Castaic baseball’s playoff victory marks first in school history
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SAUGUS — There’s a first time for everything.
However, Castaic High’s first playoff game – in any team sport – did not play out as intended. The Coyotes’ 3-2 wildcard baseball win over visiting Excelsior Charter of Victorville had to be played at Saugus High after the umpires and school officials deemed Castaic’s home field unsafe and unplayable.
An over-watered section of the infield between first and second base created a muddy patch that could be dangerous to players, forcing the game to be moved. Excelsior coach Fernando Thomas wasn’t thrilled at the idea of his team getting back on the road after already trekking two hours for the game.
“We’re ready to play,” said Thomas before packing up his dugout to drive to Saugus.
After the game was officially moved, a caravan of players, coaches, students and parents, drove roughly 30 minutes to Saugus where Castaic came back two different times to mark school history and advance in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs to play Oxford Academy of Anaheim on Friday afternoon in the next round.
Castaic head coach Darrell Davis during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic pitcher Kyler Freude #34 during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic head coach Darrell Davis during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic head coach Darrell Davis during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic’s Anthony Luna #9 makes a diving catch on a ball for the out during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic’s Alejandro Flores #3 makes the play on a ground ball during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter’s at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic pitcher Kyler Freude #34 during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic’s Aaron Gonzalez #23 rounds first on a second inning double during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic’s Anthony Luna #9 makes a diving catch on a ball for the out during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic head coach Darrell Davis during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic’s David Cailotto #28 fields a round ball during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic’s Anthony Luna #9 tosses the ball to David Cailotto #38 during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic catcher Ivan Estrada #37 attempts to catch a foul ball during their playoff baseball game against Excelsior Charter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic’s Aaron Gonzalez #23 slides in to second on a double as Excelsior Charter’s Quentin Krogsgaard #4 misses the throw from the outfield during their playoff baseball game at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Excelsior Charter’s Tyler Oerman #22 gets caught off first base and is tagged out by Castaic’s Kyler Freude #34 during their playoff baseball game at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Castaic’s doors opened in the fall of 2019 before starting varsity baseball just last season. The Coyotes reached the postseason in just their second year of varsity competition.
“The boys have been working for this,” Castaic coach Darrell Davis said. “They knew what was going on today, they knew all week. They’re a part of history now.”
Senior pitcher Kyler Freude earned the win in 6 1/3 innings in 102 pitches with five strikeouts. He also provided a sacrifice fly to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning. After falling behind again, Freude scored the tying run to make it 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth from an error on a fly ball hit by David Cailotto.
“Kyler came to us as a sophomore … and to watch him grow into a good pitcher has been a joy,” Davis said. “His work ethic is top-notch, he doesn’t get frazzled. Doesn’t matter what environment he’s in.”
Senior Jacob Bond delivered what proved to be the game-winning hit in the bottom of the fifth scoring Cailotto.
Castaic (19-7-1) finished third in the very competitive Foothill League behind Valencia and West Ranch. Davis believes the league battles with top-notched programs Hart (Division 1), West Ranch (Division 2) and Valencia (Division 3) helped guide his Coyotes through Wednesday’s adversity.
“All of our games, even the ones we lost this year, were tight,” Davis said. “We won some tight games, too. There’s nothing we haven’t seen before.”
It was a full circle moment for Davis. He was a standout player at Saugus before graduating in 1989, helping the Centurions reach the CIF Southern Section Division 3-A final at Dodger Stadium his senior year. The team was led by pitcher Roger Salkeld, who was eventually drafted No. 3 overall in that year’s MLB Draft to the Seattle Mariners.
Castaic baseball coach Darrell Davis led the Coyotes to the school’s first playoff victory today.
Due to field conditions, the game had to be played at Saugus where Davis went to school. He graduated in 1989 and is Saugus’ all-time steals leader.
Davis still holds all-time steals record (62) at Saugus where high school baseball ended for him, but is just getting started for Castaic.
“Today was great, but the job’s not finished,” said Davis, alluding to a deep playoff run.
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