IN SPORTS: LOOKING AHEAD TO BASEBALL SEASON
Lodi High baseball coach Hobie Schultz seems to have a good feeling about this season.
His reasons are valid. One, he returns the bulk of last spring’s squad that earned one of the Tri-City Athletic League’s four playoff spots. Two, Lodi posted a 15-5 win over Stagg in last year’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoff opener, before being eliminated by Gregori of Modesto to finish the season at 1613, including an 8-7 record in league.
This season, Lodi is off to a 3-0 start after winning all three of its games at the Pedretti Tournament in Turlock last week. In their wins over Golden Valley of Merced, Pitman of Turlock and Gregori, the Flames outscored their opponents 316.
Half of the Flames’ 15 player roster is capable of walking onto the mound and throwing strikes. What’s most important is defense and the cohesiveness of the Flames.
“I am pleased with everyone on the team,” said Schultz of this year’s squad. “Everyone works hard and that helps. It pushes us, make us better. Our goals is to win league; that is our No. 1 goal. And go back into the playoffs. We got guys who can play multiple positions. I see our guys in different spots. That’s going to be one of our strengths. Our pitchers can play anywhere.”
Returning for the Flames are six seniors, beginning with pitcher/third baseman Robby Loiacono, who is the only returning pitcher to record significant innings last spring. Other returning players are outfielder Donavan Evans; catcher/infielder Bobby Yabumoto; three-year starter Evan Webb at first base/outfield; first baseman/pitcher Chad Plath and first baseman Hayden Lewis.
Another returning player for Lodi is sophomore Logan Stout, an infielder and pitcher who started in most of the Flames’ games last spring. Stout ran the offense on the Lodi High football team last fall. Leadoff hitter Logan Morita, a junior who started at second base as a sophomore last year, also returns.
Juniors on the team are outfielders Cody Miza and Jonathan Charboneau and infielder/pitcher Jose Hinojosa. Rounding out the roster are four underclassmen; along with Stout is sophomore Angelo Zazzarino and freshmen Fidel Ulloa and Colton Smithhardt.
“I don’t like to single guys out,” Schultz said. “All 15 guys on the roster have proven themselves this year. We can put them almost anywhere on the field in any situation.”
The TCAL teams to beat, Schultz said, are Tracy, St. Mary’s and Lincoln, which Lodi and Tokay beat out for playoff
berths last spring. But he feels Lodi will be in the mix.
“The usual guys,” said Schultz of Tracy, St. Mary’s and Lincoln. “If we come out and compete like we would like to we can play with anybody in our league right now.”
Tokay
This season, Tokay coach Pat Macfarlane, whose squad is 2-3, has 12 players on his roster. Last spring, the Tigers finished with a 13-14 record, grabbing the league’s final playoff berth.
One of the Tigers’ strengths is pitchers, one of whom proved that toward the end of last week; senior Nick Frisk tossed a no-hitter against Stagg for an 8-0 win in a non-league game.
“We have four steady pitchers that throw strikes,” Macfarlane said.
Joining Frisk are Max Blevins, Victor Nateras and Jack Gobel, all seniors, along with Max Blevins. Another arm for the Tigers is freshman Logan Drummond, who also plays outfield.
Joey Heryford, at shortstop, and second baseman Jaime Quesada will handle the middle part of the infield for the Tigers. Diego Ramirez is returning after playing first base last spring. Third base, at this time, is by committee, according to Macfarlane; senior Jake Munoz and junior Alberto Magallanes. Dylan Mahurin and Collin Drummond will split time at catcher.
The outfield has Cory Glasgow, who will be playing football at Humboldt State in Arcata after he graduates from Tokay in two months, and Ryan Lew.
Macfarlane feels hitting will be another strength for the Tigers.
“They swung the bats very well the last two games (against Downey in an 11-2 win on March 9 and against Stagg the day before),” Macfarlane said.
Tokay, like Lodi, still has a handful of non-league games and tournaments to play before TCAL action begins next month. Upcoming are Turlock, Atwater and Clayton Valley Charter of Concord, plus a tournament.
“We have the Oakdale Tournament,” Macfarlane said. “We have some quality teams to play the next couple of weeks.”
Galt
As of Thursday, the Warriors are 0-4. On Monday, Galt is scheduled to start Sierra Valley Conference action at Union Mine. Last season, Galt went 213 in the SVC and 5-18 overall.
Jason Adversalo is in his first season at Galt, which has three seniors on the team; outfielders Francisco Casillas and Xavier Valdez and second baseman/designated hitter Sergio Rodriguez. Juniors on the squad are Ty Abbott, James Alcantar, Ivan Arana, Marco Fedeighi, Marco Garza, Keegan Nelson and Marcos Ordaz.
One of the perks for Galt is that it has 19 players on their roster, which includes nine underclassmen. But Galt is not fielding a frosh/soph team.
Liberty Ranch
Entering next Monday’s SVC home game against Rosemont of Sacramento, Liberty Ranch is 2-2. Last spring, Liberty Ranch won an outright SVC title at 14-1 and 20-7. But the Hawks lost their first round section Division IV playoff game to eventual section runner-up Placer of Auburn.
Wade Isbell is back for his third season in running the Hawks’ varsity squad. There are 11 seniors, most of whom played on last year’s championship team, which are catcher/pitcher/shortstop Ethan Torres, shortstop/second baseman/pitcher Jacob Martin, outfielder Paul Agans, catcher Collin Morgado, Josh Hooper, Adam Salton, Dale Ervin, Nate Huarte, Colton Sales, Trevor Arntson and Blake Thomas. Arntson is a multi-sport athlete, having played on the school’s varsity boys basketball team that won the SVC crown this winter and goalie on the Hawks’ varsity boys soccer team that took second place in the conference.
The rest of the squad consists of seven juniors.
Elliot Christian
Now in Central California Athletic Alliance action, Elliot is 2-0 in league and 4-3 overall. Last season, the Eagles missed a D-VI playoff berths with a 9-5 mark in the CCAA and 11-9 overall.
Dean Balcao returns for his second season for Elliot. Part of his 15-player roster include seniors Nate Bond, Nick Figueroa, Kyle Beadles, Brach Flemmer and Cody Doell. Juniors are Joshua Alejandre, Alexander Pinasco, Noah Byrd, Robert Dutcher and Nate Washington.
There are no sophomores on the Eagles’ squad, but four freshmen in Logan Kottinger, Amari Maze, Joe Barnhardt and Zach Van Groningen.
Note: Lodi Academy is not fielding a baseball team this season.