A versatile leader, Pitman’s Mateo Garcia is The Bee’s Baseball Player of the Year
Pitman High baseball coach Andy Walker knew what he had in pitcher and third baseman Mateo Garcia early — really early.
Garcia participated in an offseason baseball league with the Pride the summer before his freshman year and Walker says he could spot the talent then.
“We knew right away that he was going to be a special player,” Walker said. “You could tell by his work ethic, his character, his sportsmanship, the way that he handled himself on the field and his baseball IQ. We could tell from the beginning.”
Garcia didn’t spend an inning on a freshman or junior varsity field, playing varsity baseball as a freshman and working his way into the starting lineup not too far into the season. Through his career at Pitman, he played all over the infield and catcher but ultimately settled on pitching and third base, his positions during his final season.
Garcia ended his career with a bang. At the plate, he led the Central California Athletic League in RBIs (29) and runs (35) and tied for the league lead in home runs (5). On the mound, he finished first in wins (7), third in ERA (1.81) and won the CCAL Defensive Player of the Year award.
For his efforts this season and an overall successful career, Garcia is The Bee’s Baseball Player of the Year.
Versatility was Garcia’s calling card. In addition to being one of the CCAL’s best pitchers, he was a sure glove in the hot corner, boasting an impressive .929 fielding percentage for one of the best defenses in the section.
“With it being my last year with the program, I wanted to make sure that I could do as much as possible to help the team succeed,” Garcia said. “Whether it was pitching, being at third, or hitting, I wanted to make sure that I was doing something to contribute to the team.”
A player who can play anywhere is a coach’s dream. Garcia had the skills and the mentality to go with it.
“He’s just an ultimate competitor,“ Walker said. “You could put him anywhere on a baseball field and he’s gonna succeed. One reason why we liked him pitching so much is because … he goes up and he gives it everything he’s got each and every time, and you just really can’t ask for a whole lot more than that out of a kid.”
Garcia played 70 games in his Pitman baseball career, most of anyone on this year’s team, and was just as motivated in his senior season as he was as a freshman. The Pride (21-6-1) made the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs in his first and final seasons. And though the team didn’t make it to the Division II championship, this year’s postseason run brought a special memory: a first-inning home run in an 11-0 win against Atwater.
“With it being the first time we were able to make the playoffs since my freshman year, I was determined to make the most out of this run,” Garcia said. “It was Mother’s Day a couple days before, I had told my mom I was going to hit one for her, so when I did, it was one of the best feelings ever.”
Garcia will take his versatility, work ethic and leadership to San Joaquin Delta College next season with hopes of transferring to a four-year university to finish out his education and baseball career.
“We always talk about people that embody the Pitman way and represent our program well, and he does it as good as anybody we’ve ever had,” Walker said. “We’ve enjoyed having him and we were gonna miss Mateo around, but we’re excited to see where he goes in the future. I think he’s gonna do great things at Delta and after that.”
Modesto Bee All-District Baseball Teams
First Team
Andrew Balentine - Pitman, Jr., P/INF
Gavin Farinha - Turlock Christian, Jr., P
Camden Rush - Downey, Jr., INF
Johnny Wylie - Oakdale, Sr., OF
Paul Gutierrez-Contreras - Gregori, Jr., OF
Grant Sonke - Ripon Christian, Soph., C
James Watson - Downey, Sr., P/INF
Adrian Garcia - Central Catholic, Soph., P/INF
Logan Hart - Turlock, Sr., OF
Griffen Sotomayor - Turlock, Sr., C
Braxton Thomas - Central Catholic, Jr., 1B/OF
Landon Nunes - Oakdale, Sr., INF
Isac Cordova - Ceres, Sr., INF
Devin Bettencourt - Orestimba, Sr., INF
Second Team
Payton Hawkinson - Turlock, Jr., P
Gabrial Lopez - Central Valley, Sr., P
Kaden Petersen - Turlock, Sr., P
Paul Wagner - Hughson, Soph., INF/P
Tyler Wentworth - Central Catholic, Soph., OF/P
Lukas Cox - Oakdale, Sr., INF
Josh Prestridge - Ceres, Jr., INF
David Jones - Downey, Sr., OF
Jason Pimentel - Hilmar, Sr., P
Dawson Downs - Ripon, Soph., P/INF/OF
Kannon Sharpe - Enochs, Soph., P
John “Cooper” King - Hilmar, Sr., UTIL
Nico Franzia - Escalon, Soph., C
Honorable Mention: Big Valley Christian: Logan Butler; Ceres: Noel Anaya, Landyn Hudson; Central Catholic: Aiden Taylor, Fernando Alaniz; Central Valley: Ryan Estermann; Davis: Dominic Tacheira, Jordan Mendoza; Denair: Cooper Feldman, Jackson Hart; Downey: Ethen Rowland; Enochs: Cole Prokes, Titus Wheelock; Escalon: Cam Ruiz; Gregori: Dylan Rosa, Cruz Marines; Hilmar: Blake Westmoreland, Kazuki Mihono; Hughson: Ethan Jones, Gavin Stone; Modesto: Dayton Guzman, Heston Blom; Modesto Christian: Raymond Corral; Oakdale: Tate Cassaretto, AJ Spawell, Alex Jones; Orestimba: Ian Cerutti, Kai Brazil; Patterson: Nick Hernandez, Brady McCleery; Pitman: Dominic Damante, Gabe Gutierrez; Ripon: Chase Stephenson, Isaac Sandoval; Ripon Christian: Jacob Cowes, Eli Terpsma; Riverbank: Jackson Tigert; Turlock: Gannon Evans; Turlock Christian: Julian Espinoza, Rob York; Waterford: Blake Wetherington
Modesto Bee Spring 2022 Athletes of the Year
Baseball: Mateo Garcia, Pitman, Senior — Was named the CCAL’s Defensive Player of the Year after finishing with a 7-1 record in 13 appearances, a 1.18 ERA and one save. Garcia also led the Pride at the plate with five home runs.
Boys Golf: Clark Van Gaalen, Turlock, Sophomore — Van Gaalen led the Bulldogs to an undefeated CCAL championship and the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship on May 9. He also led Turlock, which shot a Stanislaus District low 404, with a score of 74 at the Masters Tournament on May 16.
Boys Swimming: Nick Wilmot, Enochs, Junior — Qualified for the State Meet in the 200-yard freestyle by finishing third at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters with a time of 1:41.29.
Boys Tennis: Ryder Rockwood/Diego Johnson, Downey, Junior/Senior — Helped lead the Knights to their best regular season finish and first league title since 1979. The duo won the CCAL doubles championship and advanced to the second round in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.
Boys Track and Field: Anthony Sausedo, Ripon, Senior — Won the Division V and Sac-Joaquin Section titles in the 300M Hurdles. Sausedo qualified for the State Meet with a time of 38.26 at sections and finished seventh in California at state with a final time of 38.76 on May 28.
Softball: Randi Roelling, Central Catholic, Junior — Named VOL MVP, Roelling finished first in the state in total strikeouts (regular season and postseason) with 418. Had a 0.72 ERA and 18 wins.
Girls Swimming: Madeline Staley, Downey, Sophomore — Staley competed in multiple events for the Knights and made the finals at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet in the 100 yard freestyle (54.23) and the 200 yard IM (2:17.35).
Girls Track and Field: Haleigh Humble, Oakdale, Senior — Humble came from behind to win the 800m at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters and qualified for the State Meet. She will compete on the track and cross country teams at Stanislaus State next year.
