April 15, 2026
Broadcasting Schedule
*Saturday April 18, Cal State Fullerton, DOUBLEHEADER; Noon, 2:30 p.m., ESPN +
**Sunday April 19, Cal State Fullerton, at CSUB, 11 a.m., ESPN + (this game was originally scheduled for Friday, April 17)
Cal State Fullerton sits atop the Big West Standings owning a 16-2 conference record, 28-12 overall...the Titans, lead the conference in just about every hitting category sporting league leading .348 batting average, a .498 slugging percentage ("which represents the number of bases a batter records per bat", per MLB.com Slugging Percentage Defined), and a .401 on base percentage; from the mound they currently maintain a league-best 3.19 ERA, and in the field, well they can catch it too as they are #1 in fielding in the Big West with a fielding percentage...CSUB currently sits in the 8th spot, with a 6-12 conference record 8-33 overall...The top 6 teams qualify for the conference tournament May 6-9th, hosted by Fullerton. The baseball team will head to Hawaii for a 3 game series beginning Friday (4/17)...baseball also sits in the 8th place in the Big West, courtesy of a 6-9 conference mark, 15-22 overall...Ray Alvarado was recently named Interim Head Women's Basketball Coach at CSUB...Coach Ray served as an assistant on the Roadrunners staff in 2025-26...Coach Alvarado owns a plethora of coaching experience, serving as head coach at both COS and Fresno City College, along with Bullard and Sanger High Schools...for two seasons, the Fresno State graduate was at the helm of Division 2 Hawaii Pacific.
Tip of the Cap & Minor League Notes:
*Fresno Grizzlies and Colorado Rockies prospect Tanner Thach with a whale of a game on Tuesday, April 14. The left-handed hitting first basemen drilled a pair of homers including a Grand Salami...(Thach's Big Night in Ontario on X, and game story 4/14 Grizzlies Game Story)...The Ontario Tower Buzzers, are the Dodgers affiliate, and it appears the ball is flying out of the yard in Ontario, waka waka...the Grizzlies possess quite a line up with prospects Ethan Holliday (#1), Roldy Brito (#9), Kelvin Hildago (#21) and Wilder Dalis (#25) to name a few...these Young Dudes all seem to have an air of positive vibes around them...on Friday, April 10 vs Stockton, I was able to view #13, right-hand pitcher JB Middleton...the former 2nd round selection out of Southern Mississippi simply looks and acts like a pro...composed, good command, solid velo...on this night, JB tossed 5 innings, striking out 4, allowing one earned run and walking a batter...I look forward to tracking his progress. This game had a couple of cool twists--in the bottom of the first, Holliday banged his first professional Home Run! Every time I see the Ethan, I just marvel at how BIG he is!!! I can envision him sliding over to 3rd base eventually...EH is oozing with confidence, likability and talent...on this night, Thach's college buddy, Stockton Ports catcher Bryan Arendt was also in the lineup...and that one earned run surrendered by Middleton--well, that was courtesy of a Arendt blast over the left field wall...Arendt owns a cannon of an arm! BA actually made 6 appearances a year ago on the hill for his (and Thach's) Seahawks of UNC Wilmington! While the Grizzlies are in SoCal the Visalia Rawhide are home for the rest of the week, as they host Inland Empire (Mariners)...for the week of April 21-27, the Grizzlies return home to battle Rancho Cucamonga (Angels), while the Rawhide will be on the road at Lake Elsinore (Padres)...as of 4/16 the Grizzles own a 7-4 record, the Rawhide sit at 3-8.
Prospects1500: Rockies Top 50 Prospects
Prospects1500: Athletics Top 50 Prospects
Prospects1500: Diamondbacks Top 50 Prospects
The former UNC Wilmington mates: Thatch & Arendt
Ethan Holliday--moments before his first professional Home Run!
Don't look now...the Athletics are in first place in the AL West with a record of 10-8...for all of the mess that surrounds the A's and their move to Las Vegas, the reality is: this team is pretty good, and they are pretty darn likable!?! There is a chance, a legitimate chance, there could be a playoff team playing in Sacramento the next two summers...thus, Sacramentans and A's fans, the time really is now--grab your gold Sacramento Jerseys! By the way, the vibe at Sutter Health Field has changed dramatically...much more A's fans at the park, more green and gold...much less overt cynicism and cantankerism from the patrons. I was fortunate to be in the yard Tuesday (4/14), and the evening was delightful...last season, watching an A's game in West Sac felt like being at a Spring Training game played on a Neutral Site! This year...it still feels a tad like a game in the desert, however the crowd and vibe are significantly more Green and Goldish. With all do respect to the pain the "Last Dive Bar" faithful (and my spouse) are feeling...the team is rejuvenated. The group is winning, and the Big Amish--Nick Hurtz Kurtz (think a cross between Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and your favorite schoolmate!) hasn't started mashing yet...they also have 3 talented Dudes in the minors working on their crafts (top MLB prospect switch-hitting short stop Leo DeVries, along with southpaw hurlers Gage Jump & Jamie Arnold)...my gosh the worm has definitely churned and turned...with the Sacramento Kings in a dumpster fire, and the old frenemies SF Giants scuffling (6-12)...the bells of the ball in the River City, might just be those silly, wacky, somewhat dysfunctional and cute Athletics!?!
(...and with the NFL Draft a week away (April 23)...Las Vegas is about to land Fernando Mendoza for their football team...LV will be like Oakland in the early 70's--fantastic athletes with charismatic and flamboyant personalities! The Strip will soon be rocking and rolling with Green, Gold, Silver & Black!!!)
Remember to say hello when our paths cross on the streets or in the stands! Good Day & Sport Everyone! 
Clowing Around with Stomper in SacTown!
Thanks Jackie!!!
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