Leading The Herd

A deep, experienced roster aims to lead long-established SJS power, Elk Grove, toward a 10th crown.

Story by JIM McCUE | Photos by JAMES K. LEASH

Much like a hitter waiting his turn in the batting order, or a pitcher taking his turn in the rotation, the Elk Grove baseball team’s leaders must wait their turn before stepping up and guiding the traditional powerhouse program.

The names of past leaders — and mentors — is an impressive who’s who of the regional baseball landscape. The list features several players who have taken their games to the collegiate and professional levels after moving on from the Thundering Herd. David Freitas, David Hernandez, J.D. Davis, Jake Rodriguez, Rowdy Tellez, Dom Nunez, Derek Hill, and Nick Madrigal are just a few of the players who have built the tradition and leadership ladder under coach Jeff Carlson.

The transition from one group of leaders to the next is seamless because of the mentorship to teach and prepare the next group of great Elk Grove players.

“It’s cyclical with the leadership,” Coach Carlson said. “It has progressed to where the kids took over the mentoring and teaching younger guys what Elk Grove baseball is about.

“I think that the younger guys respond more to their peers than coaches, so it has worked out well.”

For years, Dylan Carlson and Ryan Robards understood that the 2016 season would be their time to step up and take on the leadership role. The pair have been around the program, and each other, longer than most, having grown up learning the way of Thundering Herd baseball.

“It has been awesome learning from all of the guys that have played before me,” Dylan Carlson said. “The guys before me showed me how to play hard, respect the game, and get to the next level.”

Dylan Carlson has been in the Elk Grove dugout since before he could walk. He and Robards, whose older brother Russell was a member of the 2010 team that featured J.D. Davis and Jake Rodriguez, have been close friends and teammates since Little League, and have anxiously waited their turn.

“Dylan and I have known for a while that this would be ‘our team’ in our senior year,” Robards said. “We know that we have to set a good example by working hard every day in practice and in the games.”

The Thundering Herd is already working hard in practice and challenging game action will begin right off the bat. Elk Grove faces Sac-Joaquin Section-rival St. Mary’s-Stockton — the Rams have played in the SJS Division I final in each of the last seven years, including the 2015 championship series which Elk Grove won two games to none — in its opener under the lights at Raley Field on March 4. Other early action includes a road game at De La Salle-Concord (March 16), a showdown against SJS Div. 1-contender Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills at Sacramento City College (March 18) and the NorCal bracket of the Boras Classic kickoff against Tracy (March 21).

The Boras Classic tournament features regional powerhouses St. Francis-Mountain View, Maria Carillo-Santa Rosa, Vintage-Napa, Heritage-Brentwood and Davis among others. The tournament could greatly increase the Herd’s strength of schedule before Delta League action begins later in the month.

“We want to have a difficult schedule early in the season because I believe that it makes us better and tougher with the playoffs in mind,” said Jeff Carlson, who begins his 17th year as Elk Grove’s head coach and 20th season with the program. “I think that the guys are ready to face the challenges early in the schedule and will learn from the early games to get better.”

The Herd has always scheduled top teams in the early season, and it has paid off in the past. In 2015, Elk Grove captured the Delta League title en route to the program’s ninth section title. Expectations are high for 2016, as they always are, and a quest for a tenth SJS championship is on the radar, but not at the forefront of the team’s thoughts.

“We want (the seniors) to win and go out on a high note, but it’s not about that,” the coach said. “Our program is about becoming better players and better people, so that guys can move on to the next level.”

The 2016 roster is loaded with talent, including four seniors who have signed National letters of intent and a junior with an oral commitment to a Division I program. Carlson signed with NCAA baseball-power Cal State Fullerton, and Robards is bound for the University of the Pacific in Stockton to play baseball. After a historic football season in which he broke several Elk Grove rushing records, Robards remains dedicated to baseball, partially due to big-time college football programs caring more about prototypical size than statistics.

Shortstop Josh Urps, a transfer from Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove who will be eligible to play by the Thundering Herd’s third game, signed with Sacramento State, and lefty Alex Zalasky will continue his baseball journey at Concordia University in Irvine. Junior pitcher Riley Lamb has orally committed to USC.

Elk Grove’s success on the field is the result of more than just scholarship offers. Talent and teamwork are paramount, and this year’s roster is perhaps Coach Carlson’s most experienced group. Carlson has never had as many seniors on a roster, and 13 of his 15 seniors have been in the Elk Grove baseball program for all four years. Carlson and Robards both saw action as freshmen while most of the others worked their way up to the varsity squad.

Despite having just four returning starters and losing some key contributors, the next generation is ready to step up and contribute. Senior second baseman Aaron Wong missed much of the 2015 season with an injury, but returned to provide clutch hits in the playoffs. Urps will be called upon to fill the void left at shortstop by four-year starter Nick Madrigal. He can provide some pop from both sides of the plate, and along with Carlson and Robards, gives the Herd three switch-hitters.

The rest of the infield will consist of sophomore Tanner Carlson (Dylan’s younger brother and the coach’s second son on the roster) at third base and George Spithorst getting reps at first base. The 6-foor-3 sophomore has potential at the plate and in the field, allowing Dylan Carlson to spend time in the outfield. Erek Bolton rounds out the infield as a three-year varsity player who brings experience behind the plate handling the pitching staff.

Bolton will get lots of help from what might be Elk Grove’s best and deepest pitching staff in the 20 years Carlson has been involved with the program. Zalasky and right-hander Austin Del Chiaro both posted 7-1 records in 2015, and Elk Grove can send either one of the hurlers out against an opponents’ ace. Lamb will be called upon to fill innings and Dylan Carlson could be the Herd’s powerful closer, if needed.

The two biggest stars in the field and at the plate are clearly Carlson and Robards. Carlson is a preseason Under Armour All-American, and was selected to the NorCal Area Code Games roster after a junior season in which he batted .320 with seven doubles, a home run and 20 RBI. Robards is an athletic outfielder with plenty of range and a strong arm. He batted .340 with 15 walks and 10 RBI in 2015.

The duo will be called upon to lead Elk Grove both on and off the field.

“There is definitely tradition with Elk Grove baseball,” Dylan Carlson said. “It’s more than winning. It’s about respecting the game and going about things the right way.”

To observers of the program, “going about things the right way” has always included contending for a section championship. And Carlson, Robards and every other player on the roster understand the expectations.

“There is always pressure to succeed with Elk Grove baseball,” Robards said. “It’s up to us to go out and make sure that we make the most of (our final season).”