(SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA) – The San Luis Obispo Blues entered Friday’s opening game needing a victory to stay alive. And that’s exactly what they got, as a late-game comeback lifted the Blues to a dramatic 4-3 tenth-inning win over the Walnut Creek Crawdads.
Pitching was king early in Friday morning’s game, as the teams combined for five K’s and only two baserunners through the first two frames. Crawdads’ starter Mark Perkins (Rice) struck out eight and relinquished two hits in 7.0 innings. His counterpart Cameron Mabee (Illinois State) ended his 7.0 innings on the hill with seven strikeouts, six hits and three earned runs.
Crawdads’ second baseman Taison Corio (Cal Poly SLO), shortstop Cameron Calvillo (Ohlone College) and first baseman Brian DuRoff (Chabot College) helped keep the contest scoreless, putting together a 4-6-3 double play to end the first.
Blues’ first baseman Zachary Toglia (Utah) picked up the game’s first hit in the bottom of the fifth, extending the inning with a single.
Walnut Creek’s offense came to life during the next frame as Joseph Barnhardt (San Joaquin Delta College) and Coleman Schmidt (St. Mary’s) recorded consecutive base knocks. The ‘Dads finally broke through when DuRoff and Joey Donelly (UC Berkeley) singled and doubled respectively to bring in a run each and give the visitors a 2-0 advantage.
In the seventh inning, Schmidt smacked an RBI double into the center, scoring Cummings and extending the Crawdads’ lead to 3-0.
But San Luis Obispo battled back during the eighth, as Cole Gabrielson (USC) was hit by a pitch and Jake Simons (CSU – Northridge) doubled. Chase Gallegos (UNLV) then logged a double of his own, driving in two runs and narrowing the Crawdads’ lead to one. However, Walnut Creek’s defense then picked up three consecutive outs to stay ahead by a run.
With their backs against the wall in the ninth frame, the Blues continued rally when Kody Darcy (UTSA) reached via a single and capitalized on an error by ‘Dad’s third baseman Ryan Ellis (St. Mary’s) to reach second. Down to their final out, Gabrielson slammed an 0-1 pitch from Crawdads’ closer Gabe Tanner (Chabot College) into center field, scoring Darcy and sending the contest to extra innings.
The Blues’ left fielder said that keeping things simple allowed him to pick up the game-tying hit.
“Coming up in the ninth inning, two outs, obviously with a runner on second, not trying to do too much. First pitch I got I could handle and fouled it straight back, and kind of had an idea he [Tanner] was going to give me something to hit,” Gabrielson said. “And he left a slider up, put a good swing on it… I’m just glad I could pull through for my guys…”
With Casey Cummings as Walnut Creek’s ghost runner in the tenth, Jack Ben-Shoshan (Rice) was dinged by a pitch. However, Coleman Schmidt knocked a line drive right into the glove of Blues shortstop (name), who then tagged second base to complete a timely double play and keep the game tied.
In the tail-end of the inning, Jake Simons, the Blues’ extra inning runner, stole third before a wild pitch by Walnut Creek pitcher Noah Nordell (San Joaquin Delta College) allowed him to cross the dish, seal win the and keep his team in the tournament.
A big reason why the Blues remained within striking distance on Friday was reliever Kevin Lyons (CSU – Chico). Through 3.0 innings of work, the right-hander picked up a strikeout and walked a single Crawdad, and stated that his goal was to simply hold the opposition off the board.
“At that point when I went in, it was just ‘put up zeros and let the team make their way back into this game.’ We thought we were going to do it in the eighth, ended up doing it in the ninth… pretty happy because we played well today,” said Lyons.
When asked about his team’s mindset heading into their next game against the Riptide, San Luis Obispo manager Bob Miller said he expects the Blues to continue battling through adversity, something they’ve done for most of the season.
“It’s been a scrappy team for most of the year. We’ve hit a lot of roadblocks, but we’ve battled through those and look forward to the opportunity to continue to play and what the next game presents here for us, so we’re excited about doing it,” explained Miller.
While the Crawdads will head home after dropping two straight games, the Blues will face Orange County for the second contest of the day at 2:30 p.m. PST. Stay up-to-date on all the action by following the CCL’s Twitter and Instagram accounts, or tune into the league’s YouTube broadcast.
Impact Player of the Game: Cole Gabrielson (USC)
1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI
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(SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA) – In a rematch of the 2021 CCL State Championship Game, the Healdsburg Prune Packers faced off against the hosting San Luis Obispo Blues in a primetime matchup on the first day of the 2022 CCL State Championship Tournament. With 177 combined years of baseball between the two plays this game was nothing short of dramatic, with the advantage falling to the reigning champions as they defeated San Luis Obispo 8-3.
Healdsburg wasted no time scoring in the first, jumping out to an early lead.
Zac Vooletich (Texas Tech) drew a walk and Joey Kramer (CSUN) sent through a single to put two men on. Braydon Runion (New Mexico) then shot a double into the alley to bring both around to score.
The game stayed quiet until the bottom of the third, when Healdsburg struck again. With two outs, Runion picked up a single to extend the inning. Samuel Brown (Washington St.) then sent a long double of his own, bringing Runion around the score.
San Luis Obispo picked up their first run in the top half of the fifth inning. With two outs Jake Simmons (CSUN) sent a triple off of the center field wall. After an error by the Healdsburg shortstop, Simmons crossed the plate.
The Prune Packers responded quickly. With two outs Braydon Runion grabbed a single to reach base for the third time in the game. A double by Samuel Brown brought Runion around to score to keep their lead at three runs.
Caden Noah (UT Arlington) exited the game with one out in the seventh inning. After just over six innings in the game, Noah allowed only three hits and zero earned runs to put the Prune Packers in a position to win their first game of the tournament.
“To be honest my fastball command was pretty horrible, but my off-speed pitches were working,” Noah said. “Joey [Gomes] had a lot of faith in me to go out there game one and get the job done … I just thank Joey for giving me that opportunity.”
San Luis Obispo made the game interesting in the top of the eighth inning. Jake Simmons grabbed his second hit of the day with a double to lead off the inning. Tate Samuelson drove Simmons in with a two out double.
After advancing to third base on a wild pitch, Samuelson crossed the plate to bring the Blues within striking distance.
Healdsburg would not stay quiet for long, and refused to settle after giving up the pair of runs. Sam Hunt (Texas Tech) entered the game and immediately picked up a leadoff single. Lauden Brooks (Texas Tech) then reached base on an error as Hunt crossed home.
Jake Holcroft (Portland) drew a walk to load the bases, and Vooletich sent out a sacrifice fly to score Kimble Schuessler (Texas). Runion struck again one final time, driving in two runs with a single to extend the Prune Packers lead to five runs entering the final frame.
“Toward the end of the season I was kind of struggling, but something about the playoffs. Everything means a little bit more,” Runion said. “Just try to lock in that much more, help my team win it all again.”
Devin Kirby entered in relief in the second and threw just under three innings. One of his most dominant innings, however, was the top of the ninth inning. Kirby needed only 11 pitches to retire three batters in a row and strike out one on his way to closing out the game for good.
Braydon Runion said that this team has a true desire to become back-to-back champions. “It kind of started off a little bit slow … [Gomes] pressures on us to just keep going,” said Runion. “This being my last year out in Healdsburg, it’d be really nice to go out as a champion again.”
Prune Packers Head Coach and General Manager Joey Gomes spoke highly of sticking to a daily routine as a team.
“I’d like to credit just our daily routines,” Gomes explained. “Really, it’s just sticking to a really strict routine.”
Gomes also recognizes the importance of grabbing that first victory, and the importance of not becoming complacent afterward.
“The first thing that we all talked about when we got back there was the job’s not done,” Gomes stated. “But absolutely getting the first win is certainly nice.
The Prune Packers will play again on Friday at 7:00 p.m. PST against the Conejo Oaks, while the Blues will be back in action on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. PST in an elimination game against the Walnut Creek Crawdads. Follow the action on the CCL’s Twitter and Instagram pages, or tune into the broadcast on the CCL YouTube.
Impact Player of the Game: Braydon Runion (New Mexico)
Contributors:
(SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA) – The Conejo Oaks came int the 2022 CCL State Championship presented by Firestone Walker Brewing Company as the #1 seed and certainly played like it on Thursday, posting a six-run first inning en route to an 8-2 victory over the Orange County Riptide.
Conejo’s colossal opening frame began with Oregon teammates Tyler Ganus (Oregon) and Gavin Grant (Oregon) both reaching base via walks. Josiah Chavez (Cal Baptist) gave his squad a 2-0 lead when he knocked a two-RBI single into left-center field.
A groundout by Brendan Durfee and a single by AJ Salgado (UCLA) scored Chavez and Zach Daudet (Regis) respectively, adding a pair of runs. With two outs, Raul Sandoval (UC Davis) then sent a two-run shot over the center-field wall to put the Oaks up 6-0.
When asked about his first-inning bomb, Sandoval gave all the credit to Salgado, who beat out a throw for a tough infield single and kept the opening frame alive.
“Honestly, that home run wasn’t even on me,” recalled Sandoval. “That was good hustle on the batter before, he beat out a third to first, so he actually gave me a chance to get to the plate… Great job to him.”
Strong pitching from Riptide reliever Matthew Gaunt (Golden West College) helped stop the bleeding. The sophomore right-hander tossed two strikeouts while limiting Conejo to five hits and an unearned run through 6.0 innings pitched.
Orange County’s defense showed some flash in the fifth with two runners on, as second baseman Anthony Angel (CSU – Los Angeles) caught a line drive from Jack Brooks (Oregon) before tagging second, completing an impressive solo double play to end the inning.
Riptide catcher Jimmy Zakhar (Dayton) ended the shutout in the eighth when he slammed a solo home run into left, cutting the deficit to 7-1. However, Conejo responded in the bottom of the frame in the form of Tyler Ganus, who was hit by a breaking ball before stealing second and capitalizing on two wild pitches to cross home plate.
After a dominant start on the mound, Oaks’ starter Alexander Rivas was replaced by Charlie Adamson (Santa Barbara CC). Rivas dished out three K’s, relinquished seven hits and picked up the win in 8.0 innings of work. The Reseda, Calif. native said that he was ready to play in a high-stakes contest, but also praised his teammates for putting him in a good situation.
“Came in here today, it’s the biggest game of the summer, so came in here today competing… competed every single pitch,” Rivas said. “Obviously all my pitches were working today, but couldn’t have done it without my offense, and then my defense behind me, just making plays, getting me that confidence all day long.”
While Anthony Angel brought in Isaiah Morales (Saddleback CC) with an RBI double during the ninth, Adamson ultimately did his job, recording a strikeout, allowing two total baserunners and sealing an 8-2 victory for the Oaks.
After an impressive eight-run performance, Oaks’ manager David Soliz said he wants his team to continue stick with every pitch, something they’ve done for the entire season.
“What we’d like to carry over is the feeling the guys have of being with every pitch, every inning of every game. We’ve done that all summer and today we did it, and hopefully we carry that over tomorrow,” said Soliz.
The Oaks will square off against the winner of tonight’s the Healdsburg Prune Packers – San Luis Obispo Blues game tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. PST.
Be sure to follow the CCL on Twitter and Instagram or tune into the YouTube broadcast to stay up-to-date on all the playoff action.
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(SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA) – The 2022 CCL State Championship Tournament presented by Firestone Walker Brewery got kicked off on Thursday morning as the Crawdads took on the Riptide. The game was highly contested but the Riptide knocked the Crawdads off 6-4 to take the Wildcard Game.
Reed Schaefer (Arizona) took the mound in the bottom of the first, striking out two Crawdad batters.
“Fastball, felt good, curveball felt good, just felt good overall,” Schaefer stated.
The Riptide drew first blood, with Gavin Mez (UNLV) scoring after roping a double off of the left field wall.
Jack Ben-Shoshan (Rice) sent Walnut Creek’s first hit out into the right field for a single, but was picked off of first base on an impressive move by Schaefer.
The name of the game continued to be defense and pitching through the early stages. Walnut Creek had an acrobatic catch to record the second out of the third inning, and followed it up with a unique 1-6-3 double play in the fourth.
The Crawdads took the lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Ryan Brome (Texas Tech) led off the inning with a single. Brome was then brought around to score after Ryan Ellis (St. Mary’s College) singled to put men on first and third.
The Riptide picked off Ellis for their second of the day, but in that effort Jack Ben-Shoshan took home as the inning ended.
The Riptide took the lead back in the fifth, as back-to-back hits by Isaiah Morales (Saddleback CC) and Gavin Haimovitz (Uncommitted) put two men in scoring position.
Sacrifice flies off the bats of Shane Taylor (Dixie St. College) and Santino Panaro (UNLV) brought the pair around to score and restore the one run lead for Orange County.
Walnut Creek threatened again in the bottom half of the inning. Casey Cummings (Univ. of San Diego) walked to start the inning, and Zachary Teijerio (Uncommitted) reached on error while bunting to move Cummings over.
A balk put the duo on second and Ryan Brome drove in a run of his own with a sacrifice fly ball to center field.
Only one scoreless frame happened before the Riptide regained the lead in the seventh. Isaiah Morales got the party started, sending a single into shallow right center. Shane Taylor then ripped a single of his own, bringing Morales around to take the lead.
Walnut Creek refused to roll over in the bottom half. Coleman Schmidt (St. Mary’s College) one hopped a ball off the center field wall to begin the inning. Ryan Brome then picked up his second RBI in three innings, tying the game up.
This game was back and forth the entire time, and the eighth inning was no different. Blake Penso (UC Irvine) led off the inning with his first hit of the game. After getting around the third, Isaiah Morales picked up his third hit of the game as Penso took back the lead.
“I was struggling for a while actually,” Morales said. “I just wanted to clear my head, simplify it. Hit the ball hard, anything that I can do to help.”
The final run was scored in the top of the ninth by Orange County. Santino Panaro reached base on an error with one out. Panaro took second with a steal, and Dominic Souto (Cal Berkeley) shot a single through the gap in the left side to put the final nail in the coffin.
Matt Maloney (New Mexico St.) earned his first save of the postseason. Entering the game in the bottom of the ninth and striking out one en route.
Striking out seven batters, Reed Schaefer was ecstatic to have received the ball for the Wildcard Game. “It felt good, knowing that I was gonna come out first game of the playoffs,” Schaefer said.
Schaefer and Morales both placed importance on the team playing loose, saying that this is something they have done lately and is part of their success.
Orange County Head Coach Tim Brown was proud of the way that his team played in the game. “It was a little bit different for us getting up at 7:30 in the morning,” Brown said. “We came out, we were focused, played good defense, and got pretty good pitching.”
Brown was also excited for Gavin Mez, who got his first double of the year in the game against Walnut Creek. “He’s been one of my most prolific hitters but it’s all been singles,” Brown stated. “That’s what we had, we had two or three really timely doubles today. It made a big difference.”
The Riptide will play their second game of the tournament at 2:30 pm PST against the Conejo Oaks on Thursday, August 4.
The Crawdads will be back in action on the fifth of August at 10:00 am PST.
Follow the CCL on Twitter and Instagram to follow along with the games, or tune into the broadcast on the CCL Youtube!
Impact Player of the Game: Isaiah Morales (Saddleback CC)
Contributors:
(SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA) – Five teams will compete in a double-elimination tournament capped off by a winner-take-all title game to determine who will take home the 2022 CCL State Championship presented by Firestone Walker Brewing Company.
COMPTON, CA – The CCL’s talent was on full display Wednesday evening during the 2022 CCL Showcase Game presented by ABDG. Nominees from all 11 teams headed to the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif. to showcase their skills in front of fans, scouts and a national audience on Bally Sports TV. Several key defensive plays along with offensive contributions from shortstop Miguel Santos (Foresters, Dallas Baptist) and right fielder Tyler Ganus (Oaks, Oregon) helped the South Division blank their counterparts from the North 2-0.
Santos’ clutch homer to extend the South’s lead to 2-0 earned him Offensive Player of the Game honors. Shortstop Kyson Donahue (Saints, Hawaii) won Defensive Player of the Game as he made two big assists to help keep the North Division off of the scoresheet. Receiving Pitcher of the Game honors was Matthew Maloney (Riptide, New Mexico State), who recorded three strikeouts while relinquishing two hits in an inning of work.
Jared Sundstrom (Prune Packers, UC Santa Barbara) and second baseman Hunter Baldwin (Mudcats, Harvard) also shined for the North Division during Wednesday’s game. Sundstrom went 1-2 at the plate with a double while Baldwin finished the evening with five assists, two putouts and a part in all three of his team’s double plays.
Much like last year, it quickly became apparent that both teams’ defenses came ready to play; the sides combined for one base knock, one walk and four strikeouts through the first two frames.
The contest opened up in the third when Ganus reached first due to an error by shortstop Alex Gouveia (Stompers, UC Davis). After third baseman Drew Cowley (Saints, Oregon) and catcher Griffin Everitt (Foresters, Nebraska) both picked up base hits, a fielders’ choice allowed Ganus to score and put the South Division up 1-0.
Despite giving up a run, the North Division got out of the half-inning in style, as Baldwin, Gouveia and first baseman JT Waldon (Potters, Undecided) combined for a flashy 4-6-3 double play.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Gouveia and center fielder Jake Holcroft (Prune Packers, Portland) picked up the North Division’s first two hits. However, Maloney’s third strikeout of the inning helped keep the opposition off of the scoresheet. The junior right-hander stated that he was successful on the mound because his main goal was to “fill up the zone and throw strikes.”
The South Division threatened to score again in the fourth when first baseman Gavin Kash (Foresters, Texas Tech) doubled and center fielder TC Simmons (Riptide, Connecticut) drew a walk. Donahue then popped out before the Baldwin, Gouveia and Waldon trio struck again, combining for another inning-ending double play.
Relief pitcher Chris Stamos (Saints, California) was called upon in the sixth to preserve his team’s narrow 1-0 lead. And the left-hander did just that, retiring three of the four batters he faced in a dominant inning pitched. The North Division got their lone base knock of the frame when third baseman Trey Furrey (Potters, Oklahoma Baptist) sent a single into center field.
Both sides’ offenses then stayed quiet until the ninth, as there were only two hits during the sixth and seventh innings, both from the CCL South.
However, the final frame of the contest proved to be the most exciting. In his second at-bat of the evening, Santos launched a leadoff home run off of the left field scoreboard to increase the South Division’s lead to two. The Fort Worth, Texas native recalled that he saw the pitch all the way but initially wasn’t sure his homer had enough height on it.
“I saw it [the first pitch] pretty well, so I was just thinking low middle. [Davis] threw a slider outside and I put a swing on it. I didn’t know if it was going to be high enough but luckily it was,” said Santos.
Second baseman/pinch hitter Kamau Neighbors (Barons, Long Beach CC) followed up the homer by slamming a single over North Division second baseman Ryan Ellis’ (Crawdads, St. Mary’s) head. But Neighbors’ most impactful play came in the tail end of the inning.
After closer Nick Proctor (Foresters, California) picked up two straight K’s and was replaced by Aaron Rosales (Barons, Santa Anna College), first baseman Ryan DuRoff (Crawdads, Chabot) and designated hitter Cole Santander (Mudcats, Long Beach State) drew consecutive walks to keep the game going. The next batter, Ellis, sent the second pitch he saw sailing into right-center field. Standing in the way, however, was Neighbors, who leapt up and made a miraculous grab in midair, sealing the victory for the South Division.
Following the conclusion of the Showcase Game, the teams will enter into a two-week stretch leading up to the CCL State Championship presented by Firestone Walker Brewing Company, which is set to take place from August 4-6.
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CCL North Division:
Healdsburg Prune Packers: 27-5 overall, 6-0 Week 6
The Prune Packers once again achieved perfection this season, going undefeated in Week 6 and winning against the Mudcats, Crawdads, Novato Knicks and Stompers three times.
A major contributor to the Packers’ offense this week was Carson Crawford (California). In 14 at-bats, the sophomore infielder recorded six hits, a home run, and eight RBI. Samuel Brown (Portland) also had a big week at the plate, as he went 11-23, scored three runs and drove in seven more.
Right-hander Mason Dillow (Virginia) was a strike-throwing machine for Healdsburg, picking up nine K’s and only relinquishing three hits in 5.1 innings pitched. Jason Franks (Cal Poly – SLO) maintained a perfect 0.00 ERA on the season in 4.0 innings during week 6, as he struck out seven batters and only conceded two hits.
The Packers will open up Week 7 in Walnut Creek on Sunday before heading to Sonoma on Monday. Healdsburg will then return home for three games against the Potters, West Coast Kings and Stompers.
Lincoln Potters: 28-15 overall, 5-1 Week 6
Week 6 was Lincoln’s most successful since opening their season with a 12-2 record. After a 16-5 drubbing by the Foresters, Lincoln defeated the Crawdads, Mudcats and Medford Rogues three times.
Nolan McCarthy (Kentucky) was nothing short of electric for Lincoln over their last six games. The Kalamazoo, Michigan native went 7-18 with two bombs, four runs and seven RBI. Infielder JT Waldon (Undecided) continued to put up solid numbers, going 6-19, scoring five runs and bringing in two more.
On the mound, Kaden Riccomini (UC Davis) made the most of his 6.0 innings pitched in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Medford. The right-hander recorded eight strikeouts, three hits against and only one earned run. Ryan Sturgeon (LSU – Shreveport) shined on the mound during Week 6, recording three strikeouts and limiting the opposition to one hit in 6.1 innings.
The Potters will play the Packers as well as the Crawdads and Stompers twice each during Week 7.
Sonoma Stompers: 12-21 overall, 2-4 Week 6
Sonoma opened and closed Week 6 with victories over West Coast Kings and Crawdads. However, the games in between didn’t go the Stompers’ way, as they were bested by the Mudcats and Packers three times.
Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) stayed hot at the plate this week, going 8-17 with six runs and driving in eight more. Michael Bell (Cal Poly – SLO) was another impact player on offense for Sonoma, as he also recorded a team-leading eight hits while contributing two runs and five RBI.
Despite pitching being his secondary position, Alex Leopard (Santa Rose JC) led the Stompers in K’s during week six, retiring five batters in 2.0 innings on the hill. Noah Larkin (Cal Poly – SLO) was also solid through 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits, conceding two earned runs and picking up three strikeouts.
Next week, Sonoma will take on the Menlo Park Legends, Packers twice and Potters twice.
Walnut Creek Crawdads: 19-15 overall; 1-5 Week 6
The Walnut Creek Crawdads opened their week with a tough 9-6 loss against the Blues. They were able to come back stronger the next game against the Mudcats and won 16-3. Unfortunately, they could not start a winning streak as they lost against the Mudcats in the next contest 6-1. The Crawdads had a tough outing against the Packers losing 12-0 before dropping a game against the Potters 4-2. They ended their week with a close game against the Stompers, but lost 4-3.
Despite a week of many tough losses, Coleman Schmidt (St Mary’s College) won many battles at the plate. Schmidt is a consistent hitter for the Crawdads and this past week, he hit two bombs. He has had an impressive season and has a total of nine home runs and 32 RBI.
The Crawdads will begin Week 7 with a game against the Packers on Sunday the 17th at 12:03 pm.
Solano Mudcats: 13-18 overall, 3-2 Week 6
The Solano Mudcats had a solid five games with a 3-2 record for week 6. They opened up their week against the Packers but lost 8-2. They went on to play the Crawdads and lost 16-3 but beat them the next game 6-1. They finished their week with a loss to the Potters, 10-2.
Hunter Baldwin (Harvard) has proved himself again this week with an RBI in the Mudcats’ game against the Potters and many singles throughout the week. On the mound, Caleb Davis (San Joaquin Delta) has been a strong player with four strikeouts during the Mudcats’ win over the Stompers.
Solano will begin a new week with a game on the 18th against the WC Kings.
CCL South Division:
Santa Barbara Foresters (21-10 overall, 5-0 Week 6)
The Foresters were another perfect team during Week 6, winning all five of their games. Santa Barbara picked up victories over the Potters, Riptide, Barons and Saints twice.
Gavin Kash (Texas Tech) was explosive on offense for the Foresters this week, going a combined 8-17 with six runs, 10 RBI and 3 homers. Infielder Will Pendergrass (Louisiana – Lafayette) had an exceptional performance in Santa Barbara’s 12-0 win over the Barons. In three ABs, the Missouri City, Texas native logged two hits, three runs, four RBI and a bomb.
Nick Griffin (Arkansas) appeared nearly unhittable in 4.0 innings, as the Fayetteville, Ark. native struck out five batters while only conceding a single hit. Senior left-hander Graham Osman (Arizona State) was also solid on the mound this week, picking up four K’s and allowing one hit through 5.0 innings pitched.
Santa Barbara is set to take on the Blues, Oaks, Barons and Riptide twice next week.
San Luis Obispo Blues (16-20 Overall, 4-2 Week 6)
The Blues started Week 6 with an interleague matchup against the Crawdads, defeating them 9-6 on Sunday. They then traveled to Orange County, Calif. and fell to the Riptide in a close 2-1 game. They followed that up with a 14-6 win in the second game of the road trip down to Great Park. They took home their second straight win in a home game against the Barons with a 9-5 victory. The streak was not made complete when they were shutout 8-0 by the Oaks on Friday night. They ended the week with a win, defeating the Saints 7-6 back home at Sinsheimer Park on Saturday evening.
Kody Darcy (UTSA) and Nathan Cmeyla (Dartmouth College) carried the Blues to one of their best weeks all season. Darcy had seven hits, three RBIs, and scored twice in 17 at bats. Cmeyla did not want to bested, grabbing eight hits, five RBIs, and scoring four times in 20 at bats. Cameron Mabee (Illinois St.) was the best pitcher for the Blues in Week 6. Mabee picked up a win in his outing against the Saints, throwing 7.0 innings and striking out five with only one earned win.
San Luis Obispo will have matchups against the Oaks and Foresters next week.
Orange County Riptide (15-14 Overall, 2-3 Week 6)
The Riptide began the week by traveling to Compton, Calif. and falling to the Barons 8-6 on Sunday. They followed that up by hosting the Blues back home at Great Park and defeating them 2-1 in a low scoring affair Tuesday night. On Wednesday they hosted San Luis Obispo for the second game of the set, and lost a high scoring affair against the Blues 14-6. Orange County headed up to Pershing Park in Santa Barbara, Calif. and faced off against the Foresters in a Friday night matchup, falling 10-6. The Riptide rounded out their week in Thousand Oaks, Calif. for a late afternoon game against the Oaks, and defeated them with ease 8-1.
Nathan Smith (Tennessee) was getting hits left and right for Orange County, picking up nine in 17 at bats. He also drove in two runs and scored twice during the week. Blake Penso (UC Irvine) also made a huge impact, picking up six hits in 17 at bats while driving in two runs of his own and scoring four times. Matt Maloney (New Mexico St.) was the pitcher of the week for the Riptide, earning his fourth win of the season giving up no runs in his outing.
The Riptide will play the Oaks, the Foresters, and the Saints in Week 7.
Conejo Oaks (17-10 Overall, 3-2 Week 6)
The Saints led off Week 6 with a tough 7-5 loss against the Saints on Sunday afternoon. They bounced back against the Saints during a Tuesday night away game, winning 10-8. They then went back home and beat the Barons 9-1 on Wednesday. The win streak continued against the Blues on Friday night, shutting them out 8-0. Their good fortune ran out on Saturday night, losing 9-1 to the Riptide at home in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Brendan Durfee (Cal Lutheran) was the batting leader for the Oaks in Week 6, picking up seven hits in 16 at bats. He also hit one homerun and drove in five runs. Gavin Grant (Oregon) was the main producer for the Oaks, with one homerun and six RBIs. He also picked up six hits and scored four times. Michael Alan Stanford (College of the Desert) was on fire for the Oaks, throwing 6.0 innings and giving up no runs to earn one of the Oaks wins.
The Oaks will face off against the Riptide, Foresters, and Blues in the coming week.
Arroyo Seco Saints: 12-16 Overall; 1-5 Week 6
The Arroyo Seco Saints had a difficult week of games. The Saints played six games in a row this past week and have been challenged as a team. They opened up their week with a game against the Conejo Oaks on the 10th and beat the Oaks, 7-5. They were able to have Monday off before heading into back-to-back games. On Tuesday the 12th they played the Oaks again but lost 10-8. The Saints went on to play two games against the Foresters on the 13th and 14th and lost the first one, 7-3, and the second one, 9-7. The next day the Saints played the Barons and lost a tough close game 4-3. They ended their long week with a game against the Blues and like their previous game the day before, fell short only by one run, losing 7-6.
Wichita State Shockers Cooper Harris (Wichita State) and Jordan Rogers (Wichita State) have continued to be all-around players for the Saints and performed well again this week. Harris has been consistent all season behind the plate and this past week has even improved his hitting with 2 RBIs this past week. Jordan Rogers had another outstanding week and one of his highlights from these past games was when he sent the first pitch of the game over the fence for a solo home run against the Foresters.
The Arroyo Seco Saints will open Week 7 with a game against the Barons on July 17th at 6:05 pm.
Academy Barons: 10-16 overall; 2-4 Week 6
The Academy Barons went 2-4 this past week and struggled to win games. As the season is coming to an end the Barons are pushing through but had a difficult week. They opened up with a win against the Riptide, 8-6, but lost the next game against the Oaks, 9-1. They faced the Blues the following day but were not able to pull off a win, losing 9-5. They got their second win against the Saints, 4-3, but ended their week with a rough game against the Foresters losing 12-0.
Kamau Neighbors (Long Beach CC) was a standout player this week with several big hits and an RBI in the game against the Blues. In that same game Evan Adolphus (Cypress) also had a great day on the mound with four strikeouts and put in the work for the Barons.
They will go on to start the new week with a game against the Arroyo Seco Saints.
July 16, 2022
The California Collegiate League Showcase Game Selection Committee has announced the participants for the 2022 CCL Showcase Game presented by the Amateur Baseball Development Group (ABDG):
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Team Designations // MLB – MLB Academy Barons, AS – Arroyo Seco Saints, CON – Conejo Oaks, HLD – Healdsburg Prune Packers, LIN – Lincoln Potters, OCR – Orange County Riptide, SLO – San Luis Obispo Blues, SBF – Santa Barbara Foresters, SOL – Solano Mudcats, SON – Sonoma Stompers, WCC – Walnut Creek Crawdads
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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