Eagle Baseball Team Continues Rebuild with Freshman-Heavy Roster
Starting his second season as the Eagles' head baseball coach, Tevin Cadola has a freshman-heavy roster that performed well in the fall and has had to deal with fewer extreme weather interruptions than last year while preparing for Friday's opener at Yuba.
"I think we're going to hit well and put pressure on defenses," Cadola said. "I think it will be a great year offensively."
Though they're starting the season with just 12 pitchers, Cadola said he likes how they threw strikes in the fall and expects more of the same this spring.
"We had a great fall season," he said. "They played well and had good attitudes. Pitchers threw strikes. In a short season that's easy to do. The message I'm pushing is that it's a long season, but it's also a sprint. You need to control the six inches between your ears."
He said the 12 sophomores on the roster have been helping him "preach what I preach" to the 26 freshmen.
The goal is to focus on the process and instill good habits. "If everybody buys in, the wins and losses will take care of themselves," Cadola said. "I have the utmost confidence in my team and our responsive, awesome coaching staff."
That staff includes returning assistant coach Nick Thielman, who is working with the pitchers, and former Eagle Joseph Saenz, who has returned to work with the offense and coach base running.
Cadola said he trusts his assistants to do a great job while he oversees the overall operation and focuses on "culture and attitude." As he likes to say, "focus on the process; stay where your feet are at… It comes down to creating good habits. Once you see positive results, you start repeating."
Last year's team improved by three wins from the year before despite dealing with an avalanche of weather-related adversity.
This year, Cadola said, "We're happy to have a deep bench with backups we really trust. That gives us the luxury to roll with the hot hand. Everybody has to stay competitive. We're rebuilding a program, but I want to win, too, and whoever is getting us closer to our goal will play."
He said he's happy with the infield, which includes returning shortstop Dylan Battye and returning sophomore Drew Raebel at first base.
Battye, is "a plus athlete who can do a lot of things most kids can't do," Cadola said. Battye led the Eagle defense last year with 49 assists, was second on the team with 6 doubles and 3 triples and fourth with 15 runs scored.
Raebel is playing first base, as is Trey Bennett, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound freshman from Etna who is also a lefthanded starting pitcher. Raebel had a slash line of .291/.350/.564 in 16 games last year and was second on the team with 6 doubles and 3 home runs.
There's been a battle going on to play second base including freshman Gio Sanchez of Las Vegas and freshman Julius Guanio, one of three players on the roster from Hawaii.
Cadola said Monte Spence, a transfer from Phoenix, OR, has "a plus arm at third base."
Also returning on the infield are Ashton Durler and William Gwyn, who earned the team's EAGS award last year for his energy, attitude, grit, and selflessness.
Another returning sophomore, Jase Rothenberger, is listed on the roster as a utility player.
Kadin Bolanos, the only returning outfielder, led the Eagles with 5 home runs last year and was second on the team with 15 runs batted in.
Cadola describes freshman Vincent Gates of Modesto as a plus runner with great range who hits well and "is one of the better outfielders I've seen."
Freshman outfielder Jaxston Kister of Junction City, OR, "has a great work ethic and is quietly confident," said Cadola. "He gets it done in the classroom and on the field."
Darius Smith from Weed High School is an outfielder "with a lot of plus tools," according to the coach. "He's fast and a threat on the base path."
The pitching depth is shallower than last year, but Cadola said he's "very impressed with what we do have."
Geoffrey Allen of Stockton is the Eagles' only returning starting pitcher. He led last year's starting pitchers with a strikeout per 9 innings ratio of 8.22.
Bryson Estrella is the only other sophomore pitcher on the staff.
Freshmen pitchers lined up to start behind Allen are lefthander Trey Bennett of Etna, Branson Paulette of Layton, UT, and Dylan Fisher of Henderson, NV.
Cadola said the rotation is subject to change.
Among the freshmen pitchers, Cadola said he likes what he's seen from Fernando Avalos of Sacramento, while Logan Tikka of Vancouver, WA, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, "will be huge if he can help."
Nathan Baker from Mazama High School is starting the season in the bullpen but could be a starter, too. Also from Mazama, Cadola describes relief pitcher Skylar Doss is an "over-the-top" righthander.
Relievers include Allanson Reynolds of Las Vegas and Dylan Fisher of Henderson, NV, who, like Branson Paulette, is listed on the roster as a utility player. "He can hit, play the outfield and second base," Cadola said of Fisher.
Cadola said Hunter Reginato of Mt. Shasta, a 6-4 freshman pitcher, "has shown a lot of potential" and will be another option out of the bullpen.
Two other players from local high schools on the roster are outfielder Anthony Maria of Mt. Shasta and infielder Brandon Cordes of Weed.
Nathaniel Cook, the lone returning catcher on the roster, played in 18 games last year and had a .368 on base percentage.
Cadola said he's excited about the large group of freshmen on the roster, many of whom are expected to see significant playing time and then continue the rebuilding effort as sophomores next season.
Last year, the Eagles won their final 3 games in a row and 5 of their last 6, all on their home field. They finished 13-26 overall and 6-19 in conference.
This year, Cadola said the league looks young overall.
"it's all about teaching young athletes at a quick pace and developing consistency. It's not the better team that wins, but the team that plays better that day."
The Eagles first home games are scheduled for late February against Butte.
The 2024 roster includes:
SOPHOMORES
Infield: William Gwyn, Portland, OR; Andrew Raebel, Klamath Falls, OR; Dylan Battye, Duncan, Canada; Ashton Durler, Merlin, OR.
Outfield: Kadin Bolanos, Klamath Falls, OR.
Righthand Pitcher: Bryson Estrella, Eugene, OR; Geoffrey Allen, Stockton.
Catcher: Nathaniel Cook, Eugene, OR.
Utility: Jase Rothenberger, Bonney Lake, WA.
FRESHMEN
Utility: Vincent Gates, Modesto; Dylan Fisher, Henderson, NV; Branson Paulette, Layton, UT
Infield: Giovanni Sanchez, Las Vegas, NV; Julius Guanio, Ewa Beach, HI; Davin Aea-Kubota, Hauula, HI; Monte Spence, Phoenix, OR; Damon Brooks, Eugene, OR; Brandon Cordes, Weed; Rylan Taylor, Vancouver, WA.
Outfield: Darius Smith, Weed; Jaxton Kister, Junction City, OR; Matthew McCall, Sutter; Anthony Maria, Mt. Shasta; Tyce Bartlett, Citrus Heights.
Catcher: Zane Winter, Wahiawa, HI; Alex Elzy, Wilderville, OR.
Righthand Pitcher: Logan Tikka, Vancouver, WA; Hunter Reginato, Mt. Shasta; Allanson Reynolds, Las Vegas, NV; Fernando Avalos, Sacramento; Nathan Baker, Klamath Falls, OR; Skyler Doss, Klamath Falls, OR; Isak Hearell, Roy, UT.
Lefthand Pitcher: Trey Bennett, Etna; Jameson McMannon, Seattle, WA.
By Steve Gerace