(LOS ANGELES, CA) The California Collegiate League has announced the 2024 CCL All-League and All-Divisional selections.
Three teams garnered six all-league sections: the 2024 CCL State Champion Conejo Oaks, the 2024 North Division regular season champion Walnut Creek Crawdads, and Arroyo Seco Saints. The Santa Barbara Foresters and Orange County Riptide both captured four selections, followed by the San Luis Obispo Blues (3), the Sonoma Stompers (2), and the MLB Academy Barons (1). Thirty-two players in total earned all-league honors.
David Soliz, manager of the Oaks, was named the 2024 CCL Coach of the Year. The league named the Crawdads’ Brant Cummings General Manager of the Year.
2024 CCL All-League
2024 CCL All-North Division
2024 CCL All-South Division
The Conejo Oaks are the 2024 CCL State Champions afters wins of 7-2 and 4-0 over the North Division champion Walnut Creek Crawdads.
Sophomore Collin Clarke, a 6’3” right-handed pitcher from Oregon, was named Most Outstanding Pitcher for the series. Clarke hurled eight strikeouts in seven shutout innings In Game 2 of the CCL State Championship
Senior outfielder Austin Carillo’s four RBI in Game 1 helped him garner Most Outstanding Player honors.
The Oaks, the South Division champions, finished the regular season 25-12, followed by a 9-2 win over the Orange County Riptide in the Divisional Round to earn a spot in this year’s playoff finale.
The Oaks last won the CCL crown in 2018.
Quoted
Oaks’ manager David Soliz was asked by CCL Reporter Kirin Costa what this championship meant to him.
“Oh, wow. You know, it means a lot it. Well, we talked to the guys on the first day and, you know, it’s about helping your team win and develop as a player and enjoy your summer.
You know, there’s a lot of people their age on both teams…enjoying their summers at the beach. These guys give up a lot of time, you know, to try to improve themselves as players and so it kind of validates that you know, win or lose. It was a productive summer, but it just means a lot to our team, our staff, our support staff to our management. It just means a lot to the organization.”
The Oaks allowed just two runs in two games.
“Well credit to Brant [Cummings, Manager] and the Crawdads. Brant does a really nice job every year. He has a really nice roster every single year and the quality of play on the other end was, you know, credit to them.
We came out and we had two really good starts, you know with Cole [Fisher] yesterday then Collin today. That helped get us going, and just being a little bit more, you know, consistent on the mound. That’s really what propelled us this is weekend.”
Soliz has managed the Oaks for over 15 years. This is what he had to say about this year’s club.
“This group, we said after the second week amongst coaches, it’s a really fun group to be around. They come early. They put their work, and we do a lot of early work, and they just really enjoy being around each other.”
Updated: August 4, 2024 – 12:19 p.m.
(LOS ANGELES, CA) Following the conclusion of another exciting college summer baseball regular season in California, the 2024 CCL Postseason picture is set:
2024 CCL Postseason
(LOS ANGELES, CA) The California Collegiate League’s annual midsummer classic—the CCL Showcase Game—is coming to the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif. on Wednesday, July 17. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST. Catch the action live on Bally Sports Regional Networks across the country. Veteran play-by-play broadcaster and radio host, Chris Sylvester, and color analyst Keith Ramsey, will be on the call.
The CCL Showcase Game will feature the league’s premier players representing top college and universities from across the nation. USA Baseball will host a player combine for professional scouts and college coaches beginning at 2:30 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., the CCL’s top sluggers will compete in a three-round home run derby.
Two World Series Champions will be leading their division’s respective squads. Former Los Angeles Dodger and current skipper for the CCL’s MLB Academy Barons, Kenny Landreaux, will manage the South Division. Landreaux caught the final out as the Dodgers topped the New York Yankees four games to two to capture the MLB title in 1981. Dean Treanor, a member of the Florida Marlins’ 2003 World Series coaching staff and current headman for the CCL’s San Luis Obispo Blues, will lead the North Division.
Players of the game will be announced at the conclusion of the showcase.
The MLB Youth Academy is located on the campus of Compton College at 901 E Artesia Blvd, Compton, CA 90221. Tickets are available at the door for $5.
(LOS ANGELES, CA) After celebrating the league’s 30th season in 2023, the California Collegiate League is pleased to announce the 2024 season schedule. Every league member will play a minimum of 30 league games. Opening Night of this year’s campaign is slated for Thursday, June 6, as 10 clubs will be in action:
The nationally ranked Santa Barbara Foresters begin the CCL summer season on the road against a new addition to the North Division, the San Luis Obispo Blues, on June 8.
The CCL will again feature two divisions across the state of California:
The annual CCL All-Star Game, a showcase of the league’s most outstanding players, is slated for Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif.
The 2024 edition of the CCL Postseason will again feature a Wild Card Round and Divisional Championship Game followed by a best two-out-of-three series to determine the 2024 CCL State Champion. The finale to the 2024 season will be played in the North Division at a location to be determined.
Inter division games will count toward league standings for the first time in recent years, with postseason standings determined by winning percentage.
The Foresters and Blues will continue their longstanding rivalry facing each other eight times this season. The Walnut Creek Crawdads will make a trip to the South Division to face the Saints and Riptide. The Foresters will play host to the Legends, while San Luis Obispo will again face-off against traditional South Division foes.
The CCL welcomes four new affiliate organizations from San Francisco to San Diego: the San Francisco Sea Gulls and Alameda Merchants in the North Division and the Ventura County Pirates and San Diego Sunrays in the South Division.
SELECTIONS BY POSITION
CATCHERS
Brendan Durfee – CO
Nolan Wilson – LP
Omar Gastelum – SS
FIRST BASE
Jake Tandy – SM
Ryan Brome – WCC
Eamonn Lance – SBF
SECOND BASE
Hunter Dorraugh – HPP
Ryan Ellis – WCC
Connor McGuire – OCR
THIRD BASE
Raider Tello – AS
Jeff Hoffman – SM
SHORTSTOP
Kamau Neighbor – MLB
Matt King – WCC
UTILITY
Zach Chamizo – LP
Will Rogers – SBF
OUTFIELD
Robbie Hamchuk – HPP
Jay Burden – SS
Cameron Nickens – HPP
Max Belyeu – SBF
Damian Bravo – HPP
McCabe Moyer – CO
Max Blessinger – AS
Cole Fellows – WCC
Patrick Hackworth – OCR
DESIGNATED HITTER
Connor Charpiot – HPP
Dylan Lina – MLB
PITCHERS
Starting Pitchers
Chris Stamos – HPP
Tyler Valdez – OCR
Ben Bybee – SBF
Myles Patton – HPP
Fisher Johnson – SLO
Caleb Reyes – AS
Jack Kirrer – OCR
Carter Herrera – AS
Combination Pitchers
Sean Youngerman – SBF
Carson Turnquist – SBF
Robert Aivazian – HPP
Relief Pitchers
Jacob Henderson – AS
Brian McBroom – HPP
Arthur Stienkamp – LP
Boston Warkentin – SLO
Sean Fitzpatrick – WCC
Cade Cushing – WCC
Aidan Colin – SS
Kevin Warunek – AS
Hayden Lewis – AS
SELECTIONS BY TEAM
MLB Academy Barons: Kamau Neighbor, SS // Dylan Lina, DH
Arroyo Seco Saints: Raider Tello, 3B // Max Blessinger, OF // Caleb Reyes, RHP // Carter Herrera, RHP // Jacob Henderson, RHP // Kevin Warunek, RHP // Hayden Lewis, RHP
Conejo Oaks: Brendan Durfee, C // McCabe Moyer, OF
Healdsburg Prune Packers: Hunter Dorraugh, 2B // Robbie Hamchuk, OF // Cameron Nickens, OF // Damian Bravo, OF // Connor Charpiot, DH // Chris Stamos, LHP // Myles Patton, LHP // Robert Aivazian, RHP // Brian McBroom, RHP
Lincoln Potters: Nolan Wilson, C // Zach Chamizo, UTL // Arthur Stienkamp, LHP
Orange County Riptide: Connor McGuire, 2B // Patrick Hackworth, OF // Tyler Valdez, RHP // Jack Kirrer, RHP
San Luis Obispo Blues: Fisher Johnson, RHP // Boston Warkentin, RHP
Santa Barbara Foresters: Eamonn Lance, 1B // Will Rogers, UTL // Max Belyeu, OF // Ben Bybee, RHP // Sean Youngerman, RHP // Carson Turnquist, RHP
Solano Mudcats: Jake Tandy, 1B // Jeff Hoffman, 3B
Sonoma Stompers: Omar Gastelum, C // Jay Burden, OF // Aidan Colin, RHP
Walnut Creek Crawdads: Ryan Brome, 1B // Ryan Ellis, 2B // Matt King, SS // Cole Fellows, OF // Sean Fitzpatrick, LHP // Cade Cushing, RHP
TEAM DESIGNATIONS
MLB – MLB Academy Barons
AS – Arroyo Seco Saints
CO – Conejo Oaks
HPP – Healdsburg Prune Packers
LP – Lincoln Potters
OCR – Orange County Riptide
SLO – San Luis Obispo Blues
SBF – Santa Barbara Foresters
SM – Solano Mudcats
SS – Sonoma Stompers
WCC – Walnut Creek Crawdads
By CCL Reporter Sean Brennan
(THOUSAND OAKS, CA) – For the third straight year, the CCL State Championship belongs to the ‘Burg.
After dropping the first contest of the best-of-three CCL 30 State Championship Series against the Arroyo Seco Saints, the Healdsburg Prune Packers pulled off a gutsy, come-from-behind victory in Game 2, setting the stage for a winner-take-all Game 3. With nine innings separating the Packers from cementing their dynasty and bringing a third title back to Healdsburg, head coach Joey Gomes’ message to his team was simple – he urged them to “Empty the clip” and give 110% on the field.
And the Packers, the CCL North Division’s regular-season champion with a 26-9 league record, did just that. Despite the score being tied at two after five innings, the Packers’ offense came to life during the two ensuing frames, plating a combined six runs en route to an 8-5, title-clinching win.
“This is a really resilient group,” Gomes said. “With the amount of injuries and guys that came in and out, the core stayed together, and the resiliency and how much fun these guys have playing the game [stuck out to me].”
From the get-go, the Packers had their work cut out for them. Starting on the hill for the Saints was right-hander Carter Herrera (Cal State Fullerton), who tossed 6.0 scoreless innings in Arroyo Seco’s 1-0 CCL 30 Divisional Round victory against the Orange County Riptide. Herrera’s regular season numbers very much reflect those of his first playoff appearance, as the Calimesa, Calif. native pitched to a 2.00 ERA and 0.86 WHIP this summer while striking out 35 in 36.0 innings of work, a resumé deserving of the nod when the first CCL State trophy in franchise history up for grabs.
It appeared Herrera’s momentum had carried over from the Divisional Round early on, with the rising sophomore retiring the side in the first. Healdsburg would break through a frame later, posting a three-hit second highlighted by an RBI single from infielder Peyton Schulze (Cal).
The lead was short-lived. In the third, Arroyo Seco outfielder Kyte McDonald (Rice) drove in fellow outfielder Max Blessinger (Belmont), who doubled and reached third on an error. McDonald, much like Herrera, played a major role in his team’s hard-fought Divisional win, hitting the fifth-inning solo shot that punched the Saints’ ticket to the title round.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the pendulum would swing once again during the fifth courtesy of Healdsburg infielder Hunter Dorraugh, one of five San Jose State Spartans on the Prune Packers’ roster. Leading off the frame, Dorraugh unloaded on a 2-1 pitch, sending a majestic, 388-foot, 102 mph blast off the bat sailing over the left-field wall – against the wind – to give Healdsburg a 2-1 advantage. But this wasn’t nearly the first big moment the Vacaville, Calif. delivered this postseason. In four playoff games, Dorraugh totaled seven hits with two home runs and six RBI in 16 at-bats, earning him CCL 30 Postseason Most Outstanding Player honors.
“The goal when you do everything is to win,” Dorraugh said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity Joey Gomes has given to me to come out here and develop as a player, and to be able to make a great relationship with those guys… I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The Saints would again tie the score in the bottom of the 5th inning, but the Packers’ bats had found their groove. Outfielder Robbie Hamchuk (San Jose State), Healdsburg’s second hitter of the sixth inning, set the tone with a one-out triple and later cashed in thanks to a sacrifice fly from Dorraugh. Infielder Connor Charpiot (Long Beach State), another focal point of the Packers’ offense, extended the lead with an RBI double.
Charpiot’s dominant performance in the postseason didn’t come as a surprise, as he claimed the CCL regular season batting title with a .410 average in 83 at-bats. Throughout the playoffs, he continued to deliver, hitting .500 in 14 at-bats and recording three-hit performances in Games 2 and 3. And for Charpiot, the key to success was remaining consistent in his approach.
“[My approach] wasn’t changed from the season,” Charpiot said. “You’ve got to treat it like any other game and luckily, it worked out for me.”
Healdsburg struck again in the seventh, scoring three more runs, but the offense was only part of the equation throughout the game’s late innings.
After Packers starter Caden Bugarske (Concordia) held Arroyo Seco to one run in three innings – a solid outing against a Saints’ offense that has been among the league’s best all season long – Healdsburg looked to its bullpen, which has proved a major asset of late. During the first two contests of the State Championship series, the Packers’ relievers didn’t allow a single earned run, keeping their squad within striking distance in both games.
Right-handed reliever Michael Rice (San Jose State), who succeeded Bugarske on Sunday, was named the postseason’s Most Outstanding Pitcher. Rice was key in the bullpen holding Arroyo Seco scoreless in the final four innings of Game 2, tossing three strikeouts in three scoreless innings. During the series finale, he faced the minimum in his first frame of work before running into trouble the next time he took the mound. Despite this, Rice played well enough to earn his fourth win of the summer.
While imperfect in Game 3, allowing four runs – three of which came on a three-run homer from outfielder Connor Bradshaw (Pepperdine) in the eighth – the bullpen did its job, as five different arms combined to prevent Arroyo Seco from erasing the lead Healdsburg’s offense had built.
Right-hander Grant Cherry (Long Beach State) entered the game in the fifth inning and immediately made his presence felt, retiring each of the first three batters he saw. In total, Cherry tossed 3.0 innings of one-run ball, striking out five batters in the process. Following short stints from righties Brian McBroom (New Mexico) and Charpiot, who also contributed on the mound – reliever Gary Hall (San Jose State) picked up a strikeout and save, completing the Packers’ memorable championship run.
“Every single one, a tip of the cap to those guys,” Gomes said. “Grant Cherry was just the nail in the coffin, to kind of extend us and get the ball to Gary Hall, who just threw the heck out of it.”
What makes this year’s title so much sweeter is the fact that it sealed a back-to-back-to-back CCL State Championships for the Packers, one of the most demanding accomplishments in sports. Most players, new or returning, cherished contributing to this special moment.
“I mean, it’s great,” Charpiot said. “I grew up around Healdsburg. And seeing them win the last few years, now that I finally get to be a part of it, it’s great.”
The Healdsburg Prune Packers cap off the California Collegiate League’s 30th season in style—State Champs for a third consecutive time.
CCL 30 Postseason Most Outstanding Player: INF Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State)
CCL 30 Postseason Most Outstanding Pitcher: RHP Michael Rice (San Jose State)
Photo Credit: Christina Thai
By CCL Reporter Dylan Wickman
The Healdsburg Prune Packers, defending CCL champions of the last two seasons, found themselves in vulnerable territory Saturday in George “Sparky” Anderson Field. They trailed 4-2 in the seventh inning with their hopes of a threepeat threatened to be washed away by the Arroyo Seco Saints, a team determined to taste the glory of a champion for the first time in franchise history. However, the Packers, knowing they had to leave all their chips on the table, came crashing back, scoring three runs in the inning before holding on to the crucial win to keep their season alive.
“We’re pretty good with our back against the wall,” Prune Packers head coach Joey Gomes said. “I told (the team) a couple of stories that we’re no strangers to this deal down here, that we have lost on the first day too many times, but sometimes adversity and pressure (makes) you come together, and the guys came together, and we played nine solid innings today.”
Healdsburg won 5-4 in a thrilling contest where both finalists displayed the dominance that got them here on both sides of the ball. The Prune Packers received contributions on offense from infielders Connor Charpiot (Long Beach State) and Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State), who each had three hits and combined for three RBI, while the bullpen helped seal the deal. Infielder Spencer Rasmussen (Azusa Pacific University) was vital for the Saints’ attack, going 2-for-4 with a home run, while RHP Hayden Lewis (New Mexico State) was just as important on the mound, throwing four shutout innings.
The Saints’ momentum from the emphatic game 1 win immediately carried into this contest as they produced a statement start in the first inning. After infielder Raider Tello (Iowa) hit a double with one out remaining, fellow infielder Rasmussen crushed a ball 384 feet to put Arroyo Seco up two. Rasmussen, who batted a blistering .474 in his five regular season games, had given his squad a commanding early lead in the most important game of the season.
But the Packers, not to be outdone, utilized small ball to match the Saint’s score in the bottom of the inning by producing two singles and a walk in the frame. It looked as though we would be in for a high-scoring affair between these two elite offenses, who were both top-four in runs scores this season The defenses of both squads went on lockdown for a considerable period to keep the scoring at bay.
The next four innings would see just five hits combined from both sides. The aforementioned Lewis and RHP Wyatt Tucker (Texas A&M) both recovered from their first-inning misfortunes to grind each offense to a halt. Lewis made his living with his fastball, consistently beating the Packers to the punch to keep runners off base. Tucker threw a variety of pitches to keep Arroyo Seco’s hitters off-balance and guessing. The two had five strikeouts a piece on the day and exerted tight control over the game.
But the momentum would again shift in the sixth inning, and it would be the Saints to take the initiative once more. Arroyo Seco put two runners on base with no outs and catcher Chase Meggers (Oregon) took advantage, lining an RBI single into right field that perfectly split the difference between the sideline and the first baseman, breaking the seal in the score. The Saints added another run via a sacrifice fly to give themselves a two-run cushion. Arroyo Seco now put themselves in a prime position to win the game and the season as they had been one step ahead of the defending champs throughout the series.
Tucker’s night was now finished, but Lewis would continue on the other end with his fastball that had been maneuvering around Healdsburg’s bats all day. The battle-tested Packers would not let him have it easy though and adapted well to his throws.
With one out remaining, outfielder Damian Bravo hit an important double for both his team and himself, as it drove in Healdsburg’s third run of the game and logged his first hit in seven games. Dorraugh followed it up with a single deep into right field that let Bravo race to home plate for the tying score, where he let out a primal roar. Dorraugh talked after the game about what he saw to prevail at this pivotal moment.
“I just understood that Lewis established his fastball early, and he established his fastball all game, and he was beating us with it, so I knew that he wanted to get ahead in that situation too,” Dorraugh said. “So I just felt like I needed to jump on it early, and luckily, it worked out.”
But the Packers were not done, as Charpiot, the league leader in batting average, hit a single that sailed over the outfield’s heads to drive in the run that let the Packers take the lead.
Now, it was the Saint’s turn to respond to the Packers, and they put themselves in a position to do so in the ninth inning. Meggers hit a single to put runners on first and second base with only one out remaining, which set himself up to be the game-winning run. RHP Brian McBroom (New Mexico) did not let the pressure get to him though, and extinguished the Saint’s last spark by drawing a flyout into right field.
The Prune Packers have now evened the series with their gutsy performance, and the two squads will meet tomorrow at the same place to settle the series and the 30th year of the CCL once and for all. Dorraugh detailed how Packer’s mindset will not change after the win today, just as it did not after the loss on Friday.
“We’ve got to go about our business the way we came at it today and the way we came at it yesterday and understand that it’s the last game of the summer,” Dorraugh said. “We got nothing to lose, so we might as well go home with a win,”
Photo Credit: Sonny Tapia
By Sam Nute
The Championship of every sport is the exclamation point to each season. Two teams meet at the end of a long regular season to decide it all. For the CCL’s 30th year, the CCL 30 State Championship has finally gotten underway, with the North Division Champion Healdsburg Prune Packers taking on the host and South Division Champion Arroyo Seco Saints.
Winning back-to-back CCL League Championships, the Prune Packers are no strangers to this big stage and are attempting to be the first CCL team to three-peat since before 2013. The Saints are on the opposite end of the spectrum, making their first CCL League Championship appearance in franchise history.
After going down early, the Saints, playing at home in Pasadena for the final time in 2023, defeated the Prune Packers 7-3 to take Game 1.
“I didn’t really say much because I wanted this to be just like another game,” Saints head coach Aaron Milam said about his pregame message. “We get to play a home game at our place, and I didn’t really change the message. It’s ‘Win the Week’”
The first game of any baseball series is where both teams throw their best arms available. That was definitely the case for the Prune Packers, who threw left-handed pitcher Chris Stamos (Tennessee). After leading the CCL in strikeouts for the Saints in 2022, Stamos spent the summer in Healdsburg and continued his dominance. In 23 innings pitched, Stamos had a 0.78 ERA, allowing just two runs all season and striking out 34.
On the mound for the Saints was righty Caleb Reyes (Cal Poly Pomona), who had a great season of his own. In seven starts, Reyes pitched to the tune of a 1.73 ERA, striking out 22 across 26 innings pitched and walking just five batters.
After both starters pitched a clean first, it was the Prune Packers who drew blood first thanks to an RBI single from infielder Peyton Schulze (Cal) followed by an RBI double from infielder Travis Sanders (Texas Tech). One inning later, second baseman Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State) parked one over the wall in left-center field, and the Prune Packers were up three after three.
Through three innings, Stamos had struck out three and was cruising. However, that came to an end in the fourth as the Saints scored five runs, tripling Stamos’ runs allowed on the season. Arroyo Seco put the first four batters of the inning on base, including an RBI single from catcher Chase Meggers (Oregon).
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Stamos was able to get the next two batters out by way of two strikeouts, but outfielder Connor Bradshaw (Pepperdine) crushed a grand slam over the right field fence, putting the Saints up 5-3.
“My first two at-bats, I was getting in my head and a little out in front,” Bradshaw said. “That at-bat, first pitch, I think I missed a fastball, and I was kind of sitting slider. Then he kind of hung a slider, and I just took a good swing at it.”
Armed with a two-run lead, Reyes settled down on the mound, limiting the damage to those three runs. He finished the night with 6.0 innings pitched, allowing eight hits but walking none and striking out three.
Limited in pitching options this late in the season, Milam was hoping to get through the game with as few pitches as possible, so he handed the ball to his best weapon out of the pen.
Right-handed pitcher Jacob Henderson (Iowa) was lights out in the regular season. In the regular season, Henderson amazingly allowed zero runs across 15 innings while surrendering just two baserunners all season and striking out 24. Making his first appearance since July 18th, Henderson was just as advertised, throwing three dominant innings, striking out three, and giving up just one hit.
“I really just try to fill up the zone and just let the hitters do what they are gonna do,” Henderson said. “Once the ball is out of my hands, I can’t control it anymore, so I always let my defense work, and they did a great job as they have all season. That’s really all I try to do every time.
“Jacob Henderson hasn’t given up a run all year, and that’s the second hit he’s given up all year,” Milam said. “He’s been absolutly lights out, and for us to be able to bring him in there to stop was huge (…) He’s got eyes of steel. He’s him, and he’s kind of loose and happy-go-lucky. Nothing really fazes him.”
The Saints added two more runs in the seventh, and Henderson earned the save as he closed out the 7-3 win.
Friday was Milam’s birthday, and most Saints staff, friends and family were walking around postgame with birthday hats dawning their heads. Milam doesn’t see the point in celebrating because ‘I wanna get younger and not older,’ but besides that, he knows that the job isn’t finished. Going into Game 2, the message remains the same as before. Win the Week.
“We got to Wednesday against the Riptide, and it was ‘Win the Week,’” Milam said. “Now we have won two games, but we still have one more to go and Win the Week.”
Game 2 and the chance for the Saints to Win the Week will be Saturday, Aug. 5th at 2:00 pm PST in Thousand Oaks at Cal Lutheran University.
By CCL Reporter Dylan Wickman
The CCL 30 State Championship is here in a matchup between a familiar face on this stage and a foe hungry to take their glory. From August 4-6, the Healdsburg Prune Packers will take on the Arroyo Seco Saints in a best-of-three series to battle for the CCL 30 trophy. The first game will be played on the Saint’s home turf at Jackie Robinson Memorial Stadium in Pasadena, while the second and possible third game will take place at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. Both teams have had to overcome obstacles to get to the final phase of the season. Read below to learn about each finalist’s journey and the players that have played a key part.
CCL North Division Champion // Healdsburg Prune Packers
Healdsburg is no stranger to this stage, as this is their third consecutive trip to the CCL State Championship, and they plan to succeed for a third consecutive time. They have reached this point by showing dominance on both sides of the ball. They have averaged 11.5 hits and eight runs per game this season while slashing .316/.407/.477 and have a team ERA of 2.51 and a WHIP of 1.13.
They ended with a 26-9 record, good for the North Division Title, and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
But their season did not come without adversity. They established themselves at the top of the league for most of the summer, starting 22-3 and going on a 14-game win streak at one point. However, they finished a lackluster 4-6 and held on to the No.1 seed by just one game.
The team challenging them was the Walnut Creek Crawdads, who had Healdsburg’s number all summer long, winning five out of seven matchups against them. But the Packer’s experience and unfaltering offense proved superior in the CCL 30 North Divisional game when the two teams matched up once again, as Healdsburg won 10-7 to advance to the Championship.
The Prune Packers have made a name for themselves with an offense that features many dangerous hitters. 13 Packers batted above .300 this summer and three above .400. Infielder Connor Charpiot (Long Beach State) headlines Healdsburg’s attack and was one of the CCL’s best hitters all season long as he led the league in batting average. He slashed .410/.519/.602 while totaling 34 hits and 25 RBI in 83 at-bats and put together an impressive streak of 16 straight games with a hit.
Outfielder Robbie Hamchuk’s (San Jose State) numbers are not far behind Charpiot’s, as he slashed .403/.474/.546 for the season. He led the league in hits with 48 and had 14 multi-hit games this summer. Outfielder Cameron Nickens (Houston) was tied for the lead in home runs in the CCL with six while also racking up 27 hits and 24 RBI.
Outfielder Ivan Brethowr (UC Santa Barbara) is a recent addition to the team, playing his first game on July 18, but has already become one of its most important players. He went 14-for-39 while totaling a whopping five home runs in 10 games and was instrumental in the divisional win, going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in the eighth.
Southpaw Myles Patton (Long Beach State) was just as important on the other side of the ball during that game, pitching a scoreless 4.0 innings and tallying six strikeouts. He has been dependable all season long, tallying 39 strikeouts in eight games while sporting an ERA of 1.42 and a WHIP of 1.16.
Fellow left-hander Christopher Stamos (Undecided) held a chillingly low 0.78 ERA this season and has conceded just 14 hits in 23.0 innings while striking out 34 batters. Another star on the mound for Healdsburg is right-handed pitcher Caden Bugarske, who posted a 1.00 ERA and WHIP in 25.1 innings this season – never giving up more than one earned run in an outing.
RHP Robert Aivazian (Cal) has been a standout reliever throughout the summer, not conceding more than two hits in a single one of his 11 appearances, amassing a 1.05 WHIP.
CCL South Division Champion // Arroyo Seco Saints
The Saints have had ups and downs this season but got hot at the right time to power them through to the State Championship. Contrary to the Packers, the Saints had a slow start to the summer but put together a late-season surge to secure a 21-14 record and the No.1 seed in the CCL South Division.
Despite having one of the best-performing pitching staffs in the league, they held a modest 11-11 record through week 5 and were four games back of the first seed. However, Their offense then went on a tremendous hot streak, scoring 110 runs in 13 games to finish 10-3. Their hitters finished the season, slashing .281/.374/.397, while the pitching staff put up an ERA of 3.53 and a WHIP of 1.34.
The Saints, like the Packers, had one team consistently standing in their way all summer: the Orange County Riptide. The ‘Tide were 6-1 vs. Arroyo Seco this season, with three of those games being one-run wins. The two met once again Divisional and this time, the Saints would be the ones to pull out a nailbiter, winning 1-0 to cash in their ticket to Championship.
The Saints’ sizzling offense is headed by infielder Raider Tello (Iowa), who led the South in batting average. He slashed .378/.417.489 while racking up 34 hits in 90 at-bats. He had multiple hits in half of his 24 games this season, as well as four three-hit performances. Outfielder Max Blessinger led the team in both hits (36) and walks (19) while slashing .324/.427/.369.
Outfielder Kyte Mcdonald (Rice) has improved as the season progressed, with three of his four home runs coming in the final six games of the regular season. His hot streak has continued into the postseason as he knocked the critical solo home run – his third in as many contests – that propelled the Saints to a Divisional Game victory. Infielder Spencer Rasmussen (Azusa Pacific) only played his first game for the Saints on July 25 but has already established himself as one of the team’s premier hitters. In just five games, he batted 9-for-19 with five doubles and a home run.
The Saints’ pitching staff has been lockdown all season long, helping keep the team afloat early on when the offense hadn’t yet found its groove. Righty Carter Herrera (Cal State Fullerton) pitched 36.0 innings this season, the fourth-most in the league, but his performance never faltered. He had an ERA of 2.00 and a WHIP of 0.86 and came up huge in the Divisional Game, pitching 6.0 shutout innings while striking out five batters.
Right-hander Caleb Reyes (Cal Poly Ponoma) didn’t give up a single earned run in his last 24.0, evidenced by his 1.73 ERA and .96 WHIP for the summer. RHP Jacob Henderson (Iowa) was nearly perfect as a reliever this season, surrendering just one hit in 15.0 innings while totaling 24 strikeouts. LHP Kevin Warunek (Longwood) is another strong bullpen arm for the Saints, sporting a 2.70 ERA in nine appearances. He recorded his second save of the season when closing out the Riptide in the Divisional Game.