All the excuses one could imagine were built in this season. That, however, didn’t stop the Wilcox baseball team. This year’s varsity squad showed zero interest in letting the 2026 baseball campaign end with a mere whimper. 

Even after losing a beloved teammate during the offseason, even after suffering an embarrassing 19-0 loss to rival Los Gatos, even after dropping three-straight games in early April, Wilcox kept on putting their best foot forward, despite every reason to just pack it in and go home. 

After their third loss in a row on April 8, which dropped their overall record to 7-7, Wilcox responded with an eight-game win streak. They finished off the season winning 10 of their final 13 games to enter the CCS playoffs with a 17-10 record. Wilcox earned a No. 3 seed in Division III and made quick work of their first two playoff opponents. The Chargers knocked off No. 6 seed Santa Teresa, 6-1, in the quarterfinal and followed that up by shutting out No. 2 seed Hollister 7-0. 

Those wins set up a DIII Championship bout against Menlo School at Excite Ballpark, home of the San Jose Giants. While Wilcox starting pitcher Eliah Laureles threw a gem of a game, Menlo would squeak across a pair of runs in the first that would hold the whole way, as the Knights emerged victorious by a 2-0 final. 

“For us to get to where we got to is a testament to the whole program,” remarked Wilcox Head Coach Matt Huth when looking back at the season overall. “All the work that the coaches and players put into the season, just to stay on task. Starting off the season losing your best player, captain of the team, and then to band together and get to where we got to is pretty amazing when you look at it as a whole.” 

Leading the way on the diamond for Wilcox were senior leaders Jordan Slate, Dylan Jackson, Gabriel Razon Barragan, Gilbert Padilla, Trey Herrera, Kevin Ruvalcaba, and Isaiah Mata. Combined with standout performances from juniors Laureles, Rommel Cruz, Ryan Cabildo, and Samuel Martinez, and key sophomores Bishop Roque, Max Tzoutzov, and Josh Porda, the Chargers utilized a deep roster to their advantage. 

Despite being shutout in the finale against Menlo, it was third baseman Dylan Jackson who shined offensively with a pair of solid line drive singles. Jackson’s performance helped give the Chargers multiple opportunities with runners in scoring position. 

“Going into the game, I was really confident,” said Jackson. “We had a good scouting report on their starter. I had a general feel for what to expect for what I was going to see throughout the day. I knew it was possibly my last game, so I wanted to leave everything out in the field and stay locked in, control what I can control.” 

With Laureles controlling the game from the mound, (allowing just two runs and zero after the first inning) the hope was that Jackson and the rest of the Chargers offense could do just enough to scratch a couple runs across. While the Chargers came up just short of winning a ring, they certainly did the program and the Wilcox community proud. 

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