| July 18, 2023
Photo Credit: Christina Thai
By CCL Reporters Sean Brennan, Sam Nute and Dylan Wickman
Another week is in the books for the CCL’s 30th Year. The league is officially heading to the homestretch of the 2023 summer season following the CCL 30 Showcase Game earlier this week. Due to the break in the middle of the week, most teams only played a maximum of four games. Each team is carefully ranked based on their overall record, week record, strength of schedule, and recent trends. Read below to find out which teams placed where after Week 6.
#1 Healdsburg Prune Packers (--)
League Record: 22-3
League Record This Week: 1-0
Overall Record: 33-3
Overall Record This Week: 4-0
After returning to the top of the CCL Power Rankings in Week 5, the Prune Packers continued their winning streak, extending to 14 consecutive wins. Before the Showcase Game break the Packers defeated the Stompers in a one-off game before sweeping a series against a non-league opponent over the weekend.
The offense continues to be the Packers’ strength, scoring 44 runs and averaging 11 runs a game across their four games this week. Utlity man Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State) continued his impressive summer, going 8-for-16 with two home runs, two doubles and three RBI. Dorraugh is hitting .456 with six home runs and 28 RBI. A new arrival to the Prune Packers this week is outfielder Ivan Brethowr (UC Santa Barbara). In his first three games as a Packer, Brethowr went 6-for-12 with two doubles and 6 RBI.
On the mound, RHP Marvcus Gaurin (Pacific) had his best outing of the year, going 5.0 strong innings giving up just one run on one hit while striking out eight. Guarin’s performance highlighted a strong week of the Prune Packers’ pitching staff as a whole, allowing just seven runs across their four games this week.
Next week, the Prune Packers return to CCL League Play with a three-game set with the Lincoln Potters before rounding the weekend off with two games against the Solano Mudcats.
#2 Walnut Creek Crawdads (--)
League Record: 16-6
League Record This Week: 3-1
Overall Record: 24-6
Overall Record This Week: 3-1
After sending a league-high 10 players to the CCL 30 Showcase Game, the Walnut Creek Crawdads’ returned to league play with a loss to the Lincoln Potters before turning it around with back-to-back thrilling wins to take the series.
Across their three games against the Potters, there was no shortage of offense as the teams combined to score 67 runs across just three games. The Crawdads’ biggest contributors included Ryan Brome (Texas Tech), Joey Donnelly (Cal) and Matt King (UTSA) each had impressive performances after returning from the Showcase Game. In a wild series finale, Brome and King combined for nine RBI and four doubles as the Crawdads’ won 18-16.
With offense reigning supreme, great pitching performances were few and far between in this series. Another Showcase Game member, Sean Fitzpatrick (Arkansas), had his best performance of the year. With the ‘Dads down 6-2 through five innings of Game 2 against Lincoln, Fitzpatrick came in and shut down the Potters’ offense, throwing 4.0 scoreless innings with a season-high eight strikeouts. The outing was the longest of the year and it gave the Crawdads’ offense enough time to comeback and take the win.
Next week, the Crawdads’ will take on the Mudcats for a three-game set before rematching with the Potters in a three-game series over the weekend.
#3 Santa Barbara Foresters (--)
League Record: 18-6
League Record This Week: 3-2
Overall Record: 21-6
Overall Record This Week: 3-2
The Santa Barbara Foresters kicked off the home stretch of the 2023 season in scorching-hot fashion, building upon their torrid stretch leading up to Week 6. After dropping their first contest of the week to the Blues, Santa Barbara won two straight over the Barons – sweeping the head-to-head season series – and picked up two more victories over the Riptide.
At the forefront of the ‘Sters offense over the last five games has been catcher Will Rogers (Michigan), who represented Santa Barbara in the CCL 30 Showcase Game on July 12. Rogers belted his first two homers of the season this week and totaled five knocks, a double and two RBI in 19 at-bats. Headlined by a three-hit, four-RBI night on Jul. 15 at the MLB Youth Academy, infielder Jalin Flores’ (Texas) week was also productive, with the Helotes, Texas native going 5-for-21 with two doubles and seven RBI.
Right-hander Ben Bybee (Arkansas) continued his strong summer on the mound on July 14 against the Barons, earning his third victory in as many starts with a lights-out performance. While he allowed six baserunners – five of which came on hits – in 6.0 innings of work, Bybee held the Academy scoreless and struck out six.
Rogers wasn’t the only Foresters’ Showcase Game selection to impress this week, as righty Zane Petty (Texas Tech) did so during Game 1 of the Riptide series. Through 5.0 innings of relief, he fanned nine and conceded an earned run to seal a 2-1 Santa Barbara victory. Petty was credited with the win and now owns a 3-0 record and 2.57 ERA over 14.0 innings in league play.
The ‘Sters have a packed Week 7 ahead that will see them face the Saints twice before beginning a three-game series with the Riptide.
#4 Conejo Oaks (⬆1)
League Record: 12-14
League Record This Week: 3-1
Overall Record: 13-14
Overall Record This Week: 3-1
The Conejo Oaks opened Week 6 with consecutive victories over the Riptide before running into a scorching Arroyo Seco squad, who would hand them their first and only loss of the week on July 15. Conejo would get revenge a day later, defeating the Saints to round out their best week since mid-June.
Despite boasting a solid overall summer to date – hitting .272 through July 9 and earning a spot in the CCL 30 Showcase Game – outfielder McCabe Moyer (Oregon) found another gear this week. In 19 at-bats, the rising sophomore totaled ten knocks including a double, triple and four RBI to bump his season average up to .329. Infielder Zachary Schwartzberg (Undecided) was also productive at the plate, going 6-for-14 with two doubles, three walks and a pair of runs driven in.
Aside from relinquishing an earned run, right-handed pitcher Kyle Dobyns (Grossmont) had a solid 3.0-inning start on July 13, as he allowed three hits and struck out four. Starter Alexander Rivas (UC Riverside) helped set the tone in the Oaks’ July 16 victory over the Saints, posting three scoreless frames and fanning two in 4.0 innings of work.
Next week, Conejo will see just one opponent – the MLB Youth Academy Barons. The two squads are slated to play four contests against each other, with each team hosting two games.
#5 Arroyo Seco Saints (⬆1)
League Record: 14-12
League Record This Week: 3-1
Overall Record: 16-12
Overall Record This Week: 4-1
Entering Week 6 with six losses in their previous eight contests, the Arroyo Seco Saints certainly got back on track, posting a 4-1 record since thanks to an explosive offense and sound pitching. On the heels of a walk-off non-league victory, the Saints swept a two-game set against the Blues – outscoring San Luis Obispo 20-1 during the series – and kept rolling with a 16-3 win over the Oaks. Arroyo Seco’s lineup was finally kept at bay on July 16, as it was held to just two runs in a 6-2 loss to Conejo.
As expected when a team plates 42 runs in five contests, the Saints’ offensive contributions came from numerous bats. Infielder Raider Tello (Iowa) logged at least one knock in every game he played this week, hitting .500 with a double and four RBI in 20 at-bats. Outfielder Connor Bradshaw went 5-for-15 with three doubles in four contests, but the stat that truly stands out is his eight runs driven in on the week.
Arroyo Seco’s most impressive single-game performance at the dish this week was from outfielder Preston Godfrey (New Mexico State), whose ability to hit for power was evident on July 15 against the Oaks. In six at-bats, Godfrey accumulated five RBI on two hits – a three-run homer along with a double that scored two more.
In a dominant win over the Blues on July 14, right-handers Caleb Reyes (Cal Poly Pomona), Jacob Henderson (Iowa), and Anthony Giannette (Louisiana Tech) posted a combined shutout, allowing nine baserunners and striking out ten. Despite an unearned run and walk, starter Carter Herrera (Cal State Fullerton) was virtually untouchable in 6.0 frames during Game 1 against San Luis Obispo, as he retired four via the strikeout and posted five scoreless innings.
Next week, the Saints will play a pair of two-game sets against the Foresters and Blues respectively.
#6 Orange County Riptide (⬇2)
League Record: 16-10
League Record This Week: 1-3
Overall Record: 17-11
Overall Record This Week: 1-3
The Riptide were coming off a five-game win streak last week but couldn’t keep the momentum this week, dropping two against the Conejo Oaks and splitting two against the Santa Barbara Foresters.
The Riptide’s pitching was headed by RHPs Jack Kirrer (Cal), who represented Orange County in the CCL 30 Showcase game and Tyler Valdez (Arizona State). Kirrer threw for 5.2 innings in game 1 against the Foresters, striking out five batters and giving up two hits while Valdez posted a season-high in strikeouts with nine to put his ERA at 0.85 for the summer. RHP Josh Randall (San Diego) allowed a season-low one hit in game 2 against Conejo while striking out five batters in 3.0 innings.
Orange County’s offense, while not as potent as it typically is, still had some quality performances. In Game 1 against Conejo, outfielder Patrick Hackworth (San Diego) finished 2-for-4 with a triple. He has logged a hit in eight of his last 10 games. Center fielder Grady Morgan (Fresno State) and infielder Nathan Cadena (San Jose State) each had two hits and a run in the win against Santa Barbara.
The Riptide will look to get back on track next week with two games against the San Luis Obispo Blues and two more against the Foresters.
# 7 Lincoln Potters (--)
League Record: 11-12
League Record This Week: 1-2
Overall Record: 22-13
Overall Record This Week: 2-2
The Potters' only league action this week was a three-game series against the Walnut Creek Crawdads that saw them go 1-2. They rose their record to .500 for the week by picking up a win in non-league play.
Lincoln produced 33 runs in the series and had some impressive performances on the bats. Outfielder Dominic Rodriguez (San Joaquin Delta College) dominated in the game 1 win, going 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBI. Catcher Nolan Wilson (Nevada Reno) came off his CCL 30 Showcase Game appearance with a scorching performance in Game 3, also going 4-for-5 while hitting a double and accumulating two RBI. Shortstop Zachary Chamizo (Cal Riverside) was consistent all week, recording two hits in all three games this week and hitting back-to-back triples in games 2 and 3.
Lincoln’s pitching staff has its hands full against the dynamic Crawdad offense but had some nice performances in its efforts to contain them. Right-handed pitcher Toran O’Harran threw a whopping eight strikeouts in Game 3 in half-as-many innings while letting up two earned runs. Left-handed pitcher Arthur Steinkamp was solid in his 3.0 innings in game 2, letting up three hits and one run while striking out two.
The Potters will have a very tough schedule next week, playing three against the No. 1 Healdsburg Prune Packers and three more against the No. 2 Crawdads.
#8 San Luis Obispo Blues (--)
League Record: 11-12
League Record This Week: 3-2
Overall Record: 18-16
Overall Record This Week: 3-2
The Blues started this week with a big win against the Santa Barbara Foresters, but that momentum was quickly squandered by the Arroyo Seco Saints, who swept them in a two-game series. SLO managed to go above .500 for the week, however, producing a sweep of their own against the MLB Academy Barons.
The Blues' pitching was not quite as lockdown as it had been in previous weeks, but it still had some nice performances. RHP Justin Feld (Gonzaga) made just his second appearance of the season against the Foresters, and he made the most of it, striking out five batters in 4.0 innings while giving up zero runs. RHPs Grant Cunningham (Washington) and Fisher Johnson (USC) were both solid in their respective outings against the Barons, combining to pitch 13.0 innings while surrendering only three earned runs.
The Blues bats were hot-and-cold this week but came alive at the opportune times for them to win. Catcher Jake Bold (Princeton) racked up four RBI this week thanks to a home run and has now recorded a hit in six straight contests. Outfielders Jason Hanson (Yuba Community College) and JT Rican (Oregon) each had high moments this week, with Hanson having a 3-for-4 performance in game 3 against the Barons and Rican recording doubles in consecutive games.
The Blues will have two games apiece against the Orange County Riptide and Saints before ending the week with one against the Barons.
#9 Sonoma Stompers (--)
League Record: 10-15
League Record This Week: 3-1
Overall Record: 19-17
Overall Record This Week: 3-1
The Stompers started this week by finishing off a seventh-consecutive game against the Healdsburg Prune Packers, which they lost, before getting back on track with a three-game sweep against the Solano Mudcats.
Sonoma’s offense got into a nice rhythm in the Solano series, totaling 25 runs over the three games. Outfielder Jag Burden (Cal) was already in rhythm, as he went 2-for-2 with a home run and two walks in the Packers' loss. He tallied two more hits and a double to close the series against the Mudcats. Catcher Omar Gastelum (San Jose State) didn’t lose a step after playing in the CCL 30 Showcase Game, hitting two doubles and two RBI in game 3. That game was a team effort by Sonoma, as nine different Stompers registered a hit.
Sonoma needed some clutch pitching to hold off the Mudcat offense, and their staff did not disappoint. RHP Orlando Leon Jr. had a season-high in innings pitched (5.0) and a season-low in ER (0) in game 1 while also striking out three batters. RHP Hayden Hall (Monterey Peninsula) pitched a perfect 2.0 innings to close out Solano to secure the one-run win in game 3.
Next Week, Sonoma will try to carry their momentum from this week into a four-game series against the CCL affiliate Bay Area Admirals.
#10 Academy Barons (--)
League Record: 4-20
League Record This Week: 0-4
Overall Record: 4-20
Overall Record This Week: 0-4
The MLB Youth Academy Barons dropped two games to the Foresters and another pair to the Blues. The Barons’ record could’ve easily looked very different, with two of their losses being one-score games.
With a .342 season batting average, infielder Kamau Neighbors (Cal State Northridge) has been a catalyst all summer long, and Week 6 was no different for the rising senior. The CCL 30 Showcase Game selection accrued six knocks and three doubles while striking out just once in 16 at-bats. Outfielder Julian Boyd (Colorado Mesa) had a standout performance against the Foresters on Jul. 13, going 3-for-5 and scoring a run.
Another Baron who shined in Santa Barbara on Jul. 13 was right-handed pitcher Maximus Berber (Whittier College), who issued one walk and struck out three in 2.0 innings of relief. In the series finale against the Blues, starter Ruben Del Castillo put up a monster line, allowing just three baserunners and fanning ten in 6.0 scoreless frames.
The Barons will have ample opportunity to get back into the win column during Week 7, as they are slated for a four-game series against the Oaks before hosting the Blues for a double-header on Jul. 23.
#11 Solano Mudcats (--)
League Record: 4-21
League Record This Week: 0-4
Overall Record: 5-25
Overall Record This Week: 0-4
The Solano Mudcats continued their struggles this week as they fell to 4-21 on the season, losing all four league games this week. The Mudcats’ had a prime opportunity with a three-game set against the Stompers, but they fell short in three close games.
In the three games against the Stompers, infielder Jeff Hoffman (Willamette) had his best series so far this season, going 6-for-14 with a double in each of the three games. CCL Showcase Game participant Bronson Balholm (Arizona State) was on base all series, going 6-for-13 with two walks, raising his season OPS to .825.
On the mound, Jake Tandy continued his impressive two-way season as he performed well on both sides of the ball this week. At the plate, Tandy went 4-for-11, and, on the mound, he delivered 2.1 innings giving up one run and striking out three.
Next week, the Mudcats will look to get back on track with three-game series against the Crawdads and the Prune Packers.
Full List:
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