ALL-EMPIRE BASEBALL: Casa Grande’s past and future earn baseball honors

Key contributors to Casa Grande’s immediate past and equally important factors in Casa Grande’s future were chosen for The Press Democrat’s All-Empire Baseball first team. Picked to stand among the best players in the Empire were seniors Blake Berry from Casa Grande and Luke Wheless from Petaluma, along with juniors Spencer Torkelson and Quinton Gago from Casa Grande.

Berry batted .347 with 34 hits in 27 games. He drove in 20 runs and scored 18 during the Gauchos’ 21-6 season. He successfully switched from infield to outfield and became one of the best defensive outfielders in the league.

Wheless was Petaluma’s leadoff hitter, defensive standout and mound closer. He batted .414 with 29 hits in 24 games; slugged seven doubles, four triples and a home run; scored 23 runs; and knocked in 20. He reached base more than half the times he came to the plate. He also was Petaluma’s No. 1 relief pitcher during a 16-10 season.

Torkelson was Casa Grande’s leading hitter, batting .442 with 34 hits in 27 games. He scored 26 runs and drove in 25 and was the only Gaucho with two home runs. He had a .575 on-base percentage. A strong glove man at third base, he also was a valuable relief pitcher.

Gago hit .381 with 24 hits in 24 games. He drove in 19 runs and scored 12 while serving as a designated hitter and outfielder.

Chosen to the second team were Petaluma sophomore Kempton Brandis and Casa Grande junior Chris Joaquim.

Joaquim made strong contributions to the Gaucho cause as both a pitcher and a hitter. Although he batted just .246, it was a loud average with six doubles and a home run counted among his 15 hits. He also drove home 19 runs. On the mound, he was a workhorse, pitching 53 innings while compiling a 5-2 record and a 2.25 earned run average. He struck out 53, averaging a whiff an inning.

Brandis batted .389 for the Trojans with 28 hits in 25 games, including three doubles and four triples. He drove in 28 runs and scored 15. He also played very well in the Petaluma outfield and displayed a strong arm, at one point throwing a runner out at first base from right field on what looked like a sure base hit.

St. Vincent’s Liam Galten and Dominic Petersen were named to the Small School first team, while teammate Bradley Leach was placed on the second team.

The trio led St. Vincent to the North Central League II championship and an excellent 19-7 overall season.

Petersen, an All-State choice by Cal-Hi Sports, was one of the best defensive catchers in the Empire. He batted .383 with a team-leading 31 hits in 26 games. He knocked in 24 runs and scored 24. He also had a team-high eight doubles along with two triples. Like many of the Mustang leaders, he took his turn on the pitching mound, going 6-3 with a 3.11 earned run average.

Galten hit .384, with 28 hits in 25 games. He drove home 27 runs and scored 23, swatting six doubles, two triples and a home run. He was the team’s big-game pitcher, going 5-3 with a 3.31 earned run average.

Leach hit .382 with 26 hits in 25 games. He drove home 20 runs and scored 21. As impressive as was his hitting, his defense at shortstop was equally impressive. Playing on St. Vincent’s ultra-fast synthetic turf, he made even difficult plays look routine. As a pitcher, he had a 3-1 record with a 4.82 earned run average.