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TC baseball set to defend Section title as playoffs get underway
TC baseball
TC senior standout pitcher Gavin Farinha and his Eagles will face Big Valley Christian in the first round of playoffs (SAMANTHA SCHMIDT/The Journal).

In Major League Baseball or the National Basketball Association, championship teams typically receive their commemorative rings prior to their first home game of the following season. For the Turlock Christian varsity baseball team, they had to wait until their final home game of the 2023 regular season on Thursday against Big Valley Christian (Modesto) to receive their 2022 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII championship rings. It was something done with intent.

“I purposely did that,” said TC head coach Bill York. “I figured to wait till the end thinking maybe that could remind the kids who were here last year, ‘Oh, we did this last year. Let's do it again.’ And then those kids who weren’t here last year, have them think, ‘Wait, I want to ring.’ I guess that’s that Jedi mind trick to motivate the kids for what could come in the future.”

In fact, the Eagles have already one-upped themselves as far as regular season records go. Compared to last year’s 23-5 overall record and 9-1 record in the Central California Athletic Alliance League, the Eagles roll into the 2023 playoffs with a 18-3 overall record and an undefeated 10-0 record in CCAAL play. It was good enough to earn the #1 seed in Division VII for the second consecutive year.

As the top seed, the Eagles will begin their playoff journey on Wednesday against the #8 Wildfires of Foresthill High, who have an 8-10 overall record on the year and a 6-4 record in the Central Valley California League. Coincidentally, it is the exact same first-round matchup as last year, where the Eagles won 5-1 behind a dominant pitching performance from Gavin Farinha, in which the lefty tossed a complete-game one-hitter, striking out 20 while allowing just two walks.

“We have some familiarity with those players that played last year, but as everyone knows, what a difference a year can make,” York said. “Other than that, we don't know much about them other than the information online.”

Though Farinha, a senior, is arguably the best pitcher in the history of the Turlock Christian baseball program, York is still assessing the matchup and has not named a starting pitcher for Wednesday’s game. Aside from Farinha, who is 8-1 on the year with 97 strikeouts and a 0.15 ERA in 46 2/3 innings, the Eagles have the option of sending out fellow senior Rob York. The righty has not allowed a single earned run this year over 44 innings. He also has 72 strikeouts on the year.

“Rob really, really made some big strides. I mean, he still had a good season last year, but he really has kind of grown into form,” Coach York said. “We could go either way (Farinha or York). It's almost it's been a coin flip this year, which is great for a coach like me.”

Wednesday’s game between the Eagles and Wildfires will take place at Pedretti Park in Turlock. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.