Catching fire: Wilson, Los Banos baseball will play for Windemuth title

Tyler Wilson isn’t just the backstop for the Los Banos High School baseball team.

Now in his third season in the squat for the varsity Tigers, Wilson, covered in dust and wrapped in armor, is the backbone.

He has no choice. Wilson is the elder statesman on a team that will rely heavily on two freshmen: pitcher Kody Cardoza, an ace in the making; and speedy Trent Mallonee.

That mix of young and old, pillar and potential was on full display during a 5-2 victory over Patterson on Wednesday morning in the 47th annual Dick Windemuth Easter Tournament at Modesto High.

Cardoza pitched into the fifth inning to notch the win, while Mallonee and Wilson provided the run support.

Mallonee was 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored. Wilson reached base three times and preserved the victory over the Western Athletic Conference title contender by “building a wall” behind the plate, coach Pat Fuentes said.

“People don’t realize what he does for our pitchers. He gives them the confidence to throw an 0-2 curve ball with a runner at third. They have the confidence that he’ll block it,” Fuentes said. “That’s how much confidence we have in him as a coaching staff. We think he can block everything.”

Los Banos will play Bradshaw Christian for the Windemuth trophy Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Streeter Field on the Modesto High campus. Bradshaw Christian defeated Central Catholic on Wednesday. Also on Thursday, Modesto will play Patterson at 10:30 a.m., and Central Catholic will face Lodi at 1 p.m.

Either way, Fuentes has scouted the field. He knows his team will have to earn its place in Windemuth’s winner’s circle.

Central Catholic and Bradshaw Christian are former Sac-Joaquin Section champions, while Patterson edged Los Banos twice last season en route to the conference’s No. 2 playoff seed.

Los Banos is now 3-0 against WAC teams. Patterson (10-3) has lost two straight since its thrilling walk-off victory over Central Catholic on Tuesday morning.

“That’s a good ballclub over there,” Fuentes said. “They’re scrappy and will fight until the last out. We knew it coming in. I told the boys, ‘They’re a confident bunch after (Tuesday) and the preseason they’ve had.’ ”

Patterson ran into a stocky road block wearing a mask, shin guards and focus that goes beyond bravado.

Wilson is battle-tested. In his first big decision as varsity skipper, Fuentes reached into his lower levels to pluck a catcher he believed had the most talent and upside in the program.

Fuentes isn’t scared off by age, as witnessed by the two freshmen on his roster this season.

“I can’t be” afraid to move up underclassmen, Fuentes said. “I pull up the guys who can play baseball. Age doesn’t matter. In Little League it does, but up here, it doesn’t. If you’re 14 through 18 and you can play, I’m going to use you.”

Three years later, Wilson has delivered on that promise, becoming the handler and defensive dynamo Fuentes hoped for.

Wilson mowed down Patterson speedster Alec Espos at second base in the third inning and then showcased his athleticism on a play at the plate in the fourth inning. After doubling to lead off the frame, Patterson junior Santiago Cantu tried to score on a fly ball. Right fielder Vincent Alvarez delivered a strike to Wilson, whose attempted swipe tag forced Cantu out of the baseline.

Wilson quickly found his feet and tagged Cantu to end the threat. As he trotted off the field, Wilson was besieged with high-fives and fist bumps, the first coming from Fuentes.

“He’s done a tremendous job the last two years of just getting better,” Fuentes said, “and being the backstop and the backbone and the leader.”

His bat is a bonus, and Wednesday it positioned Los Banos for victory in the second inning. Wilson jumped on a pitch on the outer half of the plate, driving the ball into the alley in right-center for a triple. Mallonee, who singled off the left-field wall, scored from first to give Los Banos a 2-1 advantage.

“We’re always taught to see the fastball away and the inside half of the ball. That was my approach,” Wilson said. “I was looking away and he threw it away.

“I was thinking triple as soon as I hit it.”

Wilson eventually scored on an error to make it 3-1. He completed the scoring in the sixth after reaching on an error.

“He is a three-year guy,” Fuentes said. “He’s doing what we expected him to do this year as a senior leader. … He’s worried about working with our pitchers, and he’s done a great job offensively, too. He is our backbone.”

This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Catching fire: Wilson, Los Banos baseball will play for Windemuth title."