During a season in which the Woodland Christian High School varsity baseball team outscored its opponents by a combined 230 runs over 30 contests, the biggest game of the year came down to a single run in a low-scoring affair.
The No. 2 Cardinals (26-4) traveled to Atherton on Saturday afternoon to play against No. 1 seed Menlo at Silver Field. Woodland Christian plated 2 in the top of the first inning and added an insurance run in the sixth to ultimately defeat the Knights 3-2 and win the Division V CIF NorCal Championships.
"It was a battle from start to finish. We jumped on them early, then we slowed down and didn't keep our momentum. It took a team effort. We really locked back in towards the end and closed the deal," recalled senior third baseman Wyatt Bickel. "Jayden threw an awesome game, he kept us close and was lights out. Nothing affects that kid. He was loving the chatter coming from their dugout and was eating it up. He really showed how good he really is and why he was starting that game."
The regional title caps off a storybook 10 months for the Cardinals, who won their first state championship in school history on the gridiron in the fall. While NorCal doesn't have the opportunity to compete against SoCal on the diamond, four Woodland Christian student-athletes can now call themselves "champ champ" at both the section and state level: senior Gabriel Sanchez, juniors, Jeffrey Nannini and Gary Mann, and sophomore Joaquin Rodriguez.
"In the beginning, it was just rust. That built us up because we were playing top teams and still were in the game. Right there, I knew we had something special. During the season we improved so much more and became closer as a team. Those losses in the beginning really helped us," Sanchez said. "It's amazing, I'm so glad that I switched over (from Woodland High School). I really wanted to come into this program and switch it around. Nobody believed in us or cared until we built this program.
"From football to baseball, we built it. I'm happy to win these state championships but this bond that I've built with these kids is the most important to me. If you're bonded as a team, nobody can stop you."
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Jayden Badhesha got the start and gave himself a lead before even stepping on the mound. He hit an RBI single in the top of the first to score junior outfielder Owen Tessier, then Nannini plated a run following an error in right field. The Knights loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame and Badhesha struck out sophomore OF Renner Barnett looking to end the inning.
"We were never in control, always wondering what the next pitch was going to bring. We had huge faith in the players we had on the field. I was just amazed at big play after big play, we never made an error," coach John Rodegerdts recalled. "Gabe diving for a ball in center field, if it gets by him, that guy hits an inside-the-park- (homer) and that changes everything. It was a Superman dive and flat out unbelievable. Villanueva diving in the hole to stop the ball from getting there, that's another run that they would've scored."
Menlo puts runners on the corners in the bottom of the third with a two out rally. However, Badhesha got out of the jam and jubilantly reacted afterwards while walking back to the dugout. The Cardinals put together their own two out rally in the top of the fourth with runners on the corners but they were unable to score as they were caught attempting to steal home.
In the top of the fifth, Sanchez and Nannini recorded back-to-back singles with two outs but were left stranded. The Knights cut their deficit in half with an RBI double down the right field line by sophomore catcher Chuck Wynn in the bottom half of the frame but two more Knights were left on base by Badhesha.
As the case has been all season, Woodland Christian immediately responded and did so by grinding it out with small ball. In another two out rally, senior Abriean Eredia came off the bench to pinch hit for junior OF Parker Howald. Eredia tapped a bleeder down the third base line for an infield single. Junior C Ethan Howald, Parker's identical twin, hit a grounder to third but was safe after the first baseman dropped an out. Eredia advanced to third after the drop. While Tessier was in the batter's box, Eredia scored on a passed ball in what ultimately was the go-ahead run, sliding in head first to home plate.
"I knew we were going to win the game from the start. Our team had that mindset and determination that whole time. It got scary towards the end when they put the ball in play but we were able to make the plays," Eredia explained. "I had two strikes on me, so I just fought off that slider. It was in play and I was able to beat it out. With two outs, I was running on anything and I saw he bobbled the ball so I busted my butt down. On the passed ball, I knew he would throw it low, it just got away from the catcher and I was able to read that.
"It was wild because I didn't start this game but I came in, was able to put a run on the board and that was fulfilling."
In the bottom of the sixth, junior RHP Wyatt Trafican took over on the bump in relief. He struck out the first two batters he faced, then gave up a hit. Sanchez ended the inning with a tremendous diving catch in center field that caused his sunglasses to fly off his face, robbing an extra base hit from Menlo sophomore shortstop Jack Freehill.
"Oh my God, right when the ball was hit, I got a bad read on it so that's why I had to dive," Sanchez said. "I ran for it, dove and made sure to get the catch. There was a runner on first so he probably would've scored if that got past me. I really wanted that ball bad so I really saved a run there."
The Knights fought until the end and scored again in the seventh on an RBI single to left by Barnett. In the prior at-bat, sophomore SS Jordan Villanueva saved a run by making a diving stop between second and third base.
The game's final play featured a wild sequence of events. Senior RHP Jake Sonsini grounded out to Villanueva, who threw to Nannini at second for an out, then to Badhesha for an attempted double play. Sonsini was safe at first but Badhesha immediately threw home to Ethan for the final out as Wynn tried to tie the game. Despite a collision at the plate, Ethan held on for the victory and Woodland Christian stormed the field to celebrate becoming NorCal champions.
"It feels amazing. These are my brothers, I've had to talk them up and let them know what's going on. I took authority, showed them the ropes and making sure they stayed locked in," Bickel explained. "It's going to be something that I talk about with my kids. I had a Disneyland trip I was going to go to, but that was the real reason why I stayed. Nelson (Randolph) told me, 'You're never going to talk about the Disneyland trip but you will talk about a state championship though.' The fact that I get to look back at this later in life and say that I did this is the main reason."
Badhesha (8-1) earned the win to complete a stellar sophomore season. He tossed 5.0 frames and allowed 6 hits, 3 walks, 2 hit by pitch and 1 run with 5 strikeouts on 87 pitches. Trafican pitched 2.0 innings and gave up 3 hits, 1 run, 1 HBP and 1 balk with 3 Ks on 30 pitches.
"We love Traffy! I've been saying that he's been our closer the whole year," Bickel said. "He has really shown why he deserves that spot. He does his job, goes out there, throws strikes and gets outs. We know that he's going to make them work, there is no freebies with him."
Nannini was the only Cardinal to rack up multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run. Badhesha was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Ethan, Eredia, Sanchez and Villanueva each had 1 hit. Ethan added 1 stolen base.
"Teams that win, have kids that are on the bench who come through when they're asked to and are always ready. AB is a prime example of that," Rodegerdts explained. "Today was tough coming up with runs, they were very solid on defense. I bet the people who thought we could win a game 3-2 was very few. We're just good! As humble as I can say it, this team is special and they deserved everything they got."
Bickel, Eredia and Sanchez will be graduating on Saturday night.
"They mean everything to me. They're my brothers and I grew up with them from little league to senior year," Bickel said. "Gabe set the biggest foundation. He's had a quote that started from the beginning and still is going on now of 'always working.' He shows that he puts in the most work. Whether if that be football or baseball, he's a leader and knows what he's doing. Everyone just followed along and that's what we needed."
The following day, Bickel and Sanchez will compete in the 53rd Optimist All-Star Game at the Army Depot Park in Sacramento. Joining the Woodland Christian duo is three seniors from Pioneer: Matias Michel, Ben Reis and Christian Reyes. First pitch in the small schools game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
"It's been a great season. We started out with two losses and ever since then, we just thought that we cannot lose. We did lose a couple more but came right back every single time. Our whole mindset all year in every game has been to win innings and to be always working," Eredia recalled. "Us as seniors have tried to lay on them to always pick each other up and have a positive mindset. My fellow seniors, I love them man. Bickel, we've been in this program since freshman year. Gabe, he came in later, but we've grown really close. I'm glad to have had them on the same team as me."
Once Rodegerdts decided that 2024 would be his last season, he knew the final game would come at some point. While the first section title in program history was the goal entering this year, the tenured coach didn't expect for his career to come to a close with a regional championship.
"All glory to God! It's all in God's hands. You get gifts through life and most of the time you don't know it until it's happened. He has been with me this entire playoff run. Gift after gift he has given me," Rodegerdts proclaimed. "Not a lot of coaches ever get to say 'This is the last practice of our season,' until after the season is already over. To win your final game of a 22-year coaching career, including all my kids going through high school, I just praise God!"
No comments:
Post a Comment