Ontario baseball team bounces back from horrific season

For most baseball teams a 10-9 overall record isn’t much to get excited about. When you were 3-18 the previous year and hadn’t made the playoffs in a decade it is reason for celebration.

That is the case for the Ontario baseball team which went from 0-15 in league play a year ago to a third-place finish and playoff berth this season.

The Jaguars will play at Barstow in a first round Division 6 game Thursday.

Dan Gonzalez is in his second year heading the program and said last year was a learning one for all involved.

“We started in August and they all bought in,” he said. “We told them trust in us and trust in each other and good things would happen.”

Gonzalez singled out the fifth game of the season against Alta Loma at LoanMart Field as a turning point. The Jaguars were 2-2 through their fist four and improved to 3-2 with the 4-1 win. It gave the team as many wins in league play alone as it had managed all the previous season.

“That seemed like they game they started believing they could play with these other teams,” Gonzalez said.

The effort has been led by junior Oscar Rauda, who can play shortstop and center but has also been used as the closer.

Junior Juan De La Torre and senior Jesse Estrada are the two main starting pitchers.

Gonzalez said he count on his offense and pitching with the sore spot at times being defense.

“We’re definitely excited to build on this,” Gonzalez said. “The kids have started seeing that they can play with these teams and their confidence is growing.”

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