The sound of cleats scraping against the dirt and the smack of fastballs into mitts echoed louder this spring at Joe Kelly Field.
For the first time in 7 years, the Pierce College Brahmas earned their spot in the playoffs. A season milestone that brought excitement and a new sense of direction for the team.
Expectations were low since they haven’t advanced into the playoffs since 2018. But a mix of team chemistry and training turned doubt into momentum.
“No one knew where we’d stand as a team,” Center fielder Wyatt La Marsna said. “Then we beat Oxnard and made it and all hell broke loose.”
According to La Marsna, the team’s confidence began to shift after taking two out of three games from Santa Barbara, a team considered the strongest in the conference.
“I think it proved to all of us that we could beat the best teams in the conference, hang with the best teams that we’re going to play, and that we actually had a real good shot to go and make the playoffs and compete in playoffs.” La Marsna said.
Assistant Coach Will Picketts, a former Brahma who was a part of the 2018 playoff team, said he saw a major shift in the team’s mindset and camaraderie compared to past years.
“Seeing the sophomores step up, especially coming off such a bad season last year only winning seven games, was a very good feeling,” Picketts said. “If you have a group that likes each other and wants to win for each other, that’s super important.”
The leadership extended beyond the field, according to Pitcher Brayden Briscoe, who credited the coaches for building a culture of accountability and support.
“They held us to a high standard and made sure that we were getting our work in,” Briscoe said. “They really pushed us to be the best we could be, but they also kept morale high and everyone engaged.”
Briscoe said he believes this year’s success has reset expectations for the team, internally and for the program moving forward.
“With all of our guys who come in making the playoffs, having a successful season, I think we’re going to raise the standard of the program, or try to raise the standard to where the bar is now,” Briscoe said.
As for next year, the returning players hope to build on that foundation and carry the momentum into the new season.
“My hope for next year is that, with the guys we have coming back, we take the success from this year, and now that’s the baseline for years going forward,” Briscoe said. “And we’ll instill that into the freshman coming into the program next year.”
