The Cate baseball team concluded their regular season with a game against league champion Foothill Tech, ending with a 14-4 loss. Despite the setback, Cate finishes with an 11-5 record for the season as the team prepares for the upcoming playoffs, the first in four years since 2019.
Despite the lack of senior leadership, the recent game for the Cate baseball team showcased a blend of contributions from the other three grades. On April 24, 2024, the Rams took on their final opponent of the regular season, seeking revenge for their previous defeat. Starting strong offensively, Cate took an early 3-0 lead against Foothill thanks to junior Quinn Pullen’s performance, including two doubles, an RBI, and a walk. Chase Meyer ‘26 contributed with a double, while Ethan Gibson ‘25 and Noah Casbarro ‘26 each had hits and RBIs. Peter Lehman ‘25 added two RBIs to the scoreboard for the Rams. On the mound, Pullen ‘25 put his talent on display, pitching 5 and 2/3 innings, striking out 6 and allowing 5 surrendered runs. Josh Butler ‘26 provided relief pitching to close out the game and Alex Ke ‘27 made a standout play in left field with a catch that Alex Ke ‘27 described as “tremendous.” In spite of their efforts, the Rams struggled defensively, eventually losing the game. However, the Rams eagerly await their playoff matchup. An interview with both freshmen Alex Ke ‘27 and Henry Chen ‘27 revealed the keys to the team’s success. Ke stated when asked about earning a spot on the roster as a freshman, “It’s a competitive team and people have to work hard to get minutes in game. Captains Quinn Pullen and Peter Lehmen played an important role in building team chemistry and taking on the role as leaders, which was crucial for my adjustment to the team.” A relative rookie at the game, Chen, offered a different perspective, “My coaches and teammates were all very supportive, and I feel like it’s a very inclusive place for all of us. Yeah, I would love to recommend baseball for Cate students.”
Coach David Soto ‘08 was especially contented with the team’s performance this season, "I'm so so proud of the work this team put in this year. Our goal all season was to get back into the playoffs and we accomplished our goal swimmingly. We weren't big in numbers, but this group rallied around each other and learned a lot along the way. I'm most impressed with the grit this team showed this season. We fell behind in some games and didn't play clean baseball a few times, but they didn't make excuses and found ways to get the job done. That toughness and confidence will carry over into other parts of Cate life, which is way more important than anything baseball related." He continued by adding, "We are a pretty young team...we should have all of our starting 9 coming back next year (shoutout to our one senior Suzie Diaz!), which is really exciting. It's a long way away, but I can't wait to watch this team improve on what we built this season!" With full confidence in the team’s abilities and a strong season behind them, Cate Baseball looks forward to making a splash in the playoffs.
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