The Postseason is Here! FRC to host Hawks in 3-game Slate

QUINCY--A sense of normalcy has returned to college baseball this spring, with the return of full seasons and postseason opportunities.

Part of that normal is the Feather River College Golden Eagles qualifying and hosting a CCCAA Northern playoff series. This Friday and Saturday, FRC welcomes Cosumnes River College for a three-game slate, beginning with a Friday opener at 2 pm. Saturday's action starts at 11 am with the second game of the series, with the "if necessary" game to follow.

"It is hard to believe it has been three years since we last had playoff baseball in California," said Feather River head coach Terry Baumgartner. "So it means a lot to all of the programs in California and it means we are starting to get back to a little bit of normalcy at our level after watching the four-year schools have baseball playoffs last year."

While the pandemic has taken away postseason opportunities for most of the current Golden Eagles, playing baseball after the end of the regular season is nothing new to Baumgartner's program. 

"To top it off we get to host the Regionals which we have done 13 times in my 16 years involved with the FRC baseball program," Baumgartner added. "Two of those three years we didn't have playoffs were due to Covid so I am proud of our team this year for getting us another GVC championship and the ability to host the Regional playoffs. Hosting a Big 8 team is always a challenge but we are looking forward to hosting a high caliber Cosumnes River team."

Cosumnes River comes to Quincy with a 21-16 overall record. They tied for third in the Big 8 Conference with a 13-11 record. They were an impressive 12-6 on the road when away from their home in Sacramento. Importantly in a three-game series, they have a pitching ace in TJ Czyz who is 7-2 with a 2.62 ERA. The 6-foot-2 righthander has fanned 111 batters in just 79 innings pitched. In his most recent outing he gave up just one run to earn the win against San Joaquin Delta, striking out 11 batters in seven innings of work.

Catcher Harry Owen paces an offense that boasts a .291 team batting average. Owen leads the Hawks in most offensive categories, including average (.389), home runs (9), RBI (49) and doubles (11). Judah Morris shares the home run lead with Owen (9).

The Golden Eagles did not play Cosumnes River this year, but Baumgartner knows enough to know that his team is in for a challenge.

"We know that they play in the top conference in Northern California (Big 8 Conference) and they were tied for third place," he said. "They have some really good arms on the mound, they play solid defense, and they have quite a few guys who are hitting really well. It is a very tough draw for us but you have to beat good teams this time of year if you want to advance. Cosumnes River is a really good team as they have been year in and year out over the last 20 years."

The Golden Eagles are 32-8 this year and won the Golden Valley Conference by a whopping five games with a 23-2 mark. They also love playing at home where they are 12-1 this spring. FRC had 12 players named to the All-GVC team, including GVC Player of the Year Jerry Thomas who is hitting. .424 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. Bridger Holmes is the ace of the staff with a 7-0 record and 1.75 ERA. Jake Christianson has been a lights-out closer with six saves and 47 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched.

FRC is the No. 4 seed in the Northern Region and Cosumnes River is No. 13. If the Golden Eagles are able to advance, they would host a Super Regional, May 13-14 in Quincy. They would play the winner of No. 5 Skyline and No. 12 Modesto.