With CCC championship wrapped up, El Capitan High baseball tune up for playoff run
The El Capitan High School baseball team has already marked a Central California Conference championship off its checklist of goals after a 10-0 start in conference play.
The Gauchos (17-2-1) still have some big goals left.
El Capitan is looking for its first home playoff victory in school history. The Gauchos had an opportunity last year but lost a first-round home playoff game 11-6 to Lincoln.
El Capitan also wants to make a deep playoff run. The Gauchos haven’t won a playoff game since May 24, 2016.
So don’t expect to see the Gauchos take their foot off the gas in the final two weeks of the regular season as El Capitan ramps up for the postseason, which begin on May 9.
A strong finish should lock up one of the top seeds in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs for El Capitan.
The Gauchos continued their stellar play Thursday, defeating Escalon 11-0 in a game stopped after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. The win completed a two-game sweep of the Cougars as the Gauchos outscored them 17-0.
“We learned last year in the playoffs we have to be more prepared,” El Capitan senior ace Andrew Bakken said. “We were too casual last year. This year we’ll be ready.”
Bakken has rebounded from a back injury, suffered last summer that sidelined him six months, to put together another stellar season on the mound.
The left-handed senior threw a one-hit shutout against Escalon on Thursday, striking out eight batters. Bakken improved to 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA. He’s struck out 75 hitters in just under 50 innings pitched.
Right-hander Mitchell Hunter has given the Gauchos an impressive 1-2 punch on the mound, compiling a 5-0 record with a 0.42 ERA. Hunter has 69 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched.
“It’s really nice having them both,” El Capitan coach Aaron Ruiz said. “We knew Andrew would have a special season after what he did for us last year. I knew Mitch would be pretty special with all the hard work he put in last year to be our second pitcher this year.”
The pair of aces said they have a healthy competition each time they take the mound.
“We thrive off each other,” Bakken said. “We both support each other and we want the other to do their best.”
The Gauchos’ strength has been their pitching and defense all season with the staff sporting a team ERA of 1.93.
El Capitan isn’t going to overpower teams with its offense. The team is averaging just over 4.5 runs per game.
However, the Gauchos are opportunistic, taking advantage of walks and defensive mistakes to jump-start rallies.
“It’s small ball,” Hunter said. “We do well when the snowball (of errors by the opposing defense) gets going.
“And we feed off each other.”
Thursday was the latest example of the Gauchos’ small ball stressing a defense.
El Capitan took advantage of five Escalon errors to go along with its 10 hits.
Camden Peterson highlighted a three-run second inning rally by driving in two runs with a single. Derek Warren plated tw more runs with a single of his own during a four-run fifth inning.
“We don’t play long ball,” Ruiz said. “We try to create opportunities by doing a good job of putting the ball in play and making teams make plays against us.”
What’s made the season even more special is the close bond the team has formed.
“We’re a family,” Hunter said. “It’s been team wins all season. We all pick each other up. If someone is upset about something that happened there are 10 or 11 guys ready to pick him up.”
“It’s the best team I’ve ever been on,” Bakken added. “It really feels like we’re with family whether we’re going to a practice or a game. It’s so exciting to be a part of this team.”
This story was originally published April 27, 2023 at 9:59 PM.
