The Prune Packers are entering the final stretch of California Collegiate League (CCL) action this week, preparing to close out one of the most successful summers in the organization’s 100-year history.
At press time the Packers (35-5) were coming off of five wins in their last six ballgames, scoring recent victories over the Solano Mudcats (16-0, 11-3), Fairfield Indians (15-2), Walnut Creek Crawdads (9-3) and West Coast Kings (5-2). The lone loss of the string came on July 23 in a 13-11 loss to the Lincoln Potters.
At the start of play this week, Healdsburg was leading the CCL North Division with a dominant, 20-4 record, six full games ahead of second place Lincoln (14-10). Rounding out the CCL North standings are Walnut Creek (8-16) and Solano (6-18).
With such a commanding lead and just eight games left on the schedule, the only question now is, how far will the Pack go in the upcoming CCL playoffs?
“Battling with a short roster is not easy but guys have stepped up,” veteran manager/GM Joey Gomes said, before predicting, “We’ll be in the CCL State Championship.”
Team stats
The Packers continue to shred CCL pitching, carrying a current team batting average of .305. Team batting leaders (minimum of 40 at-bats) are: Jesse Lopez (.460 BA, 29 hits, 24 runs, 6 HRs, 16 RBIs), Ryan Targac (.373, 22 hits, 21 runs, 3 HRs, 20 RBIs), Austin Bost (.362, 21 hits, 12 runs, 7 2Bs, 2 HRs, 20 RBIs), Torin Montgomery (.314, 27 hits, 16 runs, 6 2Bs, 3 HRs, 22 RBIs), Kimble Schuessler (.288, 17 hits, 10 runs, 1 HR, 9 RBIs), Blake McDonald (.286, 12 hits, 11 runs, 1 HR, 11 RBIs), Braydon Runion (.281, 16 hits, 15 runs, 1 HR, 9 RBIs) and Cole Elvis (.263, 15 hits, 11 runs, 2 HRs, 16 RBIs).
Leading pitchers are: Marvcus Guarin (4-0, 1.13 ERA, 16 IP, 6 BBs, 24 Ks), Shane O’Malley (3-1, 1.20, 15 IP, 4 BBs, 14 Ks), Charlie Hurley (2-0, 7.50, 18 IP, 11 BBs, 21 Ks), Heinrik Reinerstsen (1-0, 1.29, 14 IP, 1 BB, 12 Ks), Francis McDonough (1-1, 1.50, 18 IP, 5 BBs, 34 Ks, 1 save), Joe Ammirato (1-0, 0.00, 11.1 IP, 7 BBs, 16 Ks), Uday Norratam (1-0, 1.17, 7.2 IP, 4 BBs, 14 Ks, 1 save), Morgan White (1.13, 8 IP, 9 BBs, 16 Ks), Tyler Stromsborg (1.80, 10 IP, 2 BBs, 8 Ks, 1 save) and Tyler Stasiowski (1-0, 0.00, 10 IP, 0 BBs, 14 Ks). Healdsburg pitchers have a team earned run average of 3.04.
For the remaining season schedule visit the team’s website at prunepackersbaseball.org.
