Call them the Big Five.
Call them the Big Five.
The top five hitters in the Hollister High baseball lineup proved last year they can wield mean bats. Most coaches in the Central Coast Section would take this quintet as a 1-through-5. All of them have the ability to hit the ball out of the park. They combined for seven home runs a year ago. They were all instrumental in the Balers’ mercurial rise to one of the elite baseball programs in the CCS.
The Balers were co-champions of the Monterey Bay League in 2002 and made it to the CCS Division I semifinals before being eliminated by Serra, which lost to Wilcox in the title game. No other Baler team before them had made it that far, nor had won as many games – 24. Now the Balers are the favorites to win the six-team Tri-County Athletic League, along with Live Oak and Salinas. Each team will play each other three times. The first five weeks of the league season has each team playing each other in a home and home.
“The surprise aspect is gone this season,” said Baler head coach Neal Andrade, who begins his third season. “People know about us now. There won’t be any easy games in league. Live Oak and Salinas have pitching. North Salinas should be better than last year. And Gilroy was young last season so they should be better. Palma always has good athletes and you don’t know if they’ll get going. I like this new format. That way you face different pitchers in the same week.”
The Balers break the ice Saturday at the Coast Classic in Monterey, though Pacific Grove is the host team. Hollister faces Monterey at 9:30 a.m. and Saratoga at 3:30 p.m. Both games are at Sollecito Park. The tournament runs through next week with Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday games.
Andrade has a good bead on his lineup, which will be senior-laden. The strength of the team defensively will be the middle infield. Eric Diaz Jr. and three-year varsity performer Nick Ramos man second base and shortstop, respectively. And the Balers may have the best center field in the CCS in Josh Badillo. Badillo put on a spectacular show in the the loss to the Padres, combing San Jose Municipal like it he was brought up there.
“We have the best second and short combination in the league,” said Andrade. “And Josh is a rock in center.”
PItching is a major question mark, though Andrade will send some live arms out to the mound who are capable of getting the job done.
Nathan Rowe and Diaz Jr. will be joint aces for now, with two juniors who spent the season on the varsity as sophomores – Justin Patton and Brett Fulgoni – acting as long and middle relief hurlers, as well as spot starters. Junior Ricardo Cosio and sophomore Jason Sims, who won’t be out from varsity basketball for at least 12 days, would be next in line. Andrade admits to not having a closer, but hopes to develop one over time.
Rowe started nine games last season and had a record of 3-1. He also was one of the Balers’ top relievers the past two years and has a nasty curveball. Diaz Jr. didn’t pitch an inning last year, but he’s up to the task.
“I’m not afraid to jump into tight spots,” said Diaz Jr. “I’ve done a lot of weight lifting in the offseason. The key for us is to stay healthy. We can’t afford any key injuries.”
“Last year we had a lot of individuals,” said Rowe. “This team has a more team unity. My changeup has been working real well so far. I need to vary my fastball more.”
Oh, yes, about the Big Five.
1. Badillo, a senior center fielder, is your prototype leadoff hitter, willing to take a base on balls, do anything to get on. “Josh has really set himself up to have a big year,” said Andrade. “He’s had a great three weeks of practice. He’s a good, heady ballplayer and good on the basepaths.” Badillo, who hit one out a year ago, was a first team all-MBL selection last season.
2. Ramos, a senior shortstop, has bulked up and grown a couple of inches over the last two years. “My older brother, Javier, is helping me workout at a local gym,” said Nick. “My arm’s a lot stronger this season.” “Nick is a good fielder,” said Andrade. “He also handles the bat better than anyone on the team. He’s been more of a team leader this season. He’s been taking the bull by the horns this season.” Ramos was a first team all-MBL pick a year ago.
3. Diaz Jr., a senior, plays second when he is not pitching. “He has the best left-handed swing I’ve ever coached,” said Andrade. “He’s swinging with more power this season. He’s a natural at the plate. He has a lot of talent.” Diaz Jr. was a second team all-MBL pick last year.
4. Gordon Ross, a senior, who will play first base or be a designated hitter. Ross isn’t quite 100 percent from surgery on his pectoralis muscle a few months ago. He hit three home runs last season, including a grand slam to beat Homestead 12-8 in 12 innings in a CCS first round game. “He’s a little behind because of his shoulder,” said Andrade. “But he got off to a slow start last season then got hot.” “I want to personally make up for missing most of the football season in my senior year,” said Ross. “I’m taking it out on baseball. The key for us is pitching. We have the defense.”
5. Rowe, a senior hurler, who will play second when Diaz, Jr. is pitching to start. He might play third, as well. “Nathan’s versatile,” said Andrade. “He can play anywhere. He and Eric might be the two best athletes on the team.” Rowe, an honorable mention selection last season, hit three home runs last season.
The rest of the Baler lineup, which has tremendous potential. It just needs to produce against varsity competition and will get its chance this season.
6. Catcher Anthony Synegal, a junior. Synegal takes over for two-year starter Joe Delucchi in one of the most important positions on the field. “He needs to sit back more in the strike zone against off-speed pitches,” said Andrade, a catcher when he played. “He has power. He has the typical catcher’s body. He has a decent arm. He needs to work on his release.”
7. Designated hitter is Steve O’Connell, a senior. He can also play first base. “He’s agile for a big kid,” said Andrade. “We’re asking him to contribute offensively for us this year.”
8. Third baseman P.J. Galvan, a senior. “He gives us a left-handed stick. He needs to play with a positive attitude and not get down on himself.”
9. Right and left field positions are wide open. One will bat ninth while the other will be DH’d for. Leading candidates are Cosio, a senior, and Fulgoni. Other possibilities include junior Nick Gonzalez, whom Andrade calls “the fastest runner on the team. He’ll do a lot of running for us in late innings.” Junior Jon Corona, who has good speed, and senior Daniel Elder, can also play outfield, as can junior Manny Hinojos. Hinojos is the backup catcher right now. Elder was one of the top pitchers on the junior varsity last season.
Backup infielders are junior Mike Lango (3B), who can swing the bat with power, and junior Oscar Sanchez (2B, SS), a scrappy player on the basepaths and with the glove.
Besides Sims, Andrade expects to keep outfielder Brett Ichien as the only other sophomore. Ichien is on the junior varsity basketball team.
There are some interesting non-league games set up by Andrade for the ’03 season. Besides the Coast Classic, the Balers host Paso Robles in a doubleheader March 8.
“North County coach Tim Gower played some youth games down in that area during the summer and he knew we lost three league games from last year,” said Andrade. “We’ll probably play down there next year.”
The Balers return to the annual Lions Tournament in San Jose during Easter break – April 12 vs. Hillsdale at PAL Stadium; April 14 at Monta Vista; April 16 vs. Mitty at PAL, April 18 final round.
Hollister High 2003 baseball schedule
Feb. 22-27, March 1 – at Coast Classic
March 8 – Paso Robles (DH), 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
March 12 – Live Oak, 3:30 p.m.*
March 14 – at Live Oak, 3:30 p.m.*
March 19 – at Gilroy, 3:30 p.m.*
March 21 – Gilroy, 3:30 p.m.*
March 26 – at North Salinas, 3:30 p.m.*
March 29 – North Salinas, 3:30 p.m.*
March 31 – Salinas, 3:30 p.m.*
April 3 – at Salinas, 4 p.m.*
April 8 – at Palma, 4 p.m.*
April 11 – Palma, 4 p.m.*
April 12 – Lions Tournament at PAL Stadium , San Jose, vs. Hillsdale, 4 p.m.
April 14 – Lions Tournament at Monta Vista, 3:30 p.m.
April 16 – Lions Tournament vs. Mitty, 7 p.m.
April 18 – Lions Tournament, TBA
April 23 – at North County, 4 p.m.
April 30 – Live Oak, 4 p.m.*
May 3 – at Gilroy, 4 p.m.*
May 5 – at North Salinas, 4 p.m.*
May 8 – Salinas, 4 p.m.*
May 13 – at Palma, 4 p.m.*
*T-CAL games
