FLC Baseball Looks to Build On First Season’s Success

Having established themselves as the first baseball team in California Community College history to reach the state playoffs in their inaugural season, the Folsom Lake College baseball team will be looking to improve on their 2015 success as they begin their second season of competition later this week.  The Falcons return several key starters from last year's BVC third-place team, including pitcher Andrew Schantz, right-fielder Tyler Kaim, first baseman Nick Schumacher, and All-Conference centerfielder Mike Majeski.  Other returnees include catcher Josh Criswell, outfielder-turned pitcher Vincent DeBove, pitchers Will Felton, Kendall Menard, Matt Huddleston,  Zach Reid, and Craig Stafford, and infielders F.P. Santangelo and Austin Wailes.   Head Coach Richard Gregory is equally enthused about the quality of his incoming crop of freshman recruits, headed by pitcher Josh Moore of Vacaville, left-fielder Greg Vaughn of Jesuit, and catcher Mason Allen of Oakmont.  "I think we are significantly better than last year," responded Gregory when asked about his 2016 team. 

The Falcons will hope to compete for the Bay Valley Conference title, along with usual contenders College of Marin and Solano College.  Coach Gregory also expects Laney College (Oakland) to bounce back after a down year in 2015.  "I think it is really up for grabs this year," noted Gregory in regards to the BVC championship.   " I believe we have a chance to compete for the title, which is our goal."   A BVC championship would also be a nice goodbye gift to the conference, as the Falcons will be moving into the Big 8 Conference in 2017.

With El Nino bearing down on California, the opening week schedule has already been altered due to forecasted rains this weekend.  Instead of opening at Butte on Friday, the Falcons will host the Roadrunners on Wednesday, January 27 at 5:00 pm, then play at Butte the following day at 1:00 pm.  More non-conference games will likely be adjusted in advance of rainstorms; schedule updates will be posted on the flcfalcons.com website and on the Folsom Lake College Athletics Facebook page.  Admission prices for home games is $5 for General Admission, $3 for Senior Citizens and non-FLC students, and free for children 12 & under and all FLC faculty, staff, and students with ID.  Season passes are available for $50 (admission to all 19 regular-season home games, a savings of $45) and $30 for senior citizens.