Glendale Community College Baseball Preview: Vaqueros to build on success
It would be difficult to deny that the Glendale Community College baseball team enjoyed quite a bit of success last season.
The Vaqueros, under the steady leadership of 15-year coach Chris Cicuto, won 33 games. That total was the fourth-best in Southern California, tied for eighth in state and was the most for the program in at least 15 years.
The flip side of that success last season came in conference and postseason play.
Glendale lost two of three games to archrival College of the Canyons in the final week of the season to finish second in the Western State Conference East Division and did not claim the title for only the second time in seven years.
Then for a second straight postseason, Glendale was ousted in the first round of the playoffs, 2-1, by El Camino.
When asked about last season, Cicuto seemed more focused on 2018.
“Obviously, every year the ultimate goal is winning a state championship and going far in the playoffs and you never want to look too far in the future or too far back,” Cicuto said. “This team has a good chance to capture a Western State championship and go far in the playoffs.”
Glendale lost plenty of sophomore leadership in Rawlings All-Region second-team outfielder Cristian Montes and pitcher Jacob Giambalvo along with All-SoCal infielder Bruno Teramoto.
Concern over those defections is somewhat balanced by another massive roster as Cicuto is ball-parking his roster at around 40 players.
One player that Cicuto can count on is returning all-conference infielder Grant Mona, who batted .281 with 34 hits, 26 runs and 21 runs batted in 39 games.
Mona is expected to be the anchor at shortstop, but can also play other infield positions.
“Grant is a talented guy, a hard-working guy who I’m expecting to have an outstanding year both defensively and offensively,” Cicuto said.
At first base, Cicuto has a pair of area players battling in Glendale High’s Andrew Tinoco and former Burroughs standout Riley Hooper, while Amani Lawrence, Troy Viola and Albert Robles will vie for time at second and third base.
Maybe the most crowded position outside outside of the mound is behind the plate, where Cicuto has five players looking to see time that consists of Tony LaPorte, Konnor Piotto, Hodaka Usuki, Erik Carrera and Dustin Wilson (Hoover High).
“I think the best thing to stand out is just to do what the staff asks of us,” Piotto said. “There are a lot of demands as a catcher and we’re real deep. We were deep last year with four guys, so to get a spot you just have to do your best.”
Cicuto has hinted that his team’s strength this season will be pitching and why not as the squad boasts an incredible 21 players who can pitch.
Maybe the biggest name is La Cañada resident and 6-foot-3 left-handed prospect Chris Davidson, a bounce-back player from Coastal Carolina.
“He was on the Coastal Carolina team that won the World Series a couple of years back and only pitched in a few games for us last year before breaking his ankle,” Cicuto said. “He got a medical reinstatement for his third year in college and we’re looking forward to big things.”
Cicuto has another pitcher back from injury in Felix Rubi, who missed all of the 2017 campaign recovering from Tommy John surgery.
‘It’s been a long road – 12 months now,” Rubi said. “It feels great now and I’m happy to feel strong and back on the mound. It’s been a long, tough recovery and it’s been tempting to go faster and do more, but I stayed patient.”
Cicuto will also lean on former Burroughs pitcher Jason Whaley, who finished 3-1 in nine starts last season with a 5.53 earned-run average , along with Kevin Holcomb, Dexter Wilkerson, converted infielder Jake Selco and closer Robles.
Designed hitter and the leadoff batter will likely be the same person in speedy Glendale High product Thad Wilson, who batted .295 with 22 runs and 10 RBI last season.
The outfield is also crowded with several players figuring to be in the mix, including Jacob Gribbin, Tom Tabak and Brandon Lewis.
Glendale opens the season Jan. 27 hosting Mt. San Antonio College at Stengel Field at noon.
Twitter: @campadresports
