The Solano Mudcats are new to the California Collegiate League, but that has not stopped the organization from making an impact both on the diamond and in the community.

Located between San Francisco and Sacramento, Solano County is home to a bustling hotbed of baseball talent. The Mudcats are helping establish a rising trend in collegiate level play as well. Thanks to co-founder Shawn Scibek and president Ben Crombie, the Mudcats have found the perfect blend between player development and promoting the game to younger generations, all while encapsulating the “small-town” feel of Solano County.

“We bring high-quality summer baseball in a family friendly environment, and we pride ourselves in developing successful young men on and off the field of play,” Crombie said.

Since joining the CCL in 2019, the Mudcats have started to solidify their presence as a premier summer ball organization in Northern California, and according to Scibek and Crombie, the team is only getting started.

To really understand and appreciate the Mudcats, a dive into their storied history is a must. In 1990, Scibek, along with George Sebena, and Jed Czajkowski, launched the organization as a semi-professional wood-bat team. For 22 years, the Mudcats enjoyed plenty of success on the road throughout the West Coast, establishing themselves as one of the top semi-professional clubs in the state.

Fast forward to 2012, the Mudcats decided it was time for a change of scenery. They rebranded the club as a collegiate summer organization and began recruiting the best talent in the region. In these early years after the transition, the majority of the Mudcats’ roster consisted of players from Vacaville, Fairfield, Vallejo, Davis, Napa, and other communities surrounding Solano County. Most players were on college rosters at the time, but different than most teams on their schedule who recruited from a larger pool of players around the nation and more recognizable schools. Still, the Mudcats found success, with a record of 140-108 from 2013-2018.

The mid-2010s Mudcat teams seemed to benefit from a close-knit culture developed by Scibek, Crombie and the rest of the organization. With several established collegiate teams on their schedule, this culture helped spur confidence to go along with a chip on their shoulders. The Mudcats became known for their hard-nosed play on the field with a relaxed, with a fun-loving atmosphere off the field.

Solano spent two seasons in the Sacramento Rural League from 2013-2014 before electing to become an independent collegiate team. After three seasons as an independent organization, the Mudcats joined the Bay Area Collegiate League for the 2018 season. While their tenure in the BACL was short-lived, they were triumphant in their return to league play and took home the league championship that summer.

In 2019, the Mudcats joined an expansion of the CCL, and expanded recruiting to some of the top baseball programs in the state and around the country. Players have ranged from local NCAA Division I schools like Cal, U.C. Davis, Sacramento State and San Jose State, while out-of-state additions have hailed from programs such as the University of Minnesota and Holy Cross University in Massachusetts.

As the Mudcats enter the 2021 season, the organization is embracing their new identity in the CCL and are hoping to break onto the scene as one of the state’s top summer collegiate programs. They hope to do so while also still serving their community.

The Mudcats double as a 501(c) non-profit organization, something that Crombie emphasizes is an integral part of the organization.

“We’re in it to provide a quality organization for young men to play for, and this allows us to partner with and give back to our local community.”

The Mudcats community service events range from partnering with local first responders and attending local banquets and events, to providing opportunities for college students to earn required internship credits for their respective education programs. The Mudcats offer internship programs for athletic training, game-day operations and sports marketing. Solano also offers ample community service hours from high school students and has partnered with local high schools in the county. They also regularly partner with local small businesses for advertising and promotion purposes.

Their most notable liaison in the community comes from the effort the organization puts into youth baseball around the county. Solano holds two youth camps, one in the summer and one in the winter, both providing opportunities for children of all ages and backgrounds to work on their skills.

Guest speakers from all levels of baseball offer further insight to the local youth. Previous guest speakers include Solano County products such as former Major Leaguer and current manager of the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers Kristopher Negron, and 2020 World Series champion Tony Gonsolin of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Both Scibek and Crombie are hopeful the camps will continue to build fan interest in the Mudcats, but more importantly, continue to promote the game of baseball in Solano County for the younger generations.

“It’s all about passing on the fun of this great game of baseball,” Scibek said. “I enjoy seeing the kids who have attended the camp continue to play and progress in the community. For some, it’s their first time ever playing baseball. It’s great to see the smile on his or her face when they succeed in a drill or game.”

Crombie, who is in his second stint as the Mudcats’ head coach, has been with the organization since he played for the team in 2004. He makes a great pair with Scibek, as the two combine for a characteristic blend of production, performance and play. As both the president and head coach, Crombie is plenty used to a full plate. He pairs well with the easy-going Scibek, who also serves as an assistant coach.

“Our league is competitive and we want competition for the guys,” Scibek said. “But (in the summer) they get to come out and…get to relax a little bit where they can just kind of be their own person.

“I just think it’s a nice place in the summer where they can come in and just play.”

After nearly two decades of friendship, it’s clear the bond between the two helps the organization thrive. And while they might differ in personalities and coaching style, they share the same vision for their organization. Some long-term goals, such as potentially building a new playing stadium in the county, are a few years out, Crombie and Scibek are currently focusing on building a stronger fanbase and alumni connection.

“My hope in terms of experience that they have, is that they enjoy themselves, play good competitive baseball, and then come back to the alumni events in the future,” Crombie said. “Some of the relationships that they make in the two months they keep forever.”

The cancelation of the 2020 CCL season due to COVID-19 brought along its own unique set of challenges, Crombie and Scibek are optimistic they can continue building upon the growing fanbase in Solano County. The Mudcats already have a charity golf tournament, an annual alumni game and plenty of community service projects in the works.

As Crombie, Scibek and the rest of the Solano Mudcats board continue to push through plans of a potential new stadium in the upcoming years, the Mudcats will continue to upkeep their stellar reputation on the diamond and in the county. Baseball in Solano County is continually uprising, and the Mudcats are bringing a new brand of baseball to the region.

Mike Scioscia needs no introduction — the three-time World Series Champion and former Los Angeles Angels Manager has made his mark on the sports world, to say the least. 

Though he is best known for his professional playing and coaching career, Scioscia’s commitment to spreading baseball in Southern California and around the country is another critical part of his baseball identity.  

Scioscia’s nonprofit Amateur Baseball Development Group (ABDG) aims to increase opportunities to play the game in Southern California by giving young players everywhere a chance to try out the sport. ABDG is the principal sponsor of the California Collegiate League’s Conejo Oaks, and its support enabled the Oaks to take home a CCL Championship trophy in 2018 and remain competitive for years. 

ABDG and the Conejo organization have helped thousands of players jumpstart their baseball careers. Sustaining success is always a goal, but the two are also committed to development — allowing athletes to improve themselves as both players and people.  

“This is important to us, and we’re driven to try to get players, coaches, and programs all the tools they need to play this great game,” Scioscia said. 

—

Scioscia’s athletic journey began when he was an elementary school student, playing for Babe Ruth League baseball teams in the summer and participating in other sports throughout the year. He later earned a scholarship to Clemson University, but instead accepted an offer to turn professional and join the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. 

While he showed promise as a young player, his ascent to the majors still required plenty of training, resources and mentorship, whether they came from his parents in the Philadelphia suburbs or late Dodgers great Tommy Lasorda.  

Nearly six decades later, Scioscia fully understands the importance of developing players and providing athletes with resources to succeed.

“I think I was very fortunate to be around influential people when I was younger, and as far as where we are right now and where I am, it’s time to give back,” Scioscia said.

Throughout Scioscia’s time in Southern California, he noticed that baseball players often had limited access to baseball fields. This was especially true in the summer.

Programs were continually underfunded, sometimes struggling to afford essential equipment. The lack of funding also left many fields in poor conditions, so players frequently had little to work with. 

After Scioscia observed these problems alongside ABDG co-founders Randy Riley and Kevin Muno, the trio formed ABDG in 2004. They planned to give out ABDG donations and grants that could be used to purchase better equipment, improve field conditions, hire assistant coaches or perform other crucial functions.

Ultimately, they hoped to better finance baseball across SoCal and give more players a chance to participate in the sport. 

“We took for granted that we were going to have an opportunity to experience this game,” Scioscia said. “A lot of players don’t have that opportunity now, so this gets them an opportunity to step up and go to a higher level.”

—

Another vital part of ABDG’s founding was the creation of the Conejo Oaks franchise, which Scioscia, Riley and Muno formed in 2004 to provide more support to college-age baseball players. 

In the next 16 seasons, the organization brought Championship-caliber baseball to Thousand Oaks and featured athletes such as Isaiah Campbell, the Mariners’ second-round pick in 2019, and Brandon Lewis, the Dodgers’ 2019 fourth-round selection. 

By becoming a member of the Oaks, college players experience a fine-tuned regimen and workout schedule during the summer. The Oaks’ core mission is development. Players return to their respective colleges and universities with an increased skill set thanks to quality repetitions.

“We try to win every game when we’re on the field, but… myself, our coaching staff, our support staff, never loses sight of the fact that we are here for them,” said Oaks head coach Dave Soliz. “That is something we hang our hat on and we are very proud of that philosophy.” 

Playing in the CCL also gives players exposure to first-rate opponents from programs around the country. 

“Do we enjoy playing in the league? Absolutely, it is top-notch competition,” Soliz said. “I can see the direction of the CCL and I’m very proud to be part of that.” 

—

Outside of the Oaks organization, ABDG’s contributions are aimed at youth- and high school-level organizations in need of extra support. 

ABDG gives grants to teams for anything they need to improve, ranging from boxes of baseballs to new assistant coaches. 

In addition to the Oaks, ABDG has sponsored several other teams, including 14U through 17U clubs, and a Connie Mack league and team. If players don’t make the cut for baseball teams at their own high schools, they can join ABDG’s Senior Minor League. 

ABDG has also sought to address the lack of publicly available playing fields during the offseason, another common problem faced by youth baseball players. In 2005, the organization helped build the Conejo Creek Park Baseball Facility in Conejo Valley.

—

ABDG’s impact on teams and individuals across Southern California is undeniable — “We would not be able to run the Oaks without the daily and long-term support of ABDG,” Soliz said.

Soliz is especially grateful for the support staff ABDG has helped provide him, including assistant coaches Joe Garcia, Mark Fitzgerald and Cody Ramer, athletic trainer Yoshi Shiratori and Director of Operations Rebecca Wilson. 

“I could not do it without them,” Soliz said.  

The assistance of Scioscia, Riley and the entire ABDG organization has allowed the Oaks to remain competitive, whether through supplying necessary equipment or baseball-related guidance. One of Soliz’s main goals for the team is to continue providing a stellar on-field product to help ABDG in return. 

“We’re trying to continue to make the Oaks the best they can be to help support ABDG,” Soliz said. “We’re trying to do our part to make our end of it the best as possible so that way ABDG can be proud of what we’re trying to do as well.”  (Edit)

When it comes to Oaks players and other individuals ABDG has guided, Scioscia is especially proud of the program’s commitment to building athletes’ character. 

“We’ve seen some players come in and maybe you see the talent in them that they don’t quite see, they don’t have quite the confidence to carry that forward,” Scioscia said. “But by working them out and building their self-esteem as a ballplayer and letting them understand that they can be really good at this particular skill with a skillset that they have, we’ve seen them come out of their shell, be a better person, carry the confidence that you’ve wanted the youngster to carry.”

While ABDG has already made a significant impact in its first 17 years, Scioscia hopes the program can continue bringing baseball to athletes across the southern part of the state. 

“I think the need is always there and the need always increases so we’ve got to increase our scope of what we can do,” Scioscia said. “…We want to make sure that in the Southern California area that anyone that wants to have a chance to play baseball gets a chance to play in a program that is equipped with the tools they need to run a baseball program.”

More than anything, Scioscia hopes people will follow ABDG’s example and learn how they can make a difference in their own communities. 

“I think it’s important for wherever you live for you to try to impact the lives of people in your community,” Sciosia said. “You don’t have to do it in the whole world — you can do it one person at a time.”

—

To learn more about the Conejo Oaks and ABDG, visit www.oaksbaseball.org and www.abdg.org.

Last summer, the Lincoln Potters were faced with a choice — shelve the upcoming season and protect the organization’s finances, or play on, taking advantage of their unique ability to conduct games during the pandemic and giving their athletes a chance to get back on the field after months of being stuck at home. 

They chose the latter. 

“We felt obligated to the players,” General Manager Matt Lundgren said. “We thought that if we could make it happen somehow that we would be doing a tremendous service to them to giving them an opportunity to play after them having their college seasons cut short.”

The Potters’ decision to continue with their season is indicative of the players-first mindset they have prioritized since their founding four years ago. 

Although establishing a winning culture in the competitive CCL is no easy feat, the team’s dedication to its athletes and the Lincoln community enabled it to become a force in the Northern division. 

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The Potters trace their roots back to the 1920s, when ceramics company Gladding, McBean started a baseball team and sponsored it. The team adopted the Potters moniker in the 1940s, playing in the Placer Nevada League for several seasons. However, the Potters decided to cease operations in the 1960s, leaving McBean Field without a summer club for years. 

In 2015, the City of Lincoln, Rocklin-based William Jessup University and Placer Valley Tourism agreed to renovate the field, making it possible for another team to take the former franchise’s place. The Great West League answered the call and brought the Potters on as its newest member.  

When Lundgren was offered the chance to build the Lincoln franchise from the ground up in November 2016, he felt he could not pass up the opportunity. 

Lundgren had spent the first years of his baseball career working for esteemed organizations already well entrenched within their markets, including the Cincinnati Reds and Tucson Padres. After serving as GM for an established organization in the Marysville Gold Sox, Lundgren wanted a change and a challenge. 

It didn’t take long for Lundgren’s wish to be granted either — “I knew that it was going to be a lot of work, but it was way more work than I think I could have ever anticipated,” Lundgren said.   

Upon assuming the GM role, Lundgren was immediately tasked with putting together a team that was set to take the field for Opening Day just six months later. 

While Lundgren and the Potters’ front office got the team up and running for its first day of existence, the team still had more hurdles to clear when it came to becoming a fully fledged operation. 

Perhaps no story better exemplifies the early days of the Potters franchise than the time a baseball flew out of the ballpark and into a nearby resident’s home, leading the city to install a 50-foot net surrounding the field. 

“Naturally, the reason they built the net is a lady was using the restroom in her house and a ball went right through the window and landed on her lap, so that was the final straw,” Lundgren said with a chuckle. 

In spite of the growing pains associated with starting an entire baseball franchise from scratch, Lundgren still appreciates the opportunities growing the Potters franchise provided him. 

“It was awesome and I learned a lot through that,” Lundgren said.  

—

Within their first few seasons of competition, the Potters established themselves in the Sacramento area and quickly drew the attention of baseball minds across the state. 

Former CCL Commissioner Pat Burns was one of the first few individuals to take notice of the Potters, and he offered the team a chance to take part in the league’s affiliate program. After experiencing what the CCL had to offer, Lundgren decided to take the Lincoln organization to the next level and officially join the league the following season. 

“We thought the CCL was the best fit for us,” Lundgren said. “We thought we could not only with the CCL help grow our brand, we thought we had a lot to offer to the CCL and help grow the CCL brand to establish a North conference with the [Healdsburg Prune Packers].” 

Being part of the CCL is one major reason Lincoln has been able to attract top-level talent, Lundgren said, but he also credits the organization’s culture and existing relationships with college coaches for its success.  

“We don’t let the baseball side of things fall short,” Lundgren said. “We take a lot of pride in player development, our relationships with college coaches around the country and trying to get as many players to the next level as possible.” 

—

The Potters consider their fanbase one of their strongest assets, allowing them to grow in an already saturated baseball market. 

“We’re fortunate to be in a community that welcomed us with open arms from the beginning, so that was the easy part, getting the community on board to support us,” Lundgren said. 

As the Potters organization grew, so did its presence and importance within the Lincoln community. 

One key Potters tradition is participating in Lincoln’s annual Fourth of July and Christmas parades, which draw crowds of 25,000 spectators. The Fourth of July event is a particularly memorable one for the team, as players from across the country get to experience a slice of Placer County tradition.

The Potters also partner with local Little League teams and schools, assisting them with fundraisers and offering them the opportunity to attend games. 

The organization’s efforts to reach young baseball fans in Lincoln has made an impact. Some fans even prefer Potters games to San Francisco Giants games at the nearby Oracle Park, according to Lundgren. 

“[Attending Potters games] is a completely different experience,” Lundgren said. “I think that that becomes more memorable for the younger generation, the baseball players and the softball players, that they get that experience.”

—

The Potters are already a must-see attraction for players and fans alike just four years after their founding, but Lundgren and other members of the organization are not done seeking out opportunities for growth. 

One major milestone in the Potters’ future is hosting the CCL’s inaugural State Championship, which is scheduled for August. The Potters also hope to continue improving on their yearly results, continuing to make the playoffs each year and strive for better and better postseason results. 

“That’s something that we want to keep building on, and obviously we want to win a championship,” Lundgren said. “We want to win the CCL North and we want to win the CCL State Tournament, as often as we can.”

Pulling up to the ballpark in Healdsburg, Calif. is like stepping into a different place in time — entering another realm where the baseball is as unique in the 98 year-old park it is played in.

“The town itself…it’s like Americana.” said Prune Packers General Manager Joey Gomes. 

Set in the rolling hills of California Wine Country, the Healdsburg experience is a special one. Fans are treated to not only top-quality baseball bolstered by a stable of MLB prospects, including 2019 No. 3 overall pick Andrew Vaughn, but also the history and heritage epitomized by the Prune Packers’ Recreation Park.

The Prune Packers may be known as the team with the memorable moniker located in a picturesque town, but their uniqueness has not stopped them from becoming a force in college summer baseball. The Prune Packers were recently ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation by the Collegiate Summer Baseball Register. With their relaxed attitude off the field and unrelenting ambition in the game, the Prune Packers have excelled under Gomes’ tutelage and put Healdsburg on the baseball map.

—

No one exemplifies Healdsburg baseball culture better than Gomes — a former professional baseball player himself who brings a distinctive outlook to the game.

“His knowledge and his approach obviously as a player, but even more so as a coach, really kind of stand out,” said Jason Sekany, a regional director for USA Baseball who works with Gomes.

Players ranging from middle schoolers in the North Bay to Spencer Torkelson, the first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, have trusted Gomes and his unique vision to improve their games.

Gomes’ professional career began when he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 8th round of the 2002 MLB Draft. After spending 10 seasons in the minors, Gomes decided to call it a career and directed his passion towards coaching.

Gomes quickly was approached with an opportunity by USA Baseball. Gomes would scout players who would be invited to go through a trial process at the national team training facility in Cary, N.C.

As a talent evaluator, Gomes established connections with NCAA baseball coaches across the Northwest and around the nation, laying the foundation for future roster-building when he began assembling summer collegiate teams.

As a coach, he learned how to teach and implement the “you don’t take yourself too serious, but when you’re on the field, you take it serious” mentality he took on in his minor-league days. He also recognized the importance of encouraging players to work on their time management as part of an overall improvement strategy, as well as tapping into his own baseball knowledge when players came asking for help. 

—   

By the time former Prune Packers head Riley Sullivan first approached him, Gomes had already made a name for himself within the North Bay baseball scene. Gomes had not only built relationships with college coaches and other scouts around the country, but he also expanded his own personal coaching services, Gomes Baseball, to train players across the Bay area. 

In the winter of 2013, Sullivan offered Gomes an opportunity to lead a total reconstruction of the Prune Packers, a local team originally formed in 1921. However, the 2013 Prune Packers were a far cry from the franchise that formerly hosted Ted Williams and other top-notch baseball talent in the ‘Burg. The team’s rosters were composed mostly of junior college athletes and players past their prime, making the possibility of a rebuild a tall order.

Gomes was initially hesitant to become the organization’s lead man before he decided to take part in restoring the Sonoma County landmark to its former glory.

Gomes’ first task when he took over in 2014 was to clean house and start from scratch, which he now admits did not make him the “most popular guy around.” After seeing that the team had still not reached its potential after a full season, he chose to go independent for the 2015 season while he made up his mind on what the club’s next steps should be. 

“I knew it was going to be a step back not really being associated with the league and an organization and an affiliation,” Gomes said. “But I knew that [we took] one step back to maybe take three, four or five forward.”   

The Prune Packers’ next move came to light once Gomes took his team to San Luis Obispo in 2015 to play the Blues, a longtime CCL and summer ball stalwart. 

Gomes liked the way the league was run and felt the on- and off-field attitude CCL members adopted matched the one he wanted to implement in his own club. He also felt the Prune Packers could augment the CCL’s presence in Northern California.

“What has stood out to me first and foremost is the quality of play,” Gomes said. “We are player-driven league.” 

After joining the CCL, Gomes used his former relationships from USA Baseball to begin establishing his organization’s credibility with college coaches and programs, allowing him to put together increasingly competitive rosters.

 —

Four seasons later, the Prune Packers have turned into a CCL powerhouse and welcomed players from revered baseball programs at universities such as Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Arizona State and UC Berkeley. 

“It’s no surprise to me that the Prune Packers have become what they’ve become in such a short period of time,” Sekany said. 

While the Healdsburg organization itself has grown in stature, the true beneficiaries of the Prune Packers’ machine are the players who spend their summers there. 

For one thing, players can put extra focus into improving their hitting, taking advantage of Gomes’ years of experience as a hitting coach. Prior to each game, players take part in Gomes’ hitting “seminars” and work on batting technique.

Prune Packers athletes also have the flexibility to create their own daily routines before games, which are unlike the more structured ones they usually follow within their college programs. The practice helps players take responsibility for their own performance and better reflect on what they need to do to succeed, whether on or off the field, Gomes said. 

Gomes and his entire coaching staff focus on maintaining an improvement-first mindset while devoting as much time and as many resources as possible to player development. 

“It’s…we are very much here for you as opposed to you are here for us,” Gomes said. 

One of the Prune Packers’ main coaching philosophies is encouraging players to take the time to reflect on what they did during their college seasons instead of merely focusing on their summer play. 

“I think it’s just a place for [a player] to remove himself from the situation, but process everything that has been expected of him and what was thrown at him,” Gomes said. “And he’s able to conceptualize all that stuff a little bit better, and he’s a much more refined player when we give him back.

“I want you to go back and be a contributor for your team, so I think really the secret for guys that come out to the summer and then go back and excel a lot was because of summer baseball.” 

The strategy has proven successful, too — when Texas Tech players Cameron Warren and Cal Conley each came to Healdsburg, Warren was coming off a 22-at-bat season, and Conley had been a redshirt. However, after spending a summer with the Prune Packers, both were All-Americans in their next NCAA seasons. 

While players credit Gomes with improvements they made during the summer season, he also considers himself fortunate to be able to work with a variety of players who each bring a unique challenge and opportunity for growth to the table. 

“I’m somehow so humble and so fortunate to have the groups of guys that I have coming out, that are so hungry to learn and thirsty to get after it,” Gomes said. 

—

The legacy of Healdsburg is as essential to the Prune Packers as their play on the field, and Gomes credits the team’s location and culture for the success of the franchise. 

“I’m really thankful because, as far as Sonoma County is concerned with its baseball-rich history, there’s no better place to put a summer baseball team than in the heart of Healdsburg,” Gomes said.

Moving forward, Gomes hopes to continue putting together the driven, well-balanced teams he has assembled in past seasons, especially as more CCL teams figure to return to play in the 2021 season. Specifically, Gomes’ main goal is to establish sustainability within the organization, enabling him to put competitive teams on the field every season. 

However, no matter how much the team grows and changes, Gomes’ focus on putting players first and taking the time to do things correctly will stay the same.

“I think if you develop the right way, the wins come,” Gomes said. “This is not a place for just reps. This is a place to continue growing what potentially is started, and then you’re very much here to do things the right way and then win the game at the end of the day, and we have fun doing it.”

January 15, 2021

By Hannah Yoshinaga, CCL Reporter

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While the Santa Barbara Foresters’ roster lists pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders just like any other baseball team, their lineup also includes another key team member — the Hugs for Cubs child celebrated by the team during that season.

The Foresters’ Hugs for Cubs program honors at least one recipient every summer, offering a child battling cancer or another illness the chance to become a special member of the Foresters team. Recipients have their initials featured on players’ hats all season long, attend Hugs for Cubs events around Southern California and even get their own Hugs for Cubs Day at Pershing Park.   

“We add some joy and some happiness to some kids that are going through one of the toughest trials and tribulations of their life in battling cancer, and in some other cases, other childhood diseases,” said Foresters Head Coach Bill Pintard. “And by having our players participate in these things, it makes the players realize how fortunate and lucky they are, and at a young age, they can get the message about how rewarding giving back is.” 

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Pintard and his son Eric created the Hugs for Cubs program in 1995. After pitching for the Foresters in the 1993 summer baseball season, Eric was diagnosed with ependymoma, a rare form of cancer that affects the brain and spinal cord. Eric was subsequently sidelined, undergoing chemotherapy and other forms of treatment. 

Although he was unable to take the mound the following season, the baseball community’s support for Eric was overwhelming — every Foresters player wore Eric’s number, 19, on their hats, and the National Baseball Congress named him the Most Inspirational Player of the Year. NBC eventually renamed the award after Eric in 2012. 

As Eric continued to receive treatment and regain strength, he brainstormed ways the Foresters organization could assist other young people battling serious illnesses. 

Pintard still recalls the first conversation he had with Eric about Hugs for Cubs. When he suggested that Foresters players would again wear 19 on their hats for the 1995 season, Eric said, “I’m kicking ass. We don’t need to put my initials on this, we need to put the initials of some other kid that’s fighting cancer, we need to put his initials… We need to do more.” 

The two worked together to organize group activities for children diagnosed with cancer, including bowling nights, fishing trips and surfing days led by Eric, an avid surfer. Pintard named the program “Hugs for Cubs,” and Eric designed the iconic bear logo still used today.

While the Hugs for Cubs program and its impact grew, Eric kept recovering and working toward better health, allowing him to become more involved with the development of Hugs for Cubs and return to the Foresters as a pitcher at the start of the 1998 season. 

Eric also participated in Hugs for Cubs visits to local hospitals, cheering up sick children confined to infirmary wards and delivering presents to them for the holidays. 

Although he remained involved with the program and its expansion, Eric’s own health took an unfortunate turn when his tumors began growing again. Eric tragically passed away in 2004.

However, his impact within the Foresters organization, Santa Barbara community and baseball world has not been forgotten. 

“He did make a great impact, he made me a much better man,” Pintard said. “I love him dearly, you know, part of my heart was gone. But his memory and the legacy and how he enriches other guys and other players and kids that had cancer [impacts] us, so he made a footprint in the sand.”

— 

Eric’s legacy lives on in the hearts of people across the world, whether it be the Pintard family, the Foresters organization or people who never had the opportunity to meet him, but were inspired by his story of hope, tenacity and giving back to others.

Eric’s vision for Hugs for Cubs also lives on, and the program is now managed by Foresters Board of Directors President Christina Songer. 

“It’s not only a program of giving back,” Songer said. “It is ingrained in all of the Foresters.” 

Hugs for Cubs kids now attend Angels and Dodgers games every season and get the opportunity to meet players like Kole Calhoun, Songer said. Additionally, participants can take part in youth baseball camps, which was one of the original goals Eric outlined for the program. 

Throughout the summer and offseason, Foresters players and other members of the organization visit children in hospitals and deliver gifts. The team puts on events aimed at raising funds for the program, such as a golf tournament and banquet.

Not to be forgotten is one of the most essential aspects of Hugs for Cubs — the Foresters’ inclusion of recipients’ initials on their game-day hats, where Eric’s hand-drawn logo and initials are also embroidered. 

“We’ve had other kids that had been diagnosed as terminal and didn’t have very good outlook, they get the initials on the back of the hat and bam, they’re rocking and rolling,” Pintard said. “There’s something about that hat.” 

Although coronavirus-related restrictions meant that Pershing Park remained mostly empty for the 2020 season, the Foresters still worked to make a positive impact by honoring a Hugs for Cubs kid.

2020 recipient Henry Miller got the opportunity to visit the park for his own Hugs for Cubs Day, throwing out the first pitch and going for a car ride in the outfield in front of friends and family.

Despite the difficulties brought on by the pandemic, donations didn’t stop coming in for Hugs for Cubs either, and all contributions either matched or exceeded those given in previous years, Songer said. 

During the 2020 Christmas season, the Foresters continued to run their annual holiday program, bringing Christmas trees, lights, gingerbread houses and presents to families in need across Santa Barbara County. Pintard and Songer personally delivered trees to families this year, taking extra precautions due to health and safety measures enacted across the state.

While members of the Foresters organization were unable to make their typical in-person hospital visits to deliver gifts, children staying in the hospital for the holiday season still received gifts donated by Hugs for Cubs.

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For 2013 recipient Samuel Helfand, taking part in Hugs for Cubs events was a way to “fight cancer with fun,” said Samuel’s mother Heidi Helfand.

Earlier in the year, Samuel was diagnosed with ependymoma, the same rare illness Eric suffered from. A hospital worker connected Samuel and his family with Bill Pintard, and they bonded over their shared experiences with the disease.

Pintard and the family developed a close relationship, and Samuel was chosen to be the Foresters’ 2013 Hugs for Cubs honoree. As part of the program, Samuel attended both Foresters and major league games, as well as other events planned for recipients.

Hugs for Cubs combined the idea of using fun to battle cancer with Samuel’s love of baseball from years of playing Little League in the Santa Barbara area.

“Kids want to be kids, so they want to play, they want to play baseball, they want to be around baseball,” Helfand said. “So having opportunities like Hugs for Cubs is really, it’s a gift. It was a total gift.”

During his time with Hugs for Cubs, Samuel was also one of the team’s bat boys. As a member of the bat boy team, Samuel got to connect with players and play an essential role in the Foresters’ home games. Samuel was mentored by fellow recipient and bat boy Wyatt Taylor, with whom he became friends and spent time at games.

“Wyatt told him what to do, he kind of took him under his wing, and it was super cool because Wyatt had been through cancer too, and it’s kind of hard being a kid with cancer because other kids don’t understand what it is,” Helfand said. 

Four years earlier, Wyatt was named the Foresters’ 2009 recipient just months after he was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma. One of Wyatt’s Little League coaches connected the Taylor family with Pintard, and Wyatt joined Hugs for Cubs shortly thereafter.

“I thought it was a great way to just keep Wyatt kind of having some fun and motivated, not just laying in a hospital bed,” said Michael Taylor, Wyatt’s father.

Similar to Samuel, Wyatt’s participation in Hugs for Cubs served as a distraction from the extensive chemotherapy and treatment he underwent for several months.

“We kind of joked that Wyatt was sort of a rock star when he went to the games,” Taylor said. “All the players went and greeted him; he was kind of like the focus of attention so he really loved it… He thrived on it a little bit, so it was a great, great distraction from what was going on.”

Being able to attend games as a family was a source of relief for the Helfand and Taylor families, who welcomed the opportunity to spend time together as a family outside of the house and away from medical facilities.

“They have different family activities they do at the game, so we would go to the games and it was a good chance to just sit and decompress and see Wyatt running around out there happy and give our other son something to do,” Taylor said. “It really was as much of a distraction for Wyatt as it was for us. It kind of gave us something to look forward to.”

More than 11 years after Wyatt was the Hugs for Cubs recipient and over seven years since Samuel’s initials were featured on the Foresters’ hats, both are now in remission. Wyatt later returned to the Foresters as an intern and Samuel helped out with one of the team’s Hall of Fame dinners. Both served as ambassadors of the Hugs for Cubs program.

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The impact of the program on Hugs for Cubs recipients and their families has been immeasurable, but the effect on Foresters players is significant as well.

The influence is clear to anyone who watches the Foresters play — “We have pretty good chemistry and we get it really quick. You know where it comes from? Going to hospitals, doing stuff for other kids,” Pintard said.

Several Foresters alumni who have made it to the pros still contribute to the Hugs for Cubs — for example, San Francisco Giants third baseman Conor Gillaspie sent autographed Giants memorabilia to a program participant who was a fan of the team, according to Songer.  

Many former players also honor Eric and Hugs for Cubs by wearing the number 19 on their jerseys. Aaron Bates, a Foresters alum who played in the majors and now serves as assistant hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers, honored him by writing “EP19” on his sign for a Stand Up To Cancer tribute during the 2020 World Series.

Taking part in Hugs for Cubs and visiting children in the hospital can teach just about any player the “power of love,” Pintard said.  

“I think this helps players build empathy for other people,” Helfand said. “I think the [players] would probably feel really good to brighten the day of kids going through such challenges… it’s about being human, and about baseball.”

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While the Foresters are one of the most storied teams in college summer baseball, their legacy is defined by Hugs for Cubs just as much as their play on the field.

Even though it isn’t easy to run a program like Hugs for Cubs while managing a full-fledged baseball club at the same time, the Foresters continue to do so, honoring Eric’s legacy and making a difference in the lives of children and families going through challenging times. 

“You know, we’ve lost kids,” Pintard said. “We put their initials on the back of the hats, and we’ve lost. And it’s devastating. It hurts, but with the good, it comes with the territory. If we can’t handle it, then we shouldn’t do it. But we’re not going to have that deter us.”

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To learn more about Hugs for Cubs and find out how you can contribute to the program, please visit http://www.sbforesters.org/Hugs%20For%20Cubs.html

December 12, 2020

By Hannah Yoshinaga, CCL Reporter

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Making improvements to a team that posted a 30-20 overall record in its most recent season isn’t easy, but the San Luis Obispo Blues still found ways to retool this offseason and set themselves up for success.

The Blues began preparing for their 75th season by bringing on former MLB pitcher Ted Lilly as president of baseball operations and adding Cuesta College head coach Bob Miller to their leadership group, alongside owner and general manager Adam Stowe.

While Lilly and Miller bring years of experience to the team, they also offer a local touch with their extensive knowledge of baseball on the California coast, which they hope will allow the Blues to continue growing both on the college summer ball stage and within the San Luis Obispo community.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Lilly in the 26th round of the MLB Draft, and he spent two years in the Dodgers’ farm system before being traded to the Montreal Expos. Lilly made his major league debut with the Expos, eventually moving on to the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics.

Lilly subsequently broke out with the Toronto Blue Jays, posting career-best win totals, making his first all-star team and even throwing a complete-game shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 2004. Five years later, the starter made his second All-Star team with the Chicago Cubs and pitched in the World Baseball Classic. He finished off his career with stints in the Dodgers’ and San Francisco Giants’ organizations before retiring in 2013.

Upon retiring, Lilly still wanted to spend the rest of his career working in baseball, prompting him to begin the player-to-coach transition. Lilly subsequently became one of Miller’s assistant coaches at Cuesta, located only a short drive away from the Blues’ home at Sinsheimer Stadium.

Lilly spent four years leading the Cuesta baseball program with Miller before he was brought into the Blues’ front office. Shortly after he was hired and tasked with choosing a new Blues head coach, Lilly knew exactly who his first choice for the role was.

“I like the way that I’ve seen him deal with young players — honestly, firmly, and at the same time, he cares about their development and he takes the responsibility that it is part of his duties to do everything that he can to help them progress, in the classroom as well as on the field, and it takes a lot of time,” Lilly said. “There’s a ton of commitment, and I’ve been around enough to see that it doesn’t always go that way. This was a unique individual with a very high level of passion for doing things the right way and being detail-oriented.”

Miller made his name as a coach within collegiate baseball circles, getting his first managerial experience as a coach in the Alaska Baseball League before becoming head coach at Cuesta for the last 18 years. At Cuesta, Miller has led the Cougars to over 400 wins, eight Western State Conference titles and 15 playoff berths.

After working side-by-side with Lilly at Cuesta, Miller knew Lilly would be a good partner to work with in the Blues organization.

“The rapport that we have, the friendship that we’ve built, his baseball experience is phenomenal,” Miller said. “He obviously has the history in the pitching department but he’s got a great eye for hitters and fielders and that type of thing. He keeps me in check, he keeps me making sure that I’ve got all my T’s crossed and my I’s dotted because he’s gonna come through and ask the questions, so I love it.”

The new partnership between Lilly, Miller and Stowe allows Lilly to focus on baseball operations while Miller manages on-field tasks and Stowe runs the business end of the Blues organization.

“We are thrilled with the addition of Ted Lilly and Bob Miller to the Blues family,” the Blues said in a statement. “Ted’s years of professional playing and scouting experience are invaluable assets to our organization. Bob Miller has consistently done an outstanding job at Cuesta and has ample experience in summer ball. We couldn’t be happier to have such a leader and role model for our players to follow. We have complete faith that those two will help raise the baseball portion of our operation to the next level and allow us to compete annually for CCL titles.”

In addition to revamping the Blues’ leadership structure, bringing on Lilly and Miller is part of the organization’s mission to grow its presence in the San Luis Obispo area. The Blues’ commitment to the local community further convinced Lilly that joining the Blues was the right decision.

“I figured through Adam’s vision and the work, the time commitment, that he’s put in, [San Luis Obispo baseball] changed,” Lilly said. “It changed significantly for the better, so that is one of the things that really ignited me, is kind of seeing that there was someone in place that was doing a very good job. I think that’s a pretty difficult thing to find, someone that is capable and willing to do that; it’s certainly not the most lucrative endeavor and it’s benefited our community greatly.”

With Lilly, Stowe and Miller at the helm, the Blues will work to maintain their status as a West Coast and CCL powerhouse.

In order to do so, Lilly said the trio will seek players who “are hungry to continue to play and exceed at the level they’re at” and match the culture of the team.

No matter who the team recruits or what previous experience players bring to the table, Miller hopes to ensure players get the most out of their summer with the Blues, improving on and off the field.

“We’re gonna recruit the best team we can and come prepared,” Miller said. “The good thing about baseball is not so much playing against the opponent, but playing against the game and controlling what you do well and so we’ll focus hard on doing what we do well.”

More than anything, Lilly and Miller believe the key to success for the Blues organization remains fostering a culture of improvement, prioritizing hard work and a development-oriented mindset instead of focusing purely on statistics and winning percentage.

“One of the things that Bob and I actually discussed recently is focusing on trying to prepare them to send back better players than they were when they got here,” Lilly said. “So with that, sometimes that may mean that we’re spending time working on an area that’s not a strength and that may impact wins and losses on the field for the Blues. Instead of just running them out there and letting it go, there’s a concept of trying to improve.”

Santa Barbara Foresters alum Garrett Crochet played baseball for the Tennessee Volunteers before he was drafted 11th overall by the Chicago White Sox in the 2020 MLB Draft. Crochet was later added to the White Sox’ active roster, making five appearances in the regular season. Crochet did not give up a run in any of those games. Crochet earned his way onto Chicago’s postseason roster as well, and he made a scoreless appearance in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card series against the Oakland A’s.

Orange County Riptide alum Caleb Kilian is a former Texas Tech pitcher who was part of the Big-12 All-Conference First Team in 2018 and 2019. As a Red Raider, Kilian also set a team record for posting the best record in Big-12 play after going 7-0 in 2019. Kilian was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 8th round of the 2019 MLB Draft and currently pitches for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, the Short-Season Class A affiliate of the Giants.

Healdsburg Prune Packers alum Steven Wilson pitched for the Santa Clara Broncos, where he earned All-Western Coast Conference Honors as a senior in 2018. Wilson went on to be drafted in the 8th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. Wilson posted a 2.67 ERA with the club in 2019 after pitching for both the Padres’ Advanced-A and AAA affiliates. He is currently assigned to the Amarillo Sod Poodles in the Texas League, the Padres’ AA team.

Conejo Oaks alum Jack Marder was an infielder at the University of Oregon before he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 16th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Marder spent four years in the Mariners’ minor league season, reaching as high as AA, before retiring and transitioning to coaching. Marder coached for the Stanford Cardinal and Keiser Seahawks before returning to become an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at his alma mater.