Woodland well-represented with 4 Patriots and 3 Cardinals at 53rd Optimist All-Star Baseball Game

Shaun Holkko

June 11

Following respective graduations this past week, five players and two coaches from Woodland participated in the 53rd Optimist All-Star Baseball Game this weekend in California's Capitol.

The senior showcase at the Army Depot Park on Sunday night featured four Patriots and three Cardinals. Pioneer High School was represented by outfielders, Ben Reis and Christian Reyes, right-handed pitcher Matias Michel and manager Craig Marquez.

"It was a pleasure playing with my teammates, Mayo and Christian, and coach Marquez one more time. Also playing with Gabe Sanchez and Wyatt Bickel, I've been playing with them my whole life," Reis recalled. "There were lots of memories coming back. I remember we were all national league, me, Wyatt, Gabe and Mayo. We tore some s**t up, I'll tell you that!"

Twenty hours after crossing the stage, RHP Wyatt Bickel and OF Gabriel Sanchez were coached one final time by John Rodegerdts, who is retiring after leading Woodland Christian to its first section and state titles this spring.

"It was pretty sick. Meeting all the players from other schools and playing with the kids from Pioneer was pretty cool. It was really fun and I had a good time," Sanchez said. "This all-star game was amazing. I'm really glad that I got to play in it. I got to meet some new people and talk to the guys a lot more.

"The catcher from Bradshaw Christian, (Roberto Garduno), was definitely a fun kid. I talked to him because he played football as well and we remembered the game that we played."

Each Woodlander reached base to lead the South All-Stars to a 6-4 win in the small school game. Bickel, Michel and Reis each recorded a single with Michel's of the RBI variety. Reyes and Sanchez respectively scored a run following a walk.

Michel started on the bump and tossed the first two innings. The Sacramento State commit loaded the count and struck out the first two North batters during a three up, three down frame. Following two infield errors in the top of the second inning, Michel got out of a bases loaded jam.

"I felt great! My only thing was to come out and dominate like I usually do. One last time, go out with a bang," Michel explained. "Once I get to higher and better competition, I'm going to be in that situation. I just powered through it and did my job."

Bickel pitched the next two scoreless frames in relief of Michel.

"It was an honor. I loved to be out here and play the game of baseball. It felt good to have one more game in this jersey before moving on. I loved every moment," Bickel recalled. "I love these guys, we've grown up together and have chemistry. Honestly, I can't ask for anything better to go out on. I grew up with them, played against them and it's good to end our high school careers playing with them one more time."

Pioneer outfielder Ben Reis swings at a pitch during the 53rd Optimist All-Star Baseball Game on Sunday, June 9 at the Army Depot Park in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

Woodland Christian pitcher Wyatt Bickel tosses a curveball during the 53rd Optimist All-Star Baseball Game on Sunday, June 9 at the Army Depot Park in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

Pioneer outfielder Christian Reyes tosses his bat after drawing a walk during the 53rd Optimist All-Star Baseball Game on Sunday, June 9 at the Army Depot Park in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

Woodland Christian outfielder Gabriel Sanchez catches a fly ball during the 53rd Optimist All-Star Baseball Game on Sunday, June 9 at the Army Depot Park in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

Pioneer pitcher Matias Michel delivers a fastball during the 53rd Optimist All-Star Baseball Game on Sunday, June 9 at the Army Depot Park in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)

The South scored all of its runs in the bottom of the second. Once Woodland's arms exited the mound, the North tallied 2 in the fifth and 1 in each the sixth and seventh.

"We're all friends and grew up playing together so it wasn't much different. We were chatting it up in the dugout the whole time," Michel said. "We all introduced ourselves, were cracking jokes and were trying to be friends. As a team, I was trying to hype them up the whole time."

Reyes will be attending Cosumnes River College to play for the Hawkeyes at Conway Field. He plans to major in criminal justice with a goal of becoming a police officer.

Sanchez is going to be an apprentice electrician under Michael Paschke and join his former varsity football head coach on the sidelines at Justin Smith Field.

"I'm really excited to make money, work, coach the kids and give back," Sanchez foreshadowed. "That's the most important thing to me and I'm really looking forward to it."

Bickel is heading south to attend Santa Barbara City College and play for the Vaqueros.

"Growing up, moving out and doing everything on my own, it's exciting to see how far I've come and going to go. I'm going to see where baseball takes me, try to do two years there and two years somewhere else. Who knows, we'll see," Bickel foreshadowed. "I might hang up the pitching. I just want to focus on barreling baseballs and cutting the errors out of my game.

"There wasn't much room for me to move around on my team but I feel like I'll have a lot of flexibility. I'm just going to tell my coach (Jeff Walker), 'As long as I'm in the lineup, I'm happy, just put me somewhere.' I'd like to play anywhere, it gets me in the lineup. I wanna hit, play and be out there."

Reis will be continuing the lineage of Woodland baseball players at Butte College. In addition to playing for manager Anthony Ferro, who is a Woodland High School alumnus, Reis will join former teammate Ryan Pearson and three Wolves on the Roadrunners.

"I plan on going to Butte to study ag business and play baseball. I want to get a degree and make a lot of money," Reis foretold with a chuckle.