After winning its first conference championship outright in more than 58 years, DVC’s baseball team now looks to its first game tomorrow against West Valley College in the state playoffs against West Valley College.
“To win the toughest conference in the state is a big deal and great honor for all of us to achieve,” said third baseman Travis Kruger.
DVC won the Big 8 Conference championship, despite dropping its last two games to second-place Cosumnes River.
The two losses dropped the Vikings to 15-6 in conference and 29-14 overall, while ranking No. 3 in Northern California and No. 10 in state.
“The last two losses don’t affect our confidence at all,” said outfielder, Corey Conflenti. “We know what were capable of as a team, and the playoffs are the start of what really matters.”
Despite its high Northern California ranking, the Vikings are the sixth seed in the state playoffs, but will still have the home field advantage when they host No. 11 seed West Valley in a best of three series Friday and Saturday.
“It was shocking,” head coach Mike Neu said. “But we have to beat everyone. It really doesn’t matter who we play.”
The first game begins at 2 p.m., followed by a second game at 11 a.m. Saturday and a third at 1 p.m., if a deciding game is necessary.
“We were very surprised with such a low seed after winning our conference,” Kruger said. “But that will serve as motivation going into the playoffs. The Vikings and West Valley met twice during the regular season, each team winning a game on their home field.”
DVC has been exceptional at home this season, only losing three games all season and only one in conference play.
“We seem to play with a different swagger and the mindset that nobody can come to our field and beat us,” Kruger said. The winner of that series will move on to the regional tournament, which is a double elimination tournament to be played on a neutral site May 15 – 17.
The No. 6 seed is the highest DVC has been seeded in over seven years.
“As a team, we are very proud of what we did this year,” Conflenti said. “Winning the Big 8 was our second highest goal, next to winning state, so we [still] aren’t satisfied.”