WATSONVILLE — Pajaro Valley High head coach Matt Manfre has preached teamwork since taking over the Grizzlies’ baseball program three years ago.
So when the coaches of the Monterey Bay League Pacific division decided to name him co-Coach of the Year along with Alisal High’s Bernie Castaneda, he was more than happy to distribute credit for the honor among his assistant coaches Ed Ackerman, Eric Eldridge and Joe Manfre.
“I really respect and appreciate the recognition from the other coaches, but it wasn’t just me,” Manfre said. “It was all of us.”
Together, the quartet helped Pajaro Valley end a 131-game losing streak against league opponents and continue its recent improvement.
The Grizzlies finished just 3-18 overall and 1-17 in league play, but were more competitive in a majority of games throughout the year.
Pajaro Valley senior Daivian Quintana, who tossed a gem in the Grizzlies’ lone league win of the season, also earned some recognition. The star pitcher was named to the MBL-P First Team.
“He’s a true ball player, he’s competitive as heck and you can tell that he loves the game,” Manfre said. “He gave us our best chance to win every time he stepped foot on the mound.”
Watsonville High seniors Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Rivera and North Monterey County High sophomore Jesse Barajas also made the division’s first team.
Gonzalez and Rivera helped Watsonville fire off six straight wins after an inauspicious 2-3 start to league play and the dismissal of first-year coach Leroy Dozal.
The Wildcatz would ultimately finish 10-14 overall and 10-8 in league action, which was good enough for fourth place.
Watsonville also had senior Jason Garza and junior Dylan Vargas make the division’s second team.
Barajas batted .440 for the Condors with 18 RBIs, five doubles and a pair of triples. He also had 15 stolen bases.
N.M.C. seniors Zion Lopez and Bobby Devore earned spots on the league’s second team.
Lopez batted .375 with six doubles and three triples, while also stealing six bases. Devore batted .402 with three doubles and a triple. He also caught 12 base runners from behind the dish.
The Condors finished 8-14 overall and 7-11 in league action under second-year head coach Alex Rivera.
Alisal won the Elgie Bellizio Team Sportsmanship award and Trojans’ Sal Lopez was named the division’s Most Valuable Player.
Alvarez High’s Javier Rodriguez was honored as the MBL-P’s Most Valuable Pitcher.
Six locals earned honorable mention: Watsonville’s Max Ramirez and James Flota, N.M.C.’s Sebastian Ramirez and Jordan Larva and Pajaro Valley’s John Ramos and Eddie Renteria.
GABILAN
Garret Laine was one of the few bright spots of an otherwise tough season for the Monte Vista Christian Mustangs.
His brilliance did not go unnoticed.
The senior slugger was named to the MBL-Gabilan division First Team by the coaches of the powerhouse division.
Laine, who will play baseball for NCAA Division II Fresno Pacific next season, led the Mustangs in nearly every offensive statistical category.
He batted .375 and totaled 33 hits, 22 scored runs, 11 RBIs, four doubles, two triples and three home runs.
Laine had only one game in which he did not record a hit, tallying hitting streaks of 10 and 14 games.
M.V.C. finished under .500 for the sixth straight season. The Mustangs were 8-19 overall and 4-14 in MBL-G action.
Despite their struggles, they will compete in the PCAL’s top division next season with Christopher High, Gilroy High, San Benito High, Monterey High, Palma High, St. Francis High and Salinas High. The division will also be called the Gabilan division.
League champion San Benito nearly swept the MBL-G’s major awards. Mason Marquez was named the division’s Most Valuable Player, Billy Aviles earned Coach of the Year honors and Ryan Platero shared the Most Valuable Pitcher award with Christopher’s Jonathan Newman.
M.V.C. won the Elgie Bellizio Team Sportsmanship award.
Mustangs’ senior pitcher and infielder Jacob Beardsley earned a spot on the division’s second team.
Beardsley hit .317 with 26 hits, 15 RBIs, two doubles and a homer.
M.V.C. also had two players earn honorable mention: juniors Ian Koenig and Marshall Silva.
