Golden Eagles Load Up on All-GVC Awards

The Feather River Golden Eagles won the 2022 Golden Valley Conference by an impressive five games, and when the GVC all-conference team was announced today it reflected FRC's dominance this spring.

12 Golden Eagles earned All-GVC honors and head coach Terry Baumgartner was named the GVC Coach of the Year. Jerry Thomas was selected as the conference's Most Valuable Player, giving Feather River two of the three special awards. Feather River's 13 total awards was tops in the GVC, ahead of Lassen (10) and Butte (7). The Pitcher of the Year in the GVC was Connor Irvine of Lassen.

The Golden Eagles, who finished 32-8 on the season and 23-2 in the GVC, will open up Northern California Regional play this Friday and Saturday as the No. 4 seed against No. 13 seed Consumnes River.

Here's a look at the Feather River honorees...

GVC Most Valuable Player Jerry Thomas (INF, 6-0, 195, Reno, NV/Damonte Ranch HS)...The fourth-year Golden Eagle standout saved his best season for last. Led the conference in batting average (.424), home runs (10), runs scored (46), walks (35), slugging percentage (.741) and on base percentage (.565). His 41 RBI led the Golden Eagles and ranked third in the conference.

GVC Coach of the Year Terry Baumgartner: In his 15 seasons as the head coach at Feather River, Baumgartner won his 12th GVC title this spring. He has now been named the GVC Coach of the Year nine times and won his 800th collegiate game in April. His record at Feather River is now 435-161 and his overall record (including time at Western Oregon) is 805-381.

GVC FIRST TEAM

Bridger Holmes (SP, 6-5, 200, North Bend, Ore./North Bend HS)...The first-year Golden Eagle was a perfect 7-0 on the mound with a league-best 1.75 ERA. In 51.1 innings pitched, he allowed only 42 hits and fanned 63. He didn't allow a home runs all season and opponents hit just .212 against him.

Jake Christianson (RP, 6-4, 190, St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS)...The third-year Golden Eagle was almost unhittable in late innings. He had six saves (2nd in the GVC) and ended up with a 4-1 record and 2.03 ERA. In 31 innings, he gave up just 15 hits and struck out 47 batters.

Ryan Blanchard (INF, 5-10, 170, Eagle, Wisc./Kettle Moraine HS)...The first-year FRC player hit .369 and listed second in the GVC with 13 doubles. He ranked third in runs scored (43) and fourth in RBI (35).

Cory McIntyre (OF, 5-8, 175, Yuba City, Calif./Sutter HS)...The true freshman hit at a .362 clip with 33 RBI, fifth best in the conference. He also had three home runs, seven doubles and stole 14 bases (fourth in the GVC).

Cooper Kitrel (OF, 6-0, 175, Las Vegas, Nev./Sierra Vista HS)... In his third season in a FRC uniform hit a robust .385 and scored 40 times. He added nine doubles, two triples and a pair of home runs, and finished the regular season with 27 RBI.

GVC SECOND TEAM

Dylan Cabral (SP, 6-0, 195, Redding, Calif./University Prep)...The third-year left-hander was 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA. In 62.2 innings pitched, he allowed 61 hits and struck out 41.

Daniel Pruitt (C, 6-2, 210, Gaston, Ore./Valley Catholic HS)...After red-shirting one year at Oregon State, Pruitt proved solid behind the plate defensively for FRC. He also drove in 22 runs, had six doubles a pair of home runs and hit .256. 

Cooper Thacker (INF, 6-0, 165, Chico, Calif./Pleasant Valley HS)...In his first season at FRC, Thacker hit .324 and tied for third in the GVC with 44 runs scored. He bashed 10 doubles, drove in 23 runs and thefted 14 bases.

Garret Damico (INF, 5-6, 145, Reno, Nev./Reno HS)...In his third season at FRC, Damico hit .312, had seven doubles, two triples and stole nine bases.

Jake Madson (INF, 6-0, 165, Dayton, Nev./Dayton HS)...Second-year Golden Eagle Madson hit .303 with 28 runs scored, 21 RBI and eight stolen bases.

GVC HONORABLE MENTION

Dakota Todd (P, 6-3, 165, Reno, Nev./McQueen HS)...In his first season at Feather River, Todd had a 3-0 mound record and a 2.90 ERA. In 31 innings he allowed just 29 hits and he struck out 27.