Diana Garcia /Roundup, Natasha Aliabadi / Roundup
With the season winding down, the Brahmas baseball team, (22-12, 10-8) is looking forward to their playoff push. A push that is going to rely on their top starting pitchers: Nick Rodarte, Ryan Santhon and Carlos Gonzalez.
With a combined record of 12-10, earned run average of 4.46 and 169 strikeouts, Pierce’s best pitchers feel optimistic about their place in the Western State Conference.
“Overall, we’ve all came together and battled everybody,” said Santhon. “Even if we were to end now I’d be really happy. It’s been a good season.”
Ryan Santhon, 18, is a freshman and is undecided in his major.
He has always played pitcher or first base. In his senior year at Taft High School, Santhon had to get surgery on his elbow due to stress fractures because of over-pitching.
This is his first year back pitching.
“Pitching is my best shot because I’m left-handed. Left-handers have a lot more shots,” said Santhon.
Santhon’s goal is to have a career in professional baseball. However, if it doesn’t happen for him, he said he would probably do something in the field of criminal justice.
“If I had the opportunity, I’d play for anyone,” said Santhon.
Santhon’s teammate, Gonzalez, 19 and a criminal justice major, has the opportunity to move on to a high level of baseball—transferring to the University of Southern California to play baseball in the fall of 2010.
Gonzalez is optimistic on the remainder of the season and hopeful about the playoff push.
“We have a good team chemistry, get along and we are the most talented in the whole state, said Gonzalez. “There is no time to stop and get comfortable for these players.”
His strength is his mental toughness and will to win.
As for his outlooks for this season, they have the talent and they have a shot to win into the playoffs.
According to Gonzalez, he has pitched better before, but they have a good offensive game and giving a have a lot of support to for the team.
Winning Tuesday’s game against West Los Angeles College (6-1) and Saturday’s game against Valley College (15-10). They have most game winnings.
Like Gonzalez, Rodarte, a sophomore and Social Science major, plans to move in a similar direction after the season as he transfers to University of California, Santa Barbara.
“When I pitch I play with passion and play competitively,” said Rodarte. “I don’t try to impress too much and I don’t try to hit home runs. They just happen.”
Nonetheless, he feels the need to work on his strengths, given that he is not one of the fastest on his team.
As for Rodarte’s outlooks on the playoffs, he believes the first task is acquiring all winnings then, “any hot team can come out on top. We can do it and stay champions.”
Rodarte’s season has seen its hiccups as he was sidelined for a few games due to back problems. However, according to Rodarte, he is better now and ready to win this season.
“Our team has a lot of heart, and we put it out all on the field,” said Rodarte.
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(From left to right) Nick Rodarte, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Santhon have been the driving force behind the Brahmas success (Louie Heredia / Roundup)
