories, week 4 was a challenge for Sonoma, as they dropped games against the Packers, Potters and Crawdads twice.
Jack Gallagher (UC Davis) stole the show at the plate this week, going 7-15, scoring three runs and driving in six more. Outfielder Alex Leopard (Santa Rosa JC) was another bright spot, as he contributed seven hits and five runs in 16 at-bats. The shifty freshman also led his team in stolen bases this week with three, increasing his season total to four.
Kyle Dickey (Texas A&M – Corpus Christi) had another heavy workload this week, pitching a total of six innings. And the Cypress, Texas native delivered, collecting six strikeouts and finishing the week with an impressive 1.50 ERA.
Looking ahead, Sonoma will play the Potters and Novato Knicks prior to closing out their week with a two-game series against the Packers and Mudcats.
Solano Mudcats: 8-14 overall, 0-5 Week 4
The Mudcats had a slow week with five losses. They had a rough week and were not able to pull off any wins. They opened up their week on Sunday June 26th with a game against the Arroyo Seco Saints, which they lost 7-4. Next, they faced the Stompers and unfortunately lost 14-7. The next day they played the Crawdads and lost 4-3. They were matched up against the Stompers again and could not beat them in a close game and lost, 4-3. They were not able to end the week on a positive note and lost 19-1 on their last game of the week against the Potters.
Despite many tough losses there were some key players for the Mudcats that helped the team score some points and come close to winning some of their games. Batting leader Hunter Baldwin (Harvard) played in many of the games this past week and had three RBIs. This whole season he has hit one home run as well as a total of nine RBIs. On the mound Caleb Davis (San Joaquin Delta) was huge on the mound with three strikeouts against the Potters and a whopping total of 18 strikeouts this entire season.
The Solano Mudcats will open up week 5 with a game against Humbolt on July 4th and are hoping for a long-awaited win.
Walnut Creek Crawdads: 16-8 overall, 6-0 Week 5
The Crawdads had an extremely successful week with six wins, which is almost unheard of from any other team in the CCL. They knocked out the Riptide in their first opening game of the week, 13-5. They next beat the Mudcats, 4-3, and then the Stompers, 8-3. They went on to beat the Potters 8-6 and blew the Stompers out of the water 6-0. They continued their winning streak winning against the Packers 4-3.
One of the reasons the Crawdads were able to compete and perform well this past week was because of their players. Coleman Schmidt (St. Mary’s) has shown to be a powerful hitter with a summary so far of seven home runs and 22 RBIs! He is batting .400 and is only on the rise from here. Fisher Johnson (USC) has also proved himself to be a great player and collectively has a huge total of 21 strikeouts. The Crawdads have many key players like Johnson and Schmidt that are the reason why the team can go a whole week undefeated.
The Crawdads face the Potters next on July 4th and are looking to continue their six-game winning streak during week 5.
CCL South Division:
Santa Barbara Foresters: 12-7 overall, 4-1 week 4
Aside from an 11-4 drubbing by the Oaks, week four was a successful one for the Foresters, as they defeated the Saints, Oaks and Blues twice. Santa Barbara could’ve very well finished with five wins this week, but their Friday night thriller against the Saints was suspended after 12 innings due to darkness.
Kevin Bazzell (Texas Tech) again led the way for Santa Barbara offensively, as he went 12-19 and scored seven runs. Sophomore Hunter Ensley (Tennessee) made the most of his seven at-bats this week, contributing four hits, four runs and three RBI.
Robert Cranz (Wichita State) consistently found the strike zone in week four, logging seven K’s and allowing one hit in 5.0 innings pitched.
The Foresters will face the Oaks, Ventura County Pirates, Blues, Riptide and Crawdads twice in a jam-packed week five.
Conejo Oaks: 9-7 overall, 4-1 Week 4
The Oaks had an explosive week, winning four of five games and defeating the Barons, Foresters, Blues, and Pirates along the way. The only loss the Oaks sustained was a 7-3 loss on Thursday in their second game of the week against Santa Barabara.
Noah Karliner (New Mexico St.) led the charge this week for the Oaks, picking up seven hits in 13 at bats, scoring once, and batting in three runs. Tyler Ganus (Oregon) came around to score a lot for the Oaks, scoring six times and picking up ten hits and two RBIs along the way.
Alexander Rivas (Cal Lutheran) brought the heat on the mound this week for the Oaks, striking out eight and only giving up three hits over six innings for the Oaks.
The Oaks have a full week coming up, playing the Foresters, Blues, Barons, Pirates, and Riptide.
San Luis Obispo Blues: 10-14 overall, 0-4 Week 4
The Blues did not have an easy road in Week 4, dropping all four games and losing to the Oaks, Riptide, and the Foresters twice. The Blues played the Foresters close in the second matchup, but were not able to pull out a victory, losing 7-6.
Chase Gallegos (UNLV) was the most prolific hitter for the Blues over that stretch, picking up four hits in eight at-bats and driving in two runs during Week 4. Cameron Mabee was a saving grace for the Blues over the four-game stretch, throwing 5.2 innings and striking out five batters without giving up an earned run.
The Blues will face off against the Saints, Foresters, Oaks, Riptide, and Potters in the coming week.
OC Riptide: 9-9-1 overall, 1-3 Week 4
The Riptide were not very successful during the fourth week of the season. They split the two-game series against the Blues, but took consecutive losses against the Saints and the Barons to close out the four-game stretch.
Santina Panaro (UNLV) proved to be the Riptide’s best hitter, picking up 6 hits in twelve at-bats. He also scored a pair of runs and drove in three. Matthew Maloney (New Mexico St.) provided some reprieve for the Riptide on the pitching side, providing five full innings and giving up three hits and no runs while striking out 10 batters.
The Riptide are set to play the Barons, Saints, Foresters, Oaks, and Blues in Week 5.
Arroyo Seco Saints: 7-9 overall, 3-4 Week 4
The Arroyo Seco Saints had a solid week with three losses and four wins, which is an improvement for the team from previous weeks. The team has shown uniformity and started off the week with a win against the Mudcats on Sunday June 26th, 7-4. They lost to the Barons on the 28th in a close game, 4-2. They next went to face the Foresters and lost 6-5. They ended the week on a high note, with a win against the Riptide, 6-2. They played against the Foresters again on Friday, but the game was tied through 12 innings and will be continued at a later time because of darkness.
The Saints this week have seen new recent standouts such as Peyton Holt (Arkansas). He is fairly new to the team and hit his first home run of the season in the game Friday against the Foresters. During that same game he was unstoppable at second base and showed his skills both on the field and at the plate. Another standout for the Saints was pitcher Jacob Henderson (Iowa). Henderson had a great game against the Foresters and has totaled seven strikeouts.
The Arroyo Seco Saints had many successful games this past week and even through the losses they still were able to learn and grow from them. They are traveling on Sunday to play against the San Luis Obispo Blues and are hoping for a win.
MLB Academy Barons: 8-7 overall, 2-1 Week 4
The Barons had a short week with only four games but won the majority of them. They lost their first game against Conejo Oaks losing 11-9. They recovered and went onto a two-game winning streak against the Saints, 4-2, and then the Riptide, 6-5. Ending the week on a winning streak was huge for the Barons, and they also had a few standout players this past week.
Jovanny Saldana bats an average of .355 and has been a bringer of RBIs for the team. Spencer Williams (Harvard) has also been a key player for the team with a total of two home-runs and eight RBIs. On the mound Abraham Carrillo has proven to be an extremely talented pitcher with a whopping total of 15 strikeouts.
The Academy Barons will go on to play more games this week and will begin them Sunday with a game against the Riptide.
Contributors:
CCL North Division:
Healdsburg Prune Packers: 13-2 overall, 6-0 Week 3
The Prune Packers were perfect in week 3, collecting victories over the Potters, Stompers, Novato Knicks, Menlo Park Legends and Mudcats twice.
Blake Burke (Tennessee) was extremely productive this week, going 8-22 with 10 runs, 10 RBI and three bombs. Cole Elvis (Undecided) had a night to remember in Healdsburg’s 12-11 win against the Novato Knicks on Wednesday. In his two-homer game, the Vacaville, California native went 3-4, scoring two runs and driving in five.
Pitcher Devin Kirby (Connecticut) was impressive on the mound this week, throwing five strikeouts, allowing four hits and one run in 3.2 innings of work.
The Packers will close out their six-game homestand against the Menlo Park Legends, and will then take on the Potters in Lincoln. After that, Healdsburg will host the Potters and Crawdads before closing out their week with a two-game series with the San Francisco Seals.
Lincoln Potters: 16-9 overall, 3-3 Week 3
Lincoln had a tough start to their week with three losses to the Packers, Crawdads and Mudcats. However, the Potters then flipped a switch, defeating the Saints and Humboldt Crabs twice to finish the week at .500.
Jeffrey David (New Mexico) was solid at the plate during week 3, racking up 10 hits, four runs and six RBI in 24 at-bats. Trey Furrey (Oklahoma Baptist) was also a key contributor in his three appearances this week. The Potters infielder went 6-14, drove in five runs and scored another himself.
Pitcher Anthony Perez dominated this week, recording five K’s, giving up only four hits and maintaining a flawless 0.00 ERA in six innings. Ryan Sturgeon (LSU-Shreveport) had a strong outing against the Saints, conceding only one hit and one earned run while striking out seven batters in three innings of work. The right-hander has accumulated a stellar 1.12 ERA over five appearances this season.
Next week, the Potters will face the Humboldt Crabs, Stompers, Crawdads, Mudcats and Packers twice.
Sonoma Stompers: 6-11 overall, 1-5 Week 3
Aside from a 6-5 victory over the Crawdads on Wednesday, week 3 proved difficult for the Stompers. Sonoma dropped games against the Mudcats, Packers, Saints and Riptide twice.
Jackson Castillo (College of Southern Nevada) led the way for Sonoma offensively this week, logging six hits, four RBI and a home run in 17 at-bats. Despite a 6-4 loss, Alexander Gouveia had a strong game against the Riptide, as he went 3-5 and contributed a run.
Kyle Dickey (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) was a workhorse on the hill this week, facing 15 batters in 4.0 innings pitched. Dickey recorded eight strikeouts while giving up one hit and one earned run.
The Stompers will take on the Crawdads and Mudcats twice and the Potters once next week.
Solano Mudcats: 8-9 overall, 2-2 Week 3
The Solano Mudcats have had a .500 week, going 2-2 in the four games they have played. They started off the week on Sunday, June 19th with a big 11-10 victory in a nail-biting game against the Stompers. They went on to play the Potters next and win 5-3. They then went to face the Packers in a two-game series, but lost both games 10-3, and 12-4.
Hunter Baldwin (Harvard) led the team this past week with his elite hitting skills. Averaging .318 he has slammed 1 home run and 8 RBIs for the Mudcats. Caleb Davis (San Joaquin Delta) has been a key player for the Mudcats raking up a total of 10 strikeouts and an impressive ERA of 1.76 proving himself as a standout pitcher. The Mudcats have an extremely solid lineup and will be unbeatable when everything clicks into place.
The Mudcats will begin Week 4 with a game against the Crawdads on June 28th .
Walnut Creek Crawdads: 8-7 overall, 2-2 Week 3
The Walnut Creek Crawdads won 2 games and lost 2 during their 3rd week of CCL baseball. They started off the week with a game against the Potters and beat them 9-4. They next faced the Stompers and lost a close game, 6-5. The Crawdads then lost to the OC Riptide, 9-6. They pushed through two tough losses and were able to come out on top, beating the Saints 5-4.
Ryan Brome (Texas Tech) was a batting leader for the Crawdads again this past week. Batting .447 he slammed a homerun during the game against the Riptide on June 24th. He also contributed 10 RBIs to the team during the games of week 3. Brome has proved himself to be a consistent and standout hitter for the team this season. The lefty and Texas Tech teammate to Brome, Coleson Abel (Texas Tech) has also shown to be a key player on the mound. With a total of 14 strikeouts and 2 wins, Abel has helped the Crawdads conquer their opponents and achieve several wins.
The Walnut Creek Crawdads will open up their 4th week of games against the Mudcats on Tuesday, June 28th at 4:00pm.
CCL South Division:
MLB Academy Barons: 6-6 overall, 3-2 Week 3
The Academy Barons had a rollercoaster of a week, winning their first game 6-0 against the OC Riptide. Unfortunately, they lost their next contest to the Blues, 10-1. The Barons then lost their next two games against the Foresters, 4-1 and 6-1. However, they brought a solid close to their week, winning against the Oaks 13-5.
Mark Anthony Hernandez (Undecided) was a leader offensively for the Barons with five RBIs this past week and 11 total this season along with one homerun. Pitching wise, Evan Adolphus (Cypress College) was a standout for the team and totaled three strikeouts during the June 19th game, which helped them beat the Riptide 6-0. Adolphus has an impressive era of 0.71 and has shown he is a force to be reckoned with on the field. The Barons have a solid offensive and defensive lineup and are looking forward to week 4 hoping to continue their winning streak.
The Academy Barons will open week 4 with a game against the Arroyo Seco Saints on Tuesday June 28th.
Arroyo Seco Saints: 5-7 overall, 3-3 Week 3
The Arroyo Seco Saints opened up their 3rd week extremely strong, taking a huge 12-9 win against the Conejo Oaks on June 19th. The Saints dropped their next contest against the Foresters, 12-9, but rebounded the next game against them, winning 3-2. They took to the road for their 4-day road trip and started off with a tough loss against the Potters, 10-8. They bounced back from their loss and defeated the Stompers 7-4 during day 2 of their trip. Unfortunately, this was not enough for the Saints as they lost their next game against the Crawdads, 5-4. The Saints will finish their 4-game trip today when they play against the Mudcats at 1:00 pm.
Kyson Donahue (Hawaii) has been exceptional during his time with the Saints so far. Hitting an average of .333, he has recorded two homeruns during this past week of games adding up to a season total of three so far. He slammed five RBIs in just this past week and has a whopping total of 12. His college teammate Matt Wong (Hawaii) has shown everyone that there is room for two Hawaiian powerhouses on the team. Wong also hit two homeruns this past week and was responsible for seven RBIs just from this past week. The Saints offense has been remarkable with several other homerun hitters, including Nate Becker (Rice) and Matt Marlow (Regis). The Saints struggled defensively with pitching but Drew Zittel (Biola) stepped in during many rough innings, saving the game. In the game against the Foresters, he was thrown into a rough situation and managed to get three outs with little damage. The Saints have been improving all summer and are looking to win their game today against the Mudcats at 1:00 pm.
The Arroyo Seco Saints will return to Pasadena this upcoming week to play a lot more baseball and are ready to put more wins under their belt.
Orange County Riptide: 8-5-1 overall, 4-1 Week 3
The Orange County Riptide had a very good 3rd week, but struggled in their opening game on Sunday, June 19th, in a 6-0 loss against the MLB Academy Barons. The Riptide bounced back on Tuesday, June 21st in a 10-5 victory over the Conejo Oaks at home in Orange County. They then took to the road and landed in Northern California to face off against the Sonoma Stompers and walked away with a 13-3 win. They stayed hot in their second game up north, defeating the Walnut Creek Crawdads 9-6. The Riptide kept on cruising through Saturday, taking down the Sonoma Stompers for the second time in a 6-4 decision. The Riptide finish their trip north on Sunday, June 26th when they face off against the Walnut Creek Crawdads.
Dominic Suoto (Cal Berkely) led the Riptide during week three, posting a .545 batting average. T.C. Simmons (UConn) proved to be the most efficient run producing this week for the Riptide, scoring 1 run himself and posting 4 RBIs over 4 hits. Junior Matthew Maloney (New Mexico St.) was dealing in week 3 for the Riptide. Maloney posted 5.0 IP, only giving up 2 hits and fanning 6 batters. He boasts 0.00 ERA and a .118 opponent batting average over the week, contributing to the team’s successful pitching staff which posted a staff ERA of 3.96 in Week 3.
The Riptide will face off against the Crawdads, the Blues, the Saints, and the Barons during Week 4.
Santa Barbara Foresters: 8-6 overall, 4-2 Week 3
Santa Barbara stayed hot this week, defeating the Barons twice and splitting two-game series with the Saints and Blues.
Nathan Rombach (Dallas Baptist) has been productive for the Foresters, as he went a combined 6-12 with 3 RBI, 3 runs and a homer. Kevin Bazzell was another key contributor offensively, also going deep once and recording seven hits and five runs in 19 at-bats.
Ian Churchill (San Diego) was a strike-throwing machine in five innings pitched this week, recording 12 K’s and surrendering five hits and two earned runs.
Looking ahead, the Foresters are set to face the Blues, Saints and Oaks two times each in week 4.
Conejo Oaks: Overall 6-6, 1-4 Week 3
The Oaks led off their week against the Arroyo Seco Saints on Sunday June 19th and sustained their first loss of the week in a 12-8 decision. After a day of rest, the Oaks faced off against the Riptide in Orange County on the 21st, and fell again in a tough 10-5 loss. The Oaks went back home to face off against the Philippine National Team on June 22nd and took a heartbreaking 8-7 loss. Another day of rest on Thursday served them well, as they were able to come back on Friday and pick up a 5-4 victory against the San Luis Obispo Blues. Conejo ended their week with a 13-5 loss to the Academy Barons on June 25th.
Tyler Ganus (Oregon) was at the front of the pack in Week 3, posting a .588 batting average in 17 at-bats over 4 games. Ganus also scored 5 runs and drove in 1. Gavin Grant (Oregon) kept the Oaks productive, being the big run producer for Conejo in Week 3. Grant drove in 5 runs and scored 4 of his own in 5 games. Michael Standford (College of the Desert) was in a league of his own on the mound this week, throwing 4.0 innings between 2 games, only allowing 1 hit and striking out 4.
The Oaks will be playing the Barons, Foresters, and Ventura County Pirates in the coming week.
San Luis Obispo Blues: overall 9-10, Week 3 2-2
The Blues started off their week with a tough 6-5 loss against the Foresters on June 19th. The Blues bounced back and beat the Barons in standout 10-1 victory. The Blues came back against the Conejo Oaks on Friday, June 24th and took another tough 5-4 loss. San Luis Obispo was able to bounce back on Saturday and break even for the week, bringing a 4-2 win back home from Santa Barbara.
Nathan Cmeyla (Dartmouth) led the team in batting, posting a .461 batting average over 13 at bats in 3 games. Cmeyla also posted 4 RBIs during the week, but Kody Darcy (UTSA) took home the run production crown for the Blues, scoring 2 runs and driving in 6. Bryson Van Sickle (Utah) led the crusade, picking up a win and throwing 7.0 innings while only giving up 3 hits and striking out 7.
The Blues will play the Riptide, Oaks and Foresters in the coming week.
Contributors:
CCL North Division:
Walnut Creek Crawdads: 6-5 overall, 3-2 Week 2
The Walnut Creek Crawdads had a steady past week as they went 2-2 winning 2 games and losing 2 games. They played the Packers on June 15th and lost 16-2. They recovered from a tough loss the next day winning against the Mudcats, 4-0. Unfortunately, they could not keep the winning streak alive and lost again to the Packers, 7-3. The Crawdads were able to end their week on a positive note and won against the WC Kings 8-2.
During these games, infielder Coleman Schmidt (St. Mary’s College) used every opportunity given to him at the plate and hit multiple bombs. In total, he has hit 4 home runs and 11 RBIs. Schmidt is a force to be reckoned with at the plate and helped the Crawdads majorly. Coleson Abel (Texas Tech) was able to prove himself a lot this week on the mound for the Crawdads. He has a whopping total of 9 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.26. The Crawdads have several players like Abel and Schmidt who have raw talent and are part of the reason their team has done well.
The Crawdads will continue their season and are hoping for more wins in the future. They will play the Potters on June 21st.
Solano Mudcats: 6-7 overall, 2-3 Week 2
The Solano Mudcats had a slow start to their second week of the season with two losses against the Potters on the 14th, 8-7, and to the Crawdads on the 16th, 4-0. They turned it around for their next game against the WC Kings, winning 13-3 and then winning 2-1 against the Packers. Although they had a steady winning streak, they unfortunately lost against the Packers the next day 9-3.
The Mudcats’ outfielder, Michael Benevides (Cal State Chico), has played well offensively and has assisted the team in their wins. He averages .357 and has had 2 RBIs, along with many singles and doubles. Pitcher Caleb Davis (San Joaquin Delta College) pitched extremely well for the Mudcats during the past few games. He has racked up a total of 10 strikeouts during his time on the mound and pitched for the team when they had their 2 wins.
The Solano Mudcats have become a strong team and are finding their way, and with it only being the second week in the season, they have a solid summer of baseball ahead. They will play against the Potters next on Wednesday, June 22nd.
Healdsburg Prune Packers: 7-2 overall, 4-1 Week 2
The Packers were nearly perfect this week, defeating the Crawdads twice and the Potters once before splitting a doubleheader with the Mudcats.
Blake Burke (Tennessee) had a very productive week, going 8-18 with three runs, seven RBI and a home run. Joey Krammer (CSUN) was extremely reliable for the Packers, as he recorded at least one hit in each of his four games played. The Cotati, California native also went deep this week and contributed four runs while driving in two more.
Left-hander Caden Noah (Texas) picked up the win in Healdsburg’s 3-2 victory over the Potters, only conceding a single hit while striking out seven batters in four innings pitched.
The Prune Packers have a busy seven days coming up, as they will visit the Potters before opening a six-game homestand at Recreation Park. During that stretch, they are set to host the Stompers, Novato Knicks, MP Legends and Mudcats twice.
Lincoln Potters: 13-6 overall, 1-4 Week 2
After dropping games to the Packers, Mudcats and Stompers twice, the Potters finished their week on a high note with a resounding 9-1 victory over Sonoma.
Brandon Motheral (University of the Pacific) had a solid week at the plate, logging six hits in 21 at-bats and driving in four runs. Another bright spot on offense was JT Waldon (undecided), who went a combined 4-15 with two RBIs and a home run.
Pitcher Anthony Perez (Cal State East Bay) had a strong outing in the Potters’ win against the Stompers, as he struck out six batters while allowing three hits in four innings of work. Right-hander Mason Hilton was dominant in Friday’s loss to Sonoma, recording five K’s and no hits against through 2.2 innings.
The Potters will face the Packers, Crawdads, Mudcats and Saints before capping off their week with a two-game set against the Humboldt Crabs in Lincoln.
Sonoma Stompers: 5-6 overall, 2-3 Week 2
The Stompers’ second week of the season was a mixed bag. Sonoma went 2-1 against the Potters, but also dropped games to the West Coast Kings and Crawdads.
Max Handron (California) continued his emergence as an offensive leader for the Potters, tallying four hits, five RBI and a home run in 14 at-bats this week.
Sonoma’s pitching has been extremely strong this season, and that didn’t change in week two. Starter Daniel Smith (Santa Rose JC) was a strike-throwing machine in four innings against the Potters on Thursday, racking up an impressive seven K’s while conceding 4 hits and one earned run. Orlando Leon Jr. (Hawaii-Hilo) made life difficult for the Potters on Friday, as he allowed four hits and struck out six batters in three innings pitched.
After starting next week with two road games against the Mudcats and Packers, Sonoma will return home to take on the Crawdads, Saints and Riptide twice.
CCL South Division:
MLB Academy Barons: 4-3 overall, 2-2 Week 2
The MLB Academy Barons had a tough start to their week, opening with a game against the O.C Riptide on Tuesday, June 14th, which they unfortunately lost 4-2. They headed into a two-game battle against the Santa Barbara Foresters on June 15th and then on June 17th. The Barons were able to pull a win against the Foresters during their first game, 5-3, but fell short in the next one losing 3-0. They ended their second week with a win against the OC Riptide, 8-5, on June 18th.
After the second week of games, Pearce Blaney (Santa Barbara Community College) has proved himself to be a key offensive player for the Barons. He led the team’s batting average with .429 and consistently hit throughout his time at the plate. Pitcher Aaron Rosales (Santa Ana College) was an asset to the team during two games this past week, as he was able to hold any runs from coming in while he was on the mound.
The MLB Academy Barons have been on a steady rise as their season unfolds and will face the OC Riptide again this Sunday at 4:35 pm.
Arroyo Seco Saints: 2-4-1 overall, 2-2 Week 2
The Arroyo Seco Saints played four tough games this past week winning two and losing twice. They faced the Blues in a close game on June 14th and took home a win, 6-5. They played them again the next day on the 15th and had a tough loss 11-3. The Saints did not get discouraged by this loss and won their next game on the 17th, 15-10. They ended their second week of the season with a loss on the 18th to the Blues, 8-6.
The Saints have many exceptional offensive players who have played a crucial role in helping the Saints put runs on the board. Kyson Donahue (Hawaii) and Matt Wong (Hawaii) have been standouts hitting home runs, multiple RBIs, triples, doubles, and singles. Donahue and Wong consistently proved themselves this past week at the plate. Defensively the Saints have a solid outfield lineup that keeps the ball out of play. Max Blessinger (Pasadena Community College) has made several outstanding plays and has made many diving catches, saving the score from being in jeopardy. Jashia Morrissey (Long Beach State) has performed well at second base and caught several sinking line drives.
The Saints have battled many tough teams but are becoming unified and working to start a winning streak. They play next against the Foresters on Tuesday, June 21.
OC Riptide: 4-4-1 overall, 1-3 Week 2
The Riptide started off their week strong on June 14th with a 4-2 win against the Barons at home. The Riptide then embarked on a road trip that began with a tough 7-3 loss against the Conejo Oaks on June 15th. The trip continued on June 17th when the Riptide visited Pasadena, Calif. to face off against the Saints, losing a high-powered offensive contest 15-10. The Riptide rounded out their week on Saturday the 18th, losing to the Barons 8-5 in another tough loss.
The Riptide’s offensive production is led by freshman Santino Panar (UNLV), who picked up 8 hits in 14 at bats this past week. He also piled on 4 RBIs and scored 4 times himself. Senior Dominic Suoto (Cal Berkeley) also compiled a very impressive week, going 5-11 at the plate with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored.
The Riptide will play the Barons, the Oaks, the Stompers, and the Crawdads this week.
San Luis Obispo Blues: 7-8 overall, 2-2 Week 2
The Blues led off their week with a two-game series against the Saints. The first game was a nailbiter on the 14th, with the Blues getting edged out in a 6-5 loss. The Blues came roaring back on June 15th, with a staggering 10-3 victory over the Saints on Wednesday night. The Blues played again on Friday the 17th against the Oaks, and had the script flipped as they took an 11-5 loss. They ended their week strong, playing the Saints again on June 18th and coming away with an 8-6 win in another close game.
Kody Darcy (UTSA) has been a big component of the Blues production, picking up 4 hits in 9 at bats this past week while scoring 3 runs. Zach Toglia (Utah) has also been a significant member of the Blues, with 4 hits and 4 RBIs this past week. This pair is joined by junior CJ Masciel (Cal Baptist) who picked up 5 hits, 3 runs, and 1 RBI this week in only 11 at bats.
The Blues will face off against the Foresters, the Barons, and the Oaks in the coming week.
Santa Barbara Foresters: 4-4 overall, 2-2 Week 2
Santa Barbara saw only two opponents this week: the Oaks and the Barons, who they played two times each. After starting the week 0-2, the Foresters came roaring back, winning 3-0 and 12-1 over the Barons and Oaks, respectively.
Texas freshman Gavin Kash (Texas) has been instrumental in his team’s success. In the Foresters’ two victories this week, Kash was sensational, going a combined 5-9, hitting two home runs and contributing nine RBI. Miguel Santos (Dallas Baptist) shined against the Oaks on Saturday, as he went 3-4 with a homer, three runs and two RBI.
Right-hander Parker Smith (Rice) picked up the win against the Barons in dominant fashion on Friday. In six shutout innings, Smith threw five strikeouts, gave up two hits and walked two batters.
Santa Barbara will look to extend their winning streak this week, as they will face the Saints, Barons and Blues twice.
Conejo Oaks: 5-2 overall, 3-1 Week 2
The Conejo Oaks continue to play well in the second week of the season, leading off the week with a 3-1 victory over the Santa Barbara Foresters on June 14th. They continued their campaign on June 15th with a commanding win in a 7-3 decision against the Orange County Riptide. The streak continued on June 17th on a day of rest with another huge win against the San Luis Obispo Blues 11-5. As all good things must come to an end, the Oaks lost on Saturday the 18th to the Foresters 12-1.
Tyler Ganus (University of Oregon) has been an on base machine for the Oaks, picking up 7 hits this past week and totaling a 0.667 on base percentage during this stretch. Zach Daudet (Regis) has been a workhorse for the Oaks, playing in 3 of the 4 games of the past week and totaling 4 hits and 1 RBI in 10 at bats for the Oaks. The Oaks have also been assisted by a talented pitching staff. A notable member of this staff is Clarke Garrett (USC) who threw for 6 innings against the blues and only allowed 3 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 4 batters.
The Oaks will play the Saints, the Riptide, the Philippine National Team, the Pirates, the Blues, and the Barons this week.
Contributors:
By CCL Reporter, Nicola Iannelli —
Santa Barbara, Calif. is not only home to picturesque white sand beaches, palm trees, and Mediterranean-style stucco buildings that reflect the city’s Spanish colonial heritage, but also to CCL perennial power—the Santa Barbara Foresters.
The Foresters are led by manager Bill Pintard and hold the most titles in the California Collegiate League with 11 under their belt since the league’s founding in 1993. Pintard has been the tenacious leader of this team since 1995 and has developed the Foresters into the organization they are today. Santa Barbara has chalked up over 1,000 victories including nine National Baseball Congress World Series Championships in 2021, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2008, and 2006.
But it was not always that glamorous starting out.
For Pintard, it all started in 1994. When he took over the Foresters with his then assistant Pat Burns, he had the goal to become the leader of a nationally recognized team. To accomplish this, Pintard knew they had to recruit the best players, so they took to the road. Pintard and Burns traveled from San Diego to Sacramento, spending up to 15 days non-stop on the road. The duo talked to coaches at USC, San Diego State, UC San Diego, Palomar Junior College, UCLA, and many more up and down the coast.
Pintard recalls traveling to UC Berkeley where his son was a student. “We slept on his couch for four days because there were a bunch of junior colleges and Stanford University up there,” said Pintard.
Both Pintard and Burns spent countless hours watching practices and inter-squad games scouting for their summer league team. Those long days of travel and patience paid off because Pintard made lifelong connections with many coaches and players. This period also served as the building blocks for what the Foresters are today.
Coaches took note of Pintard’s dedication and persistence. In 1995, one particular coach from Sacramento said, “You’re going to get my best players because anybody that’s going to work that hard and be that dedicated deserves to train my players.”
For 27 years Pintard has instilled into his teams hard work and perseverance.
No challenge is too big for Pintard and his club. Even with the setback of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Foresters fought through challenge after challenge. Though collaboration with the CCL, the Foresters put together a COVID-19 protocol that kept players, coaches, and staff members safe during the 2020 summer season. Remarkably, the Foresters had zero positive cases when the disease was at its peak and spreading rampant.
During that time, Pintard and the Foresters were able to accomplish an improbable feat. Santa Barbara was the only team in the league that played a full season of games that included non-league teams and a non-league schedule. Pintard reflected, “[That] was a tremendous achievement because there weren’t many teams playing that year, and we were able to play teams from all over the country, like Texas, and even won the [NBC] national championship that year in 2020.”
The success during the pandemic season carried over into the following year. The CCL resumed competition in 2021, and fans were able to come back and watch collegiate summer games again which made a tremendous difference. Pintard shared that playing without fans in 2020 felt abnormal and different. “There was no interaction before or after the games which was hard to adjust to because when the fans rally with the team, it gets everyone to be a part of the game and creates excitement in the air,” said Pintard.
In 2021, the Foresters won the CCL Southern Division championship highlighted by a 21-game winning streak toward season’s end, despite an initially slow start. Santa Barbara then headed to Wichita, Kan., at the conclusion of the CCL’s regular season for the National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series. The trip resulted in back-to-back championships just like in 2011 and 2012. According to Pintard, the Foresters became the first team to win multiple back-to-back titles in the history of that tournament. “That was another one of the major highlights of the 2021 season,” said Pintard.
Another bright spot for the Foresters was the Hugs for Cubs, a program that supports children fighting childhood cancers, was back up and running again. Like in year’s past, Pintard arranged for a trip to Angel Stadium. Kids battling cancer were able to take their mind off of their day-in and day-out challenges and enjoy a Major League Baseball game in Orange County.
The 2021 summer season produced many highlights both on and off the field for the Foresters. They’re striving for 2022 to look the same.
By CCL Reporter, Sean Brennan —
Since joining the CCL in 2016, the Healdsburg Prune Packers have posted an impressive record of 191-56. In 2021, the team won their first CCL State Championship. While the Packers have enjoyed immense success during their first five seasons in the CCL, General Manager Joey Gomes does not see winning as his number one priority. Instead, his primary focus is to help his players develop as much as possible during their time in Healdsburg.
And Gomes says that developing players goes hand-in-hand with winning baseball games.
A large component of the Packers’ culture is putting their players first. The team encourages players to continue individualized training routines they bring from their colleges. Every season, Gomes makes it clear the organization’s primary focus is player development.
“When we first meet with the team, we let the players know, ‘We’re here for you; you’re not here for us… Whatever message your staff in the spring was trying to emphasize with you, let us just be an extension of that voice,’” said Gomes.
Gomes’ professional baseball background also shapes his method of developing players. Throughout his career, he noticed that many of the experienced coaches that influenced his coaching style were patient with their teams as long as there was progress. This understanding proved to be an important learning experience for Gomes, as he integrated patience into his own coaching philosophy.
“Over the years, I’ve grown as a coach to allow me to be more patient as long as progress was in the process,” explained Gomes.
The implementation of daily routines is another instrumental part of the Prune Packers’ culture. The team shows up at the field six hours before home games to go through position-specific drills and multiple batting practices. Daily routines like that, according to Gomes, benefit player development and are extremely rewarding when the team reaches the postseason.
“For our program, we do these daily routines to get a little bit better every day. At the end, if we’re fortunate enough, the work culminates in a postseason opportunity,” Gomes said.
Gomes went onto share, “A dividend from this summer-long process, hopefully culminating in a championship, is that the player returns to his school 10% better than last spring.”
Gomes acknowledged that his players will need to work extremely hard during the Packers’ season, as they will play 47 games in about two months. Going through the 10-week grind with a common goal will be extremely helpful in building team chemistry. While Gomes doesn’t think synergy alone wins championships, he says that not having it can be detrimental to a team’s success.
“We’ll say things like, ‘Look, we get that synergy doesn’t win a championship.’ But I remind guys that if you don’t have it, that will be the reason you won’t win one,” said Gomes.
There’s no doubt that the Prune Packers’ approach has resonated well with his players. This summer, 14 players from last season will rejoin the squad, many of whom specifically asked to return to Healdsburg. Gomes is extremely humbled by this, and views it as a testament to the Packers’ winning culture.
In 2022, the Packers will look to defend their CCL title and bring another championship back to Wine Country. Heading into the season, Gomes is most looking forward to meeting the new group and “seeing what they’re made of.”
For Gomes, it’s clear, the biggest victory of this summer will be improving his players as much as possible.
Healdsburg Prune Packers: 3-1 Overall
After dropping their season opener against the Mudcats, the Prune Packers won their next three games, defeating the Stompers, San Francisco Seals, and Crawdads.
Jared Sundstrom (UC Santa Barbara) had a very strong week offensively, highlighted by his two homers in the Packers’ 14-12 victory over Sonoma. In four games, Sundstrom went a combined 4-for-15, scoring three runs and bringing in five more.
On the mound, Caden Noah (Texas) was dominant in 3.0 innings against the Stompers, striking out six batters while only allowing one hit. Elijah Birdsong (Pacific) also looked solid on the mound, recording four strikeouts and no earned runs in 4.0 innings pitched at Solano.
The Packers will face the Crawdads twice and Potters once before they cap off their week off with a doubleheader against the Mudcats on Saturday in Healdsburg.
Lincoln Potters: 12-2 Overall
The Lincoln Potters got an early start to their season playing their first game on May 27 against the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox. Lincoln appeared to be in midseason form, producing a whopping 48 runs in their opening series. Despite coming back down to earth offensively, the Potters compiled a 12-2 record (2-0, CCL North Division) through their first 14 contests, putting them atop the CCL North standings.
Matthew Lee (Louisiana Monroe) has looked strong at the plate in the Potters’ two division matchups, going a combined 5-for-7, contributing two runs and driving in another. JT Waldon (undecided) had an impressive outing against the Stompers, as he went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run and two RBI.
Right-handed pitcher Anthony Perez also proved to be problematic for Sonoma, striking out six batters, only allowing three hits and maintaining a spotless 0.00 ERA through six innings pitched.
Looking ahead, the Potters get back into action on Tuesday against the Gold Sox. They will also face the Stompers three times and the Prune Packers once this week.
Sonoma Stompers: 3-3 Overall
With three wins, three losses and a game postponed after 10 innings; the Stompers have seen it all in their first weeks as a member of the CCL. After racking up three straight victories over the San Francisco Seals, West Coast Kings and Petaluma Leghorns, Sonoma fell to the Prune Packers, Potters, and Mudcats.
Max Handron (Cal) has proven to be one of the Stompers’ most reliable players on offense over the team’s first five games, as he went a combined 9-for-20, driving in five runs and scoring four of his own.
Starting pitcher Orlando Leon Jr. (Hawaii-Hilo) has been one of Sonoma’s many bright spots on the mound. He went for 4.0 innings against Petaluma, striking out four Leghorns, allowing one hit and picking up the win with a 0.00 ERA. Closer Eric Woodrow (Marin CC) has been a workhorse, already appearing in three contests. Through 6.0 innings, Woodrow has retired seven batters and given up two hits. He has also recorded a save. His ERA remains a perfect 0.00.
The Stompers are set to resume their postponed game against the Crawdads on Tuesday and then travel to Lincoln to take on the Potters. They will return home to face the Kings and Potters before finishing up their week on Saturday in Lincoln.
Santa Barbara Foresters: 2-2 Overall
The Foresters sit at .500 after their first four contests of the 2022 season, defeating the Oaks, losing to the Barons and splitting a two-game set with the Riptide.
Kevin Bazzell (Texas Tech) had a productive week, going 6-for-14 at the plate while racking up two runs and four RBI. Texas Longhorn Gavin Kash went 4-for-8 at the plate and scored three runs in Santa Barbara’s series with the Riptide.
On the mound, Andrew Dusablon (Virginia Tech) was firing on all cylinders in his first two appearances, recording seven K’s and a 1.69 ERA in 5.1 innings pitched. Despite earning a loss, left-hander David Shaw (Rice) had a good day against Orange County, picking up two strikeouts and only conceding one hit through 4.0 innings.
The Foresters have four games scheduled for this week, as they play the Oaks and Barons two times each.
MLB Academy Barons: 2-1 Overall
The MLB Academy Barons played the San Luis Obispo Blues in their season opener on June 7. It was a close game but the Barons fell short, 14-13. Both teams squared-off again the next day, this time with the Barons prevailing, 11-8. The MLB Academy continued their winning ways by beating the Santa Barbara Foresters, 5-4, on June 9. Then ended their first week with one loss and a two-game winning streak.
Mario Tostado is a leader for the Barons as his offensive skills have helped the team achieve their winning streak. Tostado currently holds the highest batting average of the team at .571. On the defensive side, Rene Galvan (Compton Community College) helped lead the Barons in their win against the Blues on the 8th. He averaged a WHIP of 2.00 in this game and was a strong asset for the Barons in their opening week.
The Academy Barons are looking to continue their winning streak this upcoming week and are set to face the OC Riptide on June 14th, in Irvine.
Arroyo Seco Saints: Overall 0-2-1
The Arroyo Seco Saints opened up their season on June 9 against the Ventura Pirates. It was a neck-and-neck game that was battled until the very end when the lights turned off, leaving it tied at 5-5. The Saints went on to play the OC Riptide on June 10, where they fought until the very end but lost 8-5. They ended their opening week with a game against Conejo Oaks on June 12, where they lost 11-8.
The Saints have several standout players that have helped the team rally against their tough competitors. Matt Wong (Hawaii) has been a powerhouse at the plate. Jeffrey Bauser (Nevada Reno) leads the team offensively with a batting average so far of .545. He made a huge contribution during the game against the Ventura Pirates where he had one RBI and hit three out of the four times he got up to bat. Logan Deskin (Regis University) has been a brightspot on the mound. In total, he had three strikeouts and zero walks.
The Saints will begin their second week of action with a home game against the San Luis Obispo Blues on June 14.
Solano Mudcats: Overall 2-3
The Solano Mudcats had a tough start to their season, losing to the Walnut Creek Crawdads 19-3 on June 8th. The next day, however, they came back stronger and beat the Healdsburg Prune Packers in a close game, 3-2. They then faced the Lincoln Potters on June 10th and fell short, losing 6-4.
Despite their two losses, the Mudcats had several major highlights during their opening week. Alejandro Lara was a key player this week and shined at the plate. During the game against the Potters, he hit a homerun and got an RBI. In total he had three RBIs and five base hits. Jarryd Wood was also a key offensive player and had a batting average of .385 this past week. One of the pitching leaders for the Mudcats this past week was Jacob Andersen. He performed really well in the game against the Packers and had two strikeouts.
The Mudcats are all geared up for this upcoming week and are set to face the Crawdads again this Thursday, June 16th.
Walnut Creek Crawdads
The Walnut Creek Crawdads had a strong opening to their season topping the Bay Area Force, 13-4, on June 9. Unfortunately, they fell short when playing them again the next day and lost 5-4. On June 11th, the Crawdads faced the Mudcats in a nail-biting showdown that was close until the end when they lost 9-8.
Coleman Schmidt (St. Mary’s) proved himself as a leader of the team this past week. He hit two home runs, nine RBIs and averaged .448 at the plate. Brain DuRoff (Chabot College) also performed well at the plate and also hit a home run during the game against the Mudcats. Defensively the Crawdads were also strong with Coleson Abel (Texas Tech) on the mound. He had a whopping seven strikeouts, which was vital for the Crawdads.
The Walnut Creek Crawdads are set to play tomorrow against the Stompers.
Conejo Oaks: Overall 2-1
The Conejo Oaks defeated the SoCal Cubs 14-9 on June 9. The Oaks were not able to continue their winnings ways the next day, however, falling to the Santa Barbara Foresters, 10-2. After a rest day on Saturday, Conejo defeated the Arroyo Seco Saints in a 11-8 decision.
AJ Salgado (Cal State Los Angeles) proved to be a force for the Oaks at the plate, tallying six hits and two RBI while maintaining a .545 batting average. Austin Carrillo (Cal Lutheran) also proved to be quite effective through the first week of the season, picking up five hits, four runs, plus a home run. Carrillo’s batting average sits at an impressive .455 early in the season.
The Conejo Oaks will play the Foresters, Riptide, and Blues this week.
Orange County Riptide: Overall 3-1-1
The Orange County Riptide are off to a hot start, including a 4-0 shutout against the Ventura County Pirates on June 7. The Riptide remained undefeated on June 8 after tying the San Diego Waves, 9-9. The Riptide were able to keep on rolling through their first three games, defeating the Arroyo Seco Saints, 8-5, on June 10. Orange County took their first loss on June 11 against the Foresters, falling 7-6, in a nail- biter. The Riptide were able to come back from that loss and beat the Foresters on June 12th in another 7-6 decision.
Blake Penso (UC San Diego) and Miller Ladusau (Abilene Christian) both lead the Riptide in batting with a .333 average. Senior Jack Noble (Long Beach State) leads the team with 3.0 innings pitched, two strikeouts, and a 0.00 ERA. Ethan Pope (Cal Baptist) has contributed this year 3.0 innings pitched, 1 win, and a 0.00 ERA.
The Orange County Riptide will play the Barons, Oaks, and Saints this week.
San Luis Obispo Blues: Overall 5-6
The Blues began their season on May 27 with a tough 14-8 loss against the Coastal Dodgers. The Blues battled back in Game No. 2 of the series, winning 8-6 in extra innings on May 28th. On May 29th, the Blues continued their season against the West Coast Kings, falling 15-11. The Blues dropped the series against the Kings on May 30th, when they again feel 5-3. After resting, the Blues took on the Solano Mudcats on June 3rd, exiting victorious with a 10-5 decision. The series was tied up on June 4th, when the Blues fell to the Mudcats in a 5-3 loss. The Blues were able to take the series on June 5th, defeating the Mudcats in a midday contest with a score of 7-5. The Blues went up against the MLB Academy Barons in a midweek series, winning on June 7th in a one run game by a score of 14-13. They then lost to the Barons on June 8th in an 11-8 game. The Blues wrapped up week one with a three-game series against the Humboldt Crabs, winning game one on June 10th 8-6, but lost on June 11th 8-7. Game three was rained out on June 12th, ending the series in a tie.
Aedan Anderson (Xavier) leads the Blues with a .375 batting average, 3 hits, and 4 runs so far this season. Zach Togila (Utah) has proved to be a leader this summer for the Blues, playing in 9 of the Blues’ 11 games this season. He has tallied 11 hits, 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, and 8 runs so far this season, totaling a .355 batting average.
The San Luis Obispo Blues will play the Saints, Oaks, and Foresters this week.
Contributors:
By CCL Reporter, Sean Brennan —
As the Orange County Riptide gear up for the 2022 CCL campaign, General Manager Moe Geoghegan is striving to create an identity for his team. He wants the Riptide to eventually become known as the best summer baseball team on the West Coast.
“Our goal is to be the gold standard, we want to be the top team in the CCL year in and year out. We’re not there yet, but we’re working on it every year to try and make that happen,” said Geoghegan.
One of the most important parts of the Riptide creating its brand will be coaching. During this past offseason, Tim Brown became the organization’s sixth head coach in seven years. However, Geoghegan believes that Brown’s coaching experience and care for his players make him the perfect candidate for a long-term coach.
“I think coach Brown understands players’ needs. I think he’s good at being that father figure, kind of the mature adult in the room,” explained Geoghegan. “He cares about his players…I think players like to play for a coach that actually cares about them.”
Geoghegan understands that keeping a coach with the team for multiple seasons is very important to recruiting. He looks at teams that have been successful in the CCL over the years and says that most of them have had the same coach for at least three years. In addition to helping with recruiting, coaching stability also helps management know what to expect for upcoming seasons.
“It would be nice to know what to anticipate the next year as a general manager, what you’re going to get out of your coaching staff, to have the same guy for a couple years…I’m hoping to have that with Tim,” said Geoghegan.
While coaching will be a vital component of the Riptide establishing its identity, Geoghegan also acknowledged the importance of off-the-field advantages. For example, the Riptide’s location greatly helps with recruiting, as Orange County is a popular area for collegiate baseball players to train during the offseason.
“I think that Orange County is a destination that players like to spend their summer…I’m not going to lie, that helps a lot with recruiting…We get a lot of players that call us and email us because they want to be in Orange County,” Geoghegan said.
Another victory for the Riptide has been improved fan engagement. Last season, the organization began selling alcohol and making food trucks available to fans. This decision, along with the team leaving a positive impression on baseball fans in the area, helped attendance at home games increase by 50% in 2021 despite the Riptide missing the playoffs.
The Riptide will look to returning players, such as outfielder T.C. Simmons (Connecticut) and catcher Blake Penso (UC Irvine), to help the team establish its identity this season. Geoghegan says that all of the players rejoining the team are ‘good foundation guys’ and will be role models for the new faces on the squad.
“These were dudes that were the first guys at the ballpark,” recalled Geoghegan. “Guys that never complained, even in a bad season…that’s important that you have a core of guys like that, that’ll set the standard for the new guys.”
Heading into the 2022 season, the Riptide’s management is optimistic about almost every aspect of the team. Geoghegan hopes that stable coaching, continued off-the-field victories and talented rosters each year will help his organization eventually become the gold standard of Summer League Baseball. And while he is looking into the future, he believes that this season will be the beginning of a new era for the Riptide.
Photo courtesy of Alina Nelson
By CCL Reporter, Nicola Iannelli —
Summertime in Northern California for the Potters’ Baseball Club feels like a family reunion. Not only do the players and coaches anticipate the season, but so does the city of Lincoln and surrounding communities. Fans look forward to coming together each year at McBean Stadium to watch top-notch collegiate summer baseball, their favorite players, and of course, Piper the Mascot.
The Potters exude a sense of a family thanks in large part to their detailed approach to their work and the commitment of their staff members. It’s that positive environment that is created that makes summers so enjoyable. Not only do the players request to come back, but the host families also request to have the players stay with them again.
This upcoming season the Potters are welcoming back several members that starred in the 2021 campaign including CCL Showcase participants Jeffrey David (New Mexico), Quinton Hall, and Mason Holt (Louisiana Monroe).
The bonds made between the players on and off the field are special.
Nolan Murphy, an assistant general manager and Potters alumnus, spoke on his personal experience as a player and member of the team. “To play for The Potters was very eye opening because of the fan base that Lincoln has. Being able to see people in the stands and have a minor league experience at the college level is immaculate,” said Murphy.
The Potters and General Manager, Matt Lundgren, are committed to offering players the best experience and consider their program as “a players’ program.” Lundgren describes how he has his players focus only on baseball and has their meals, travels, and most expenses covered so they can be fully focused on their development. The coaching and managing staff goes above and beyond to make sure every one of their players is taken care of.
Besides there being a close bond between the team and community, there is also a one between head coach Ryan Stevens and the team. Stevens is a decorated member of the baseball community and local to the Rocklin area. He has an impressive baseball career resume but has continued to add to it just this past year when he won his 100th game. Stevens values the relationships that grow from the unique opportunity of being called a coach. Nolan Murphy shared how he keeps in contact throughout the year with Stevens and so do the other players of the team.
Thanks to the Potters Baseball Club, the city of Lincoln and the players have something to look forward to every summer. With the start of the season and summer quickly approaching, the Potters are ready to be back in action and compete for the 2022 CCL State Championship.
Photo courtesy of Sara Nevis