The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: hsu club baseball

  • Baseball clubs across California come together

    Baseball clubs across California come together

    Club baseball organizations from the CSU system discuss COVID-19 obstacles

    Humboldt State University club teams are not the only ones having issues with recruiting and getting on the field. Baseball clubs across the Cal State system came together to discuss the cancellations of their seasons due to COVID-19.

    Most teams present have been unable to do anything in-person due to quarantine. Players from University of San Francisco came up with a unique idea to combat restricted field access.

    Alex Bradshaw, a member of the USF baseball club, is able to practice with his teammates because of a homemade batting cage.

    “Saul Diaz [a member of USF baseball] was able to build a homemade batting cage that some of us are able to meet up at and hit some balls,” Bradshaw said. “There are only about five of us on the team right now so no rules are broken and we are doing our part in social distancing.”

    HSU athletic clubs aren’t the only ones getting the short end of the stick when it comes to not being able to get on the field.

    Aiden Patterson, president of the USF baseball club, has been facing the same problems when it comes to creating a game plan to get back on the field.

    “They are slowly bringing sports back into our area. Our university is not working with us now and they never did,” Patterson said. “Our club is not allowed to use equipment or fields on campus. Our club sports representative has been trying to work with the Athletic Director but they have not even budged a little on the issue.”

    Robert Rocha, president of Long Beach State University’s baseball club, has been working hard with his university to get the team back to practicing.

    “Up until two weeks ago there was no chance of us getting back on the field,” Rocha said. “ Then I received and email last week with guidelines for practice from a representative of the NCAA that I sent to club sports and they are reviewing the situation right now.”

    During the meeting, Martin Gordillo, president of HSU’s baseball club, questioned if club teams would compete in the spring season, some were hesitant to say yes. The debate surrounds wanting to compete and not wanting to expose players to COVID-19.

    “Going back to practice is hard to decide,” Rocha said. “It is frustrating because we want to practice, but I do not want to have guys risk their own health for us to play baseball.”

    Daniel Pena, Cal State Fullerton University’s baseball club president, spoke on the risk of COVID-19 extending beyond players on the field and into their households.

    “I know some of my players live with their parents and grandparents,” Pena said. “I just don’t want any house to be jeopardized. It is a hard decision because we don’t want to force the issue of people being hurt and sick.”

    The biggest problem at hand surrounds lack of players for the competitive season. COVID-19 has created boundaries surrounding club outreach and recruitment.

    “We are only three to five people,” Patterson said. “It isn’t a matter of will, but if we will be able to compete. We can’t even recruit during these times. We just don’t have the numbers.”

    Recruitment and outreach has limited player enrollment. Pena found it difficult to motivate returning players, adding that the team’s competitive attitude is down due to the cancellation of their season.

    “A lot of guys graduated,” Pena said. “Recruiting is going horrible and I have difficulty contacting my teammates. They don’t respond to me probably because there is no effort put into this season. It’s hard to be competitive when there is no season to look forward to.”

    The meeting between CSU baseball clubs has solidified the fact that the spring season remains undecided. Even if teams were permitted to compete in the spring, they may be unable to play due to the lack of players on the field.

  • Club Baseball Wins Double-Header

    Club Baseball Wins Double-Header

    Jacks win both games on Saturday but postpone Sunday games due to weather

    The Humboldt State club baseball team was scheduled to play a doubleheader on both Saturday and Sunday at the Arcata Ballpark. They swept their doubleheader on Saturday under sunny skies, but wet and cold weather conditions on Sunday forced the Jacks to cancel the rest of the home-stand after only playing two and a half innings.

    The fall season is about development and chemistry building before the team begins its competitive season in spring, but the players were happy with the results of their doubleheader.

    Jacks pitcher Nick Mavrolas at the top of his pitching motion. HSU baseball played a doubleheader against local teams at the Arcata Ballpark. | Photo by Liam Warner

    The Jacks played two scrimmages against local teams mostly comprised of high school players from around the county, the Northern Humboldt Giants and the Humboldt Eagles. The two teams proved to be good competition for the Jacks.

    Pitching and defense was the theme of the day for Saturday’s games. Nick Marvolas started game one for the Jacks against the Northern Humboldt Giants, only giving up two runs in three innings pitched.

    The Jacks started scoring in the third inning when catcher Alejandro Caravalho ripped a line drive into right-center field giving the Jacks a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, Caravalho was tagged out trying to advance to third base on the play. After the Giants took a 2-1 lead in the third inning, the Jacks responded in the fourth when Christian Amador hit an RBI single and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Jacks a 3-2 lead. In the seventh inning, Xander Gonsalves scored on a steal of home and the Jacks won game one by a score of 4-2.

    Ryin Alexander in his batting stance as he waits for the pitch. HSU baseball played a doubleheader against local teams at the Arcata Ballpark. | Photo by Liam Warner

    The second game of the day against the Humboldt Eagles followed a similar pattern.

    Caravalho started the game on the mound for the Jacks and put together a spectacular performance against the Eagles hitters. He went five innings, allowing no runs despite allowing five hits and three walks. Christian Amador pitched the last two innings, only giving up one earned run. Offensively the Jacks made the board early again and took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Willie Cestarollo drew a walk with the bases loaded.

    The Jacks added three more runs in the fourth inning with the aid of a Justin Miller triple and a Lorenzo Hernandez double. A couple of runs came across in the seventh for the Eagles, but the Jacks held on for another 4-2 win.

    Shortstop Christian Amador heads for third base. HSU baseball played a doubleheader against local teams at the Arcata Ballpark. | Photo by Liam Warner

    On Sunday, in the typical Humboldt spirit and despite the downpours and the chilly weather, the Jacks attempted to play their first game against the Humboldt B52’s. After two and a half innings, the weather conditions forced the teams to cancel the rest of the day’s action.

    Despite their homestand getting cut short, the Jacks were happy to be out on the field playing. For Jacks’ first baseman Chris Friedley, who grew up in Humboldt County, being able to play on the same field that he watched his baseball heroes play on when he was growing up made the whole experience special.

    “I’ve been playing on this field since sophomore year of high school,” Friedley said. “Having my family be able to come out and watch, honestly it’s a gift.”

  • Club Baseball Preps for Fall

    Club Baseball Preps for Fall

    HSU’s club baseball team gets ready for competition with informational meeting

    The Humboldt State Baseball Club prepared for its upcoming fall season with an informational meeting on Sept. 7 at the Redwood Bowl. The team went over basic information like club dues, practice times, expectations of the players and their tentative season schedule.

    HSU’s Baseball Club President Martin Gordillo at the Redwood Bowl on Sept. 6. | Photo by Liam Warner

    Even though Humboldt State does not have an intercollegiate baseball team that would have the benefit of being in the NCAA and able to recruit players on athletic scholarships, the club team offers a more tight-knit atmosphere. It also allows players of all skill levels the experience and play time that they might not receive elsewhere.

    According to the club’s president Martin Gordillo the important part of being on the team is the experience and having a good time.

    “You get the travel experience, and you get the playing time,” Gordillo said. “It’s like when you were playing baseball in high school.”

    HSU Baseball Club Vice President Alejandro Caravalho at the Redwood Bowl on Sept. 6. | Photo by Liam Warner

    The club baseball team is completely student-coached. For Alejandro Caravalho, the club’s vice president who transferred from the College of The Redwoods baseball team, the student-coached model allows for more flexibility and more player choice in how the team is run.

    “It’s more collaborative, rather than a dictatorship where the coach’s word is law,” Caravalho said. “I have a more informed role on the team where we discuss finances, and we get a say as opposed to a coach telling us what to do.”

    The club baseball team also gets the benefit of practicing and playing their home games at the Arcata Ballpark in downtown Arcata. The park is home to the Humboldt Crabs during the summer months.

    Travel Secretary Willie Cestarollo (#6) practices his pitching motion at the Redwood Bowl on Sept. 6. | Liam Warner

    During the meeting, Travel Secretary Willie Cestarollo talked about the Arcata Ballpark being one of the best baseball facilities in Northern California and mentioned how visiting club teams praise the ballpark as one of the best facilities that they visit.

    The team plays in the National Club Baseball Association, which is comprised of club baseball teams from schools across the country. HSU’s division consists of teams such as Stanford, Sacramento State and St. Mary’s and are teams that HSU will play in the spring.

    Slated for the fall season is a trip down to Chico State and two non-conference home series games at the Arcata Ballpark. The first one is September 28-29 against the Humboldt Eagles and then November 16-17 versus Sonoma State, weather permitting.

    “I like the team because it’s small,” Gordillo said. “It’s easier for us to get closer with one another.”