Wildcats look to continue their road success in Grand Junction

By Mike Baca

     Fresh off their road series win against the reigning West Region champion San Bernardino Coyotes, the Wildcats head to Grand Junction, Colorado to take on perrenial power Colorado Mesa.

     This once-heated rivalry has simmered over the years after Mesa left the West Region to play Division-II baseball in the South Central Region. The Wildcats and Mavericks have played some thrilling post-season and regular season games and they will renew acquaintances this weekend in the rockies.

     The two teams met last year and the Wildcats took two-of-three from Mesa at The Nett. It was their first match-up since 2009 when the Wildcats lost three-of-four regular season games in Grand Junction. 

     The post-season match-ups have been epic. In 2005 the Sergio Romo-led Mavericks hosted the West Regional and after both teams won their opening games, they played in one of the more memorable contests in Chico State Wildcat baseball history.

    Despite being the home team, Mesa was designated as the visitors in the head-to-head match-up. The Mavericks took a 5-1 lead in front of a thunderous home crowd at Suplizio Field. But, Chico would rally for three runs in the bottom of the 7th and two more in the 8th to take a 6-5 lead headed to the 9th. Mesa would tie it with a solo home run, setting the stage for one of the biggest home runs in Wildcat history.

     Mired in post-season slump, Chico State first baseman Ryan Martin would come to the plate leading off the bottom of the 9th and blasting a solo home run setting off a wild celebration. Chico would beat Western Oregon the next day and punch thier ticket to Montgomery, Alabama and Division-II College World Series.

     In 2007 the two teams met in the West Regional again. This time in an elimination game. Chico held a late lead before Mesa rallied to beat the Wildcats ending Chico's attempt at making a fourth straight trip to the D-II World Series. 

     In the years that followed Mesa has made four trips to the Division II College World Series (last being in 2019) under their long time head coach Chris Hanks. They are  a national power and play in one of the best ballparks in the country, the newly refurbished Suplizio Field. The ballpark seats 10-thousand fans and in 2012 the ballpark underwent 8-point-3 million dollars in renovations.

     Chico State leads the all-time season series 9-7. The two teams are slated to play a four-game series at Nettleton Stadium in February 2025

     You can hear the four-game series on KpaySports 1290 & 102.9 FM as well as the KpaySports app on Friday at 4:45pm with the first pitch at 5pm

    WILDCATS BEGIN EIGHT GAME ROAD TRIP IN SAN BERNARDINO

BY Mike Baca

     The Chico State Baseball team is hitting the road for a pivotal eight-game stretch to begin the second half of their 2024 season........and they couldn't be happier.

     The road has treated the Wildcats well this season as they have gone 8-4 with series wins over Stanislaus and Cal State Los Angeles and a split against Pomona.

Nettleton Stadium has been a different story.

     Chico has struggled in the not-so-friendly confines. The Wildcats are 4-7 against CCAA foes at The Nett with series losses against SF State and Dominguez Hills. Digging deeper the numbers show the Wildcats have come up clutch on the road hitting .371 with runners in scoring position. At home the Cats are only hitting .266 with runners in scoring position. Chico is also driving in runners at 3rd with less than two outs 65 percent of the time on the road and only 57 percent of the time at home. 

     The Wildcats will welcome the road trip and prepare for four games against San Bernardino and then four against Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colorado. It marks a criticial stretch for Chico as they sit in 5th place in the CCAA....four games behind second place San Marcos and 4 1/2 back of first place Monterey. The top two teams get first round byes in the CCAA Tournament in early May. Chico will host the Otters on April 19th, 20th and 21st in what could be a critical conference series.

     You can hear the entire four game series on KPAYSports 1290 AM & 102.9 FM also on the KpaySports app you can download for free in the app store 

APRIL 5th    Chico State Baseball @ San Bernardino          1:45pm 1290/102.9

APRIL 6th    Chico State Baseball @ San Bernardino DH   11:45am 1290/102.9

APRIL 7th    Chico State Baseball @ San Bernardino          10:45am 1290/102.9