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Posted: Feb 18, 2023

Ohlone Begins 2023 Season Ranked Among Nation's Best Again

After another Final Four run in 2022, Ohlone will feature many new faces in the 2023, including Nino Vultaggio, who played last season at NCAA Division I, CSU Bakersfield. Vultaggio looks to hit in the middle of the order in '23.
After another Final Four run in 2022, Ohlone will feature many new faces in the 2023, including Nino Vultaggio, who played last season at NCAA Division I, CSU Bakersfield. Vultaggio looks to hit in the middle of the order in '23.

After another banner season in which Ohlone College finished 45-6 and won a nation's best 36 games in a row (all while winning a Conference Championship, Regional Championship, Super Regional Championship, and Section Championship), Ohlone College is primed and ready for another great season in 2023.  And although a repeat of 2022 could be difficult with the loss of several key players, Ohlone has again started the season ranked among the nation's best.

Each season, Perfect Game publishes their annual national rankings.  For the seventh straight season, Ohlone makes an appearance in the Top 25 National polls.  The Renegades begin 2023 ranked 24th in the nation.  Ohlone's first national ranking occured in 2017, when the Renegades re-emerged on the landscape as a true power as they put together a 42-7 season and made their way to the CCCAA State Final Four.  Ohlone may have been even better in 2018 as they rolled to an 18-0 conference mark and a 39-8 season, all while earning a place in Perfect Game's prestigious Top 25 poll.  This scenario has repeated itself for seven straight seasons now, as Ohlone opens up 2023 ranked 24th in the country.

Ohlone will be young this season as they saw 18 players sign off the 2022 squad.  All-Americans Jeter Ybarra (Washington) and Damian Stone (UC Davis) both moved on to NCAA Division I baseball, as did 6'06 235 pounder Jaden Sheppard (Fresno State), 6'01 210 pound outfielder Will Jewell (Houston Baptist), and 6'02 210 pound All-NorCal pitcher, Sean Fekete (Oakland University).  Former University of Miami kickback Mykanthony Valdez, who punished opposing pitching with 14 homeruns last year, found his way back to Florida as he signed with NCAA Division II power, University of Tampa.  Eleven others signed as well; thus, the 18 signees mean Ohlone's new recruits will be tasked with keeping Ohlone Baseball at the top of the standings and national polls.

Leading the way for Ohlone will be their impressive list of arms.  Returners Ethan Shaver, Nate Rosser, and Ryan Juric all make a formidable threesome as each has touched 91 mph on the radar gun.  Manato Tateno, who finiished 6-0 on the hill last year, also returns and will anchor the bullpen.  Several newcomers also find themselves in the 86-90 range on the radar gun, including former Division I (Grand Canyon Univ) right-hander Griffin Allen, Visalia native Luke Giotta, Temecula teammates Joey Stover and Ray Hernandez, and Fremont (Kennedy HS) lefty Jayden Harper.  Serving as closers will be Cam Calvillo, who saw significant time on the mound last season and has also been up to 91 mph, and Will Linberg, a left-hander from Sacramento who sits 84-87.

Head Coach Mike Curran returns for his 10th season at Ohlone.  He has led the "OC" to conference championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022.  Ohlone has the most wins in all of California since 2017 (202-41) and the best winning percentage as well.  Hitting Coach Billy Clontz also returns for his 10th year while TC Fairfield (4th year) and Cole Mauter (1st year) round out the staff.  Fairfield will coach Ohlone's pitchers and Mauter will be Ohlone's recruiting coordinator.