California: Freedom Reigns in City of Diamonds

OAKLEY, Calif. – Oakley is on the far reaches of the picturesque San Francisco Bay Area, about an hour’s drive east of San Francisco.

 

The recently incorporated city of 33,000 sits quietly between a historic and established city, Antioch, and one of California’s fastest growing and developing bedroom communities, Brentwood.

 

Without a definitive landmark, niche or identity, Oakley shows figuratively, literally and logistically all the characteristics of a middle child.

 

But thanks to a group of gifted and dedicated teens who attend the city’s lone high school – Freedom – that very well could change today.

 

With a pair of victories today in North Coast Section Division I title games, Freedom will be crowned the kings and queens of the diamond.

 

Oakley thus might be known as the City of Diamonds.

 

Freedom’s softball team (23-3), ranked fourth nationally by USA Today, goes after an eighth NCS crown in 10 years when it hosts Livermore (22-2) at 1 p.m.

 

Six hours later, the Falcons’ baseball squad (22-4), ranked 18th in the state, 92nd nationally by MaxPreps, plays in its first NCS finals when it takes on perennial national sports power De La Salle-Concord at the Oakland Coliseum, host of major league baseball’s Oakland A’s.   

 

“It’s a big day and no matter what happens, a great day,” Freedom softball coach Jeff Jonas said.

 

Said Freedom baseball coach Gary Alexander: “You got kids, coaches and parents who have devoted a lot of time and effort to this moment, not just this year but so many years before.

 

“This is a nice tribute to all of them.”

 

The two programs have taken drastically different paths to this point – the softball team, as the well-established national power and the baseball lads being the new kids on the block.

 

Like siblings, there is a natural rivalry between them, but push comes to shove, there is a deep-rooted affection.

 

“Everyone says we’re a softball school and that’s fine, but we’re out to change that,” said Justin D’Amico.

 

Said Jonas: “It’s a friendly rivalry. I think there’s a lot of pressure to try to live up to what the softball team has done. There are little pranks and comparisons between the two – comparing batting averages and ERAs and strikeouts. I don’t think that’s such a bad thing.

 

“Bottom line, between the players themselves, they’re good friends and they really, really root for each other. The best thing for the girls when they found out they played at 1 p.m. is that they’ll be able to go cheer on the guys.”

 

They were there when the baseball team reached its ultimate destination after a dramatic and unlikely semifinal win on Tuesday.

 

Long journey, clear vision, remarkable comeback

As the ball flew further and further into the warm blue sky Tuesday afternoon, the more clearly Alexander’s far off vision could finally be seen.

 

After first baseman D’Amico’s soaring, majestic, dramatic grand slam cleared the right-field fence to cap an improbable nine-run sixth-inning rally, Freedom was well on its way to a 10-8 comeback home victory over league rival Deer Valley.

 

The Falcons, made up of 15 closely-knit seniors on an 18-man roster, now play the region’s most recognized program on a field of dreams with the ultimate prize at stake.

 

“Words can’t explain what we’re all feeling right now,” D’Amico said. “This is as surreal as it gets.”

 

Coming back from a 7-1 deficit against a team it had beaten three times during the regular season, a squad that seemed to have found its groove just at the right time and against a red hot pitcher, Austin Wiggins, who looked un-hittable for five innings, indeed seemed unfathomable.

 

But these Falcons stick together. For the most part, the 15 seniors have remained a unit since they were 9-10 All-Stars in East County Little League.

 

That’s when Alexander, whose son Jordan Alexander was the 2009 Bay Valley Athletic League Pitcher of the Year, first got a hold of this bunch. He coached them even back then.

 

“You could see even then this was a very special group,” Gary Alexander said. “I told people then by the time these guys were juniors or seniors in high school they would win a (NCS) title.”

 

They wouldn’t be playing for that title if not for the youngster in the group, freshman sensation Joe Navihon who shut the door on the Wolverines (20-7) after they jumped to a 7-0 lead on Jordan Alexander, who for the first time all season struggled with his command..

 

Three-run homers by Wiggins (his first of two) and Dante Redhead (school-record eighth) led to the big lead, but Navihon, a poised and physically advanced ninth-grader, worked four scoreless innings before Wiggins hit a meaningless solo shot in the seventh.

 

A comebacker to Navihon led to a game-ending double play to cap the emotional victory.

 

“My goal was just to keep them to seven,” Navihon said. “If I did my job and I knew we’d battle back.”

 

Said Gary Alexander of Navihon, who made his 13^th appearance in relief and improved to 2-1. Heading into the game he had a 1.45 ERA  in 19.1 innings with 30 strikeout and 10 walks. “Every time we’ve needed him he’s come through. He’s been a savior.”

 

With Jordan Alexander (8-1, 1.07 ERA, 75 strikeouts, 23 innings) and UNLV southpaw Billy Wardell (10-1, 2.01 ERA, 103, 43) as starters, Navihon wasn’t asked to walk on water much. When called upon, he was clutch.

 

He said breaking up the senior party has been a privilege and great learning experience.

 

“The team and friendships are unbelievable,” Navihon said. “That’s why we were able to come back. I’ve just soaked in all their knowledge and how to do things right from sprinting on and off the field to their competitiveness to their perseverance.”

 

Balanced approach

Coach Alexander said it’s all about balance. His team has won 11 straight and claimed the BVAL title going away with a 14-1 record, finishing with 14 straight league wins.

 

“I mean we’ve got good pitching, good team speed, good defense and great hitting,” he said. “The bottom line is we’re a well-rounded team with lots of depth.”

 

During the regular season the Falcons hit .316 as a team led by third baseman/outfielder Jose Reyes (.412, 18 runs), outfielder Tim Gulbransen (.390), third baseman/outfielder Jeremy Maniz (.385), D’Amico (.379, 21 runs, 35 RBI, 13 doubles, four homers) and catcher Tyler Buchanan (.314, eight doubles).

 

The Falcons also stole a remarkable 57 bases in 58 attempts, were led by the exceptional athletic Wardell, who was 12-for-12.

 

He’ll start on the mound in today’s championship game.

 

Deer Valley coach Dennis Luquet, though crushed by the defeat, said Freedom is the league’s best representative in the title game.

 

“You got to give them a lot of credit – they don’t give up, they just compete, every at-bat they compete, they don’t strike out, the put the ball in play and make plays in the field,” he said. “They beat us four times so they definitely deserve it. That’s a good team and we wish them well.”

 

Jordan Alexander said the Falcons aren’t just satisfied to be in the title game.

 

“We’re going there to win it,” he said. “There’s no way we’re losing, especially after a win like this and a season like this. This is the best year we’re ever going to have and we’re going to leave it all on the field on the floor of the Coliseum.”

 

Workmanlike softball

A day after the baseball’s team emotional victory, the softball team was more workmanlike, winning its second straight NCS playoff game by a 6-0 score, this one, also at home, over league rival Antioch.

 

A two-run triple in the first inning by junior third baseman Jackie Zepeda was more than enough for Fresno State-bound hurler Hannah Williams, who was hardly overpowering, but bore down when she needed to record her 17^th shutout.

 

She allowed eight hits – the second most she’s allowed in a game this year – but stranded 11 runners, including the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth and two in the seventh. She struck out five of her nine in the last two innings, including the side in the seventh.

The sister of 2006 National Player of the Year Amanda Williams who led the Falcons to a mythical national championship, Hannah has pitched every inning of every game for the Falcons this season.

 

She is 23-3 with 259 strikeouts and 21 walks in 181.1 innings with an ERA of 0.23.

 

Jonas said Hannah’s composure, competitiveness and intelligence is what sets her apart.

 

“When she’s out of synch, she recognizes it and can correct it on the very next pitch,” Jonas said. “She has that unique ability to take a deep breath and focus and get out of any jams.”

 

It helps tremendously to have a defense like the Falcons.

 

Shortstop Kim Westlund, an athletic, rangy senior headed to Cal Poly to play, hasn’t made an error since March, Jonas said.

 

Zepeda, who will likely be the shortstop next year, is equally athletic and possesses a remarkable arm.

 

This trio, versatile Katie Wood, Humboldt State-bound first baseman Chrissy Stalf and outfielder Malena Padilla were all first-team All-Bay Valley Athletic League performers. Utility player Brianna Simpson, a freshman, catcher Susan Robertson, and outfielders Priscilla Olmos and Kirstie Strelo were also All-league sorts.

 

Strelo made a tremendous diving catch in the first inning preventing a run to score.

 

The Falcons have allowed a scant 10 runs all season while scoring 137.

 

“When you have that kind of defense behind you it allows you to relax on the mound,” Jonas said.

 

They can hit too. Stalf and Williams lead the bunch, each hitting .405. Stalf leads the team with 32 hits and Williams leads in RBI (25) and home runs (six).

 

Other top hitters include Westlund (.342, 20 runs, 25 hits, 12 steals), Zepeda (.308, 24 hits, 10 steals) and Wood (.304, 21 hits).

 

“We have a lot of confident girls who come out each day and work really hard,” Westlund said. “We have a great pitcher who knows we have her back so she doesn’t feel like she’s got to strike everyone out.”

 

And with the kind of schedule the Falcons played, double digit strikeouts aren’t in the books.

 

They opened the season with a 1-0 loss to defending national champs Sheldon (Sacramento), ranked 10^th nationally, and at midseason dropped a 2-0 game to top-ranked and undefeated Archbishop Mitty (San Jose).

 

They also have wins over No. 2 Norco-Calif. (1-0) and Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove, Calif. (7-0), a team that beat Sheldon in the Sac-Joaquin Section finals, at the prestigious Nike Faster to First Tournament in late March.

 

Success breeds success

“Playing the best of the best definitely gave us a lot of confidence,” Westlund said. “It’s like there’s nothing we really haven’t seen.”

 

Said Jonas: “Hey, sports doesn’t build character, it reveals it.”

 

Besides, these girls have been battle-tested for years. Almost all play year-round, a standard set over the years by all the other championship teams started by then coach Michelle Bigelow, who resigned three years ago.

She led the Falcons to their first NCS title in 2000 and they’ve now won seven in the last nine seasons. That kind of excellence has bred more excellence.

 

“I knew of all the success they had here and I wanted to be a part of it,” Zepeda said. “I wanted to play up to that expectation.”

 

Jonas, a former assistant at Freedom and head coach at De Anza, said the Oakley community has much to do with the program’s dominance.

 

“You always hear horror stories about parents but in this community I think they should be commended for really committing their kids and getting them good coaching,” he said. “By the time they get here I just try not to screw it up. My biggest job is to make sure the field is looking good and Hannah knows when and where the game is.

 

“Basically, I’m blessed with a whole lot of talent and very good material to work with.”

 

E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.