2025 Season in Review – COD Baseball
Under the tutelage of fifth-year head coach Sam DiMatteo, the #24 seeded Roadrunners Baseball team ended the 2025 season claiming their fourth consecutive playoff berth.
DiMatteo reached a major coaching milestone on Saturday, April 12, 2025, as he earned his 100th career victory with a hard-fought win on the road at Barstow. DiMatteo guided the Roadrunners, finishing to the regular season with a 23-18 overall record and an 16-8 conference record. They were rewarded with the 24 seed in the Southern California Regional Playoffs along with 3 First Team selections (James Williams, Michael Gonsalez & Connor Martin) and 3 Second Team selections (Caleb Ortiz, Isaac Rodrigues & Victor Esquivel Perez).
You can find the complete IEAC All-Conference List HERE
The Roadrunners had some notable games in the 2025 season including: defeating Ventura for the first time since 2010, facing Grossmont for the first time since 2019, hosting El Camino for the first time since 1995, facing Taft for the first time since 2009 and facing the Cougars at Taft for the first time since before 1992.
Right-handed pitcher James Williams (Perris Citrus Hill) was named First Team All-Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) finishing the season in the top-5 in the Conference in two huge categories: earned run average (2.17 – 5th) and strikeouts (66 – 3rd). He also finished in the top-15 statewide in games started (11 – 14th) and top-30th in ERA (2.17 – 28th). The 6-foot 2, 200 pound sophomore, compiled a 6-6 record in 15 starts over 16 appearances, throwing 5 or more innings in 11 of those games.
Shortstop Michael Gonsalez (Harbor City Narbonne) was also named First Team All-IEAC finishing the season leading the state in walks (42), finishing top-10 in the state in on base percentage (.566 – 6th) and top-30 in the state in steals (18 – 28th). The 5-foot 8, 170 pound sophomore had 15 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games. His most impactful performance at the plate was going 2 for 3, with a double, a walk, a run scored and 2 RBIs in a win at home over Mt. San Jacinto on March 22.
Center fielder Connor Martin (Abbotsford (BC) Yale Secondary) was also named First Team All-IEAC and collected the coveted IEAC Gold Glove award. He finished the season ranked 31st in the state in hits (60), tied for the team lead in triples (2) and 3rd on the team in RBIs (33). The 5-foot 9, 180 pound freshman had 16 multi-hit games, along with 8 3+ hit games and 7 multi-RBI games. His most impactful performance at the plate was going 4 for 4, with a run scored, 2 stolen bases and 2 RBIs in a win at home over Mt. San Jacinto on March 22.
Right-handed pitcher Caleb Ortiz (Indio Shadow Hills) was named Second Team All-IEAC finishing the season finishing 2nd on the team in earned run average (3.10), 4th in innings pitched (49.1) and 7th in strikeouts per 9 innings (6.75). The 5-foot 10, 175 pound freshman arrived out of the bull pen, taking his first start of the season on March 8, grabbing the next 7 starts as a reliable 3rd starter for the Roadrunners. His most impactful performance on the mound was the playoff clinching game at home against San Bernardino Valley on April 22, where Ortiz started and threw six innings grabbing 7 strike outs for his 3rd win of the season.
Second baseman Isaac Rodrigues (Aiea (H.S.) HI) was also named Second Team All-IEAC finishing the season with 16 multi-hit games, leading the team in batting average (.375), 3rd in stolen bases (11), 4th in hits (48) and 5th in runs scored (29). The 5-foot 10, 160 pound freshman represented a real strength in the middle infield for the Roadrunners, pushing a .980 fielding percentage. His best game of the season was a 3 for 3 day with 2 runs scored on April 5 in a 5-3 win at Ventura.
First baseman / third baseman Victor Esquivel Perez (Yucatan, MEX) was also named Second Team All-IEAC finishing the season 2nd on the team in runs batted in (35), 2nd in doubles (11), tied for 2nd in hits (50) and 4th in batting average (.355). The 6-foot 1, 190 pound sophomore was an impactful third baseman grabbing his best game of the season on February 20 at Cerro Coso. Esquivel Perez went 5 for 7 with a run scored and an RBI in a 17-8 win over the Coyotes.
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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.
Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Dale Beck Photography.