Jayden Badhesha's 'mindset' guiding Woodland Christian towards D7 CIF SJS title game | Athlete of the Week

Shaun Holkko

May 15

Attitude is oftentimes just as important as ability in sports because if you have a negative mindset, you're likely to get a negative result.

In high school athletics, student-athletes tend to mature as upperclassmen. However, that's not the case for Woodland Christian High School sophomore Jayden Badhesha, who is already wise beyond his years. One of Badhesha's top priorities entering every game and practice for the Cardinals varsity baseball team is to have a positive mindset.

Jayden is 1-of-2 Badheshas on the squad alongside his fraternal twin, Armaan. The Badheshas aren't the only twins on the team, joining identical juniors, Ethan and Parker Howald.

"Him and his brother are a great team together. They're a great tandem. They talk through practices and games. They're talking to each other about how we should attack this guy. Armaan is his pitching coach, he just knows his brother really well and that's a great thing to have. I kind of try to stay out of the way and let them do their thing," head coach John Rodegerdts explained. "I've never had twins until last year. It's been fun and awesome."

Woodland Christian has won back-to-back games in the Division VII CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs over the last week and Jayden has been a major contributor. Last Wednesday during a 12-1 win against Buckingham Charter, he led the way offensively, going 2-for-2 with a game-high 4 runs batted in, 2 runs scored, 1 stolen base and 1 walk.

"Jayden brings to the field intensity and a bulldog attitude like he's not gonna give in. When he doesn't throw the perfect pitch, he's mad at himself," Rodegerdts said. "I gotta go, 'Hey, it's OK, you can't be perfect at everything, right?' I love that bulldog mentality and the intensity he brings. He wants to win every pitch, every swing and you can't ask for anything better from a sophomore. He is becoming polished and that's great for the team. I'm very impressed with him."

Jayden punctuated an 8-run fourth inning with a 2-run homer to right field, his third of the year and first in the postseason.

"I saw the pitch well, hit that as my pitch and I was excited," Jayden recalled Wednesday. "That was huge to get the momentum and everyone woke up."

Woodland Christian sophomore pitcher Jayden Badhesha stands in the box and awaits a pitch during a 9-2 win against Turlock Christian in Game 1 of the Division VII CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoff semifinals on Monday, May 13 at Joseph Trafican Memorial Field. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

Woodland Christian sophomore first baseman Jayden Badhesha catches an out from junior second baseman Jeffrey Nannini during a 9-2 win against Turlock Christian in Game 1 of the Division VII CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoff semifinals on Monday, May 13 at Joseph Trafican Memorial Field. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

Woodland Christian sophomore pitcher Jayden Badhesha tosses a curveball during a 9-2 win against Turlock Christian in Game 1 of the Division VII CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoff semifinals on Monday, May 13 at Joseph Trafican Memorial Field. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

Woodland Christian sophomore pitcher Jayden Badhesha lets a ball out of the zone pass him by during a 9-2 win against Turlock Christian in Game 1 of the Division VII CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoff semifinals on Monday, May 13 at Joseph Trafican Memorial Field. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

Woodland Christian sophomore pitcher Jayden Badhesha sprints to first base despite hitting a ground out during a 9-2 win against Turlock Christian in Game 1 of the Division VII CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoff semifinals on Monday, May 13 at Joseph Trafican Memorial Field. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

On Monday evening, Jayden (6-1) made his first playoff start on the mound and led the Cardinals to a 9-2 victory versus Turlock Christian in Game 1 of the D7 CIF SJS semifinals.

"I had a lot of nerves, it's big pressure. I mean this series, if we win, we go to sections, so it was a nerve-wracking," Jayden explained. "I just had to stay loose and breathe. I was stiff and really nervous. I just had to calm down."

The lethal left-hander pitched 5.0 frames and allowed 6 walks, 2 hits, 2 runs and 1 hit by pitch with 6 strikeouts on 84 pitches.

"Nerves obviously got to him the first few batters, but once he got them out, he was dominant and they couldn't touch him," recalled senior right-handed pitcher Wyatt Bickel. "He's the complete package and what we need. He's kind of tying us down right now. He's that second arm that we need for our rotation or the bat we need in our lineup. He has power and great stuff on the mound.

"He's dominant both ways."

Armaan started behind the plate against the Eagles to complete the Badhesha battery. However, after only six outs, Armaan exited the game with a sprained right ankle in the bottom of the second inning. Ethan took over behind the dish.

"He always has a good attitude so it's good to have him around," Ethan explained. "He always throws strikes and always keeps his head up, even when he strikes out a couple of times."

For the second consecutive campaign, Woodland Christian is one win away from a trip to the CIF SJS title game. Game 2 is Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Turlock.

"I trust him so much and he's probably one of the best catchers," Jayden said of Armaan. "I always trust him all the time and I know he's doing good back there."

Rodegerdts knows that he can count on Jayden's arm, bat, glove and most importantly, mindset, to contribute to the Cardinals chase for a championship.

"We definitely need to have the right mindset, we have to take practice serious. I mean, no goofing off. So everything is about the mindset," Badhesha said May 8. "Coach Nelson (Randolph) says 'Act like you want to win sections and act like the championship is on the line in every game.'"