Bruin BaseBallPonderosa High w3661 Ponderosa Road, Shingle Springs, CA 95682 w April 2014

Varsity, JV Bruins enjoy Raley opportunityBruin Baseball photo/DAVID GLASS

Ponderosa baseball program takes the field on Rivercats’ home turf

BY KARL GRUBAUGHBruin Baseball editor

wPonderosa JV coach Joe Humphrey acknowledges friends in the stands during the Bruins’ game against Will C. Wood of Vacaville at Raley Field in West Sacramento.

Bruin Baseball photo/DAVID GLASS

For the Ponderosa High baseball programs, it really was like playing on a field of dreams. On March 26, the varsity and JV Bruins baseball teams

faced off against Will C. Wood of Vacaville in a pair of games that served as both a fundraiser for the Ponderosa baseball pro-gram and – much more importantly – an opportunity for the ath-letes to compete on perhaps the best baseball field in the greater Sacramento region. Raley Field, of course, is the home of the Sacramento River-cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics and one of the most successful and highly valued teams in U.S. minor league baseball. More than a few players have gone on from the Triple-A Rivercats to major-league baseball success with Oakland, includ-ing infielder Eric Sogard, pitcher Jesse Chavez, catcher Derek Norris, outfielder Brandon Moss and many others. This year, the Rivercats’ high school baseball program – which has been held at Raley Field for several years – featured 18 varsity and 17 junior varsity games and included teams from 36 different schools from across the Sacramento region and beyond. It was, however, the first time Ponderosa has participated – something that wasn’t lost on players, coaches and parents. “It was great for kids to get a taste of playing at that level,” JV parent Gordy Rodenberg said. “The field, the dugout – it gives them the drive to go further in the sport.” Varsity coach Robert Taylor helped make the arrangements that allowed the Bruins to participate in the event, and he was pleased with the outcome. “It’s great for kids,” Taylor said. “It’s a terrific venue, and the kids get to feel good about themselves, to feel big league. The game itself was gravy.” In the varsity game, Wood beat the Bruins 3-2 despite junior Emory Thompson going 3-for-3 at the plate. Senior Ponderosa pitcher Brett Pankow took the loss, allowing all three runs but only one earned run in 5 2/3 innings. Wood prevailed 7-5 in the

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April 2014Page 2 Bruin Baseball

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JV game against the Bruins, who were led by 2-for-3 hitting performances from sophomores Fernando Loera and Jordan Humphrey. Scott Martin was tagged with the loss for Ponderosa; he allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings but only one earned run as the Bruins com-mitted four errors. Despite the losses, players and coaches on both teams said it was an excellent experience. “It was fun, and different,” said senior catcher Shea McLinden. “I was just tak-ing it all in, and hoping I can progress to playing every day on a field like that.” For JV coach Joe Humphrey, the greatest moment was when he got to walk out of the dugout and tap his left arm to call for freshman relief pitcher Chris Daniels to come across the right field grass and take the mound. “It was awesome,” Humphrey said.

“It was so exciting for me, for the kids. And they had a blast.” Martin said it was definitely a day to remember. “It will be a great memory,” Mar-tin said of his role as the JV starting pitcher. “To be able to warm up in the bullpen, to be able to start, to be on that mound, it was great.” It was also great for the team’s finances. Parents of players across the program were asked to purchase a pack-age of Rivercats tickets as part of the program – and, when all the numbers are finished being calculated, the Bruins will net between $1,500 and $2,000. “It’s a great fundraiser,” Taylor said. “It’s a great way to make some money, for us and for (the Rivercats).” As for the future? Parent Larry Ito, for one, said it’s a no-brainer. “This is a really good thing,” Ito said, “and it’s something we should try to do every year.”

RALEY: Despite losses in both varsity and JV games, experience was terrific for Pondo

wJV coach Joe Hum-phrey chats with sopho-more Davey Dyas during between-inning warmups at Raley Field in West Sac-ramento as sophomore Don Hood, freshman Chris Dan-iels, sopho-more Garrett Grubaugh and sopho-more Nick King look on. Bruin Baseball photo /

JOHN DYAS

wThe Ponderosa JV team enjoys the view from the Rivercats’ expansive dugout.

Bruin Baseball photo/DAVID GLASS