The Pointer baseball team won a CIF championship last season and the 11 seniors on this year’s team, including two transfers, are aiming for a repeat to put an exclamation point on their prep careers.
The Pointers have one more person who gives them an advantage over all their opponents, head coach Rigo Ledezma.
Ledezma, a math teacher at Santana High and parent of a Pointer student, arrived as head coach last year and promptly began instilling the “team concept” and the detailed baseball instruction that has made him successful during a 26-year coaching career that includes 17 seasons as a head coach. He is a National Prep Coach of the Year. He took the Pointers from a 2023 record of 14-17-1 to a CIF title and record of 19-9-4 in his first year.
Pointer second baseman Adrian Gomez throws to first base to complete a double play against Bonita Vista as shortstop Wyatt Smith looks on. SCOTT HOPKINS/PENINSULA BEACON
On the mound, Matthew Garrison has taken the ace role vacated by Will Sanford, now pitching for the Oregon Ducks. San Diego High transfer and USD commit Phoenix Brant is the other starter, while Hunter Weller, Luis Lara, and Johnny Bowes have all seen action.
To date, Garrison is 2-0 and has not given up an earned run in nine innings of work. Brant is 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA. The pitching staff has only given up a total of five earned runs in four games.
Batting averages are high, led by senior Madison High transfer Caden Williams (.625), Branden Keeling (.462), Hunter Reddeg (.455), Druw Frost and Brant (both .417), and Adrian Gomez (.333).
The team’s seniors play a significant role in Ledezma’s view.
“Senior leadership is a strength,” he said. “We have 11 seniors that have extremely high expectations for our team. Another strength of our team is our ability to play team baseball. Our players get excited about playing as one.”
Seniors include Dylan Upjohn, Marviel Underwood, Ben Waterman, Michael Hall, Jackson Leitz, Gomez, Keeling, Frost, Garrison, Williams, and Brant.
“I am continually impressed by the coachability of our players at PLHS,” Ledezma said. “Players are hungry to get better and this shows every day at practice. I am also impressed by our ability to grow and learn through our mistakes. Our players always seem to find ways to find a lesson and learn through losses/mistakes.”
Every Pointer practice is carefully planned by Ledezma and there is constant teaching and review of the finer details of the game that, as in math classes, ramp up as the season goes on. These skills are incorporated into games giving the Pointers tactical advantages over their opponents.
During games, Ledezma’s verbal messages are constantly positive and encouraging and his late teen/young adult players respond with supportive words and interactions. And, in a refreshing aside, there are no obscenities or profanities heard in the dugout or on the field.