Sports
Championships Ring True For Ohlone Baseball
Renegades get rings for 2018 championship; six former Ohlone players starting at Division I level
The Ohlone College baseball program has had a memorable month ... on so many levels. In addition to receiving championship rings for 2018, head coach Mike Curran’s Renegades were honored for academic excellence and achievements on the field.
Moreover, six former Ohlone players find themselves starting on Division I teams.
HERE AND NOW: The Renegades (6-4) had a 1-2 record last week highlighted by an 11-1 rout of Contra Costa on Feb. 12. Dalton Vanhille led Ohlone against the Comets with two triples and four RBI. Winning pitcher Tyler Stultz, Michael Bonnacorso, Zac Heinz, Robert Chioino, James Colyer, and Zach Patterson combined on the mound.
In a 7-3 loss to visiting Chabot on Feb. 16, Justin Clark blasted a home run and Zach Patterson was 2 for 4 with a double and run scored. Max Heverly also doubled in a run.
ALL-AMERICANS/PLAYERS TO WATCH: Clark and pitcher Peter Van Loon were picked as Preseason All-Americans. Clark is No. 4 in the conference in batting average at .419, and Van Loon has a 1-2 mark. Clark, Van Loon and Zach Patterson were also picked as “Players to Watch” by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
PRIME-TIME PROGRAM: Impressively, six former Renegades players have earned starting spots with Division I teams: AJ Curtis (Fullerton), Thad Phillips (UConn), Ethan Skuija (Bakersfield), Ryan Walstad (Sacramento State), Isaac Cruz (Utah) and Ryan Ruley (LMU).
Curtis basically won the Triple Crown in the Coast-Pacific in 2018, leading the conference in average (.421), RBI (47) and tying for the top spot in home runs with eight. Skuija led the conference in ERA (1.70), wins (13) and strikeouts (109).
RINGING THE BELL: Ohlone graduate Michael Newman, a right-handed pitcher, showed off his 2017 and 2018 championship rings as one of 12 Renegades to earn them.