The Wilcox Chargers varsity baseball squad struggled out of the gate but finished the 2025 season on a blistering tear. Wilcox would win 13 straight games from April 4 through May 9. The Chargers then lost a single game, one in which it was clearly the better team through 5.5 out of 6.5 innings played, before ripping off another three-straight victories.
Those final three wins preceded the CCS Division II Championship Game. While the Chargers lost 3-0, Wilcox battled against a pitcher who didn’t allow a single earned run all season and is slated to pitch next season at Cal Berkeley.
When asked about the overall arc of the season, Wilcox Head Coach Matt Huth didn’t hesitate to focus his answer around his little engine that could, pitcher and shortstop RJ Argel.
“We had an injury. RJ got hurt. He tore a ligament in the finger of his non-throwing hand right before that first series with Palo Alto,” responded the Wilcox manager. “It was like we lost our best friend. We didn’t know what we were playing for; we had no leadership.
“RJ, he’s our horse, he’s the glue, he’s everything. Even though Matty [Tiendas] is going to Santa Clara University, Jake [Prettol] is 6’5” and can hit, little RJ is the heartbeat of our team. With him going out, we just had to find something else to get back into it,” continued Huth. “We had a team talk after our third loss in a row against Gunn. We turned it around and stuck together. Took off on a run and won 13 in a row.”
The smaller-statured Argel (generously listed at 5’6” and 130 pounds) played a giant role in the turnaround. Argel came back from injury to help his team despite risking his health for his first college season. According to his father, Randy Argel, one hard comebacker into his glove could have easily made the finger injury require surgery, not only ending his high school season, but setting him back in 2026.
Despite the risks, Argel wanted to be there for his team and decided to get back on the mound. His presence gave the Chargers the jolt the team needed, and sometimes even, the calm, when the players needed the calm. For an outside observer, what stood out the most about Argel, was his demeanor on the rubber never seemed to change even when there were base runners all over the place. The Voice had to ask Argel himself just how does he manage to stay so composed?
“I have this routine, this superstition where we warm up in a circle and when I’m done stretching and getting myself right, I would just lay down and look at the sky and just breathe,” remarked the recently graduated Wilcox senior. “My teammates call it ‘ninja focus.’”
Seemingly wise beyond his years, Argel is fully aware that he needs to get bigger and stronger to continue on playing baseball at more advanced levels. However, starting off at his smaller size might help him along that journey.
“Obviously, I’m smaller, skinnier than everyone else, but I think I have a strong mental game. With that comes confidence, and I think I can do anything a big 6’2” 220 guy can do,” noted the teenager. “My focus right now is just to get bigger and stronger. That will hopefully lead to getting into a higher-level program. I just really want to keep playing.”
For now, Argel will keep playing ball at De Anza College.
0 comments