Valdez connection helps power COS baseball to top of CVC

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

Andrew Valdez and Donte Valdez share a last name and Visalia roots even though they are of no relation.

They are connected, however.

First, as teammates on the College of the Sequoias baseball team, which sits atop the Central Valley Conference standings heading into a May 14 home doubleheader against second-place Fresno City. Games are scheduled for noon and 3 p.m.

Also, by their spots in the Giants' batting order, where Andrew (El Diamante High) typically bats second followed by Donte (Redwood) in the three hole.

And, because of their similar experiences as both are proving to four-year colleges that they are recovered and productive again after having their season's cut short by knee injuries last year.

"Both those guys are four-year (college) guys," Sequoias coach Jody Allen said. "We've always got people contacting us about them. Both could be (NCAA) Division I players. I think both will have some nice options. There are some schools who will really want what they provide."

The Valdez' have been driving forces on a Giants team that has the second-most wins (14-4) and eighth-best winning percentage (.778) among the 52 California community college baseball teams playing in a season that has been delayed, shortened and had the state playoffs eliminated because of Covid-19 pandemic safety precautions.

Andrew, who plays second base, is hitting a team second-best .413 with a team-leading six home runs and 21 RBIs. He also has four doubles, a triple, a team-leading 27 runs and co-leading five stolen bases.

"I'm trying to stay locked in and take every at bat like it's my last one," Andrew said.

Donte, who plays right field, is hitting a team-leading and state 11th-best .481, to go along with a team second-best four homers, team-leading 13 doubles and two triples, 18 RBIs and 24 runs.

"I'm seeing the ball well," Donte said. 

It's been a return to form for the Valdez' after both got off to slow starts last year before suffering their season-ending knee injuries.

Andrew completely tore his meniscus -- which he initially injured as a senior in high school -- 11 games into the 2020 season. He was hitting .162 with no homers and three RBIs at the time after making an immediate impact for Sequoias while hitting .340 with a team-leading six homers and 36 RBIs as a freshman in 2019.

The tear of his meniscus required surgery to repair, followed by eight months of rehabilitation.

"I know every day is not promised," Andrew said. "It was hard. Every day was kind of stressful. I'd wake up thinking 'when would this knee get better? When is it going to be 100 percent?' But I stuck to it and just kept working hard. My knee feels better than ever now. My therapist did a great job on me. I'm glad to be back out there 100 percent."

Allen said Andrew put too much pressure on himself to perform last season as the 6-foot, 210-pounder was drawing attention from four-year colleges and professional scouts.

Because he had played in less than 30 percent of the Giants' scheduled games at the time of his injury, Andrew was in line for a medical redshirt even before the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the season and caused the California Community College Athletic Association to declare that last season and this one would not count against athletic eligibility. 

"I'm excited for him in particular. This is redemption for him," Allen said. "He's feeling healthy now. He's not putting any pressure on himself and just going out and doing what he's capable of. He's really a gifted hitter who can handle all types of pitching. When he's right, he's going to hit no matter who is on the mound."

Like Andrew, Donte's offensive production also took a dip -- albeit a slight one -- in 2020.

After hitting .283 with two homers and 15 RBIs as a freshman in 2019, Donte was hitting .261 with no homers and 12 RBIs through 18 games before tearing his ACL while running a drill in practice just before the pandemic forced the cancelation of the season.

Donte's injury also required surgery and a year of rehab before he was able to return to the field.

"I was devastated,' Donte said. "It was tough for a long time. At first it was three days of therapy every week, getting back on my feet and leg, then strengthening the muscles around the ligament, then getting balance and trusting the leg again. And now I feel great. I feel 100 percent. My therapist did a great job."

While Donte has never had a knee issue, it wasn't the first time he's dealt with injuries. He fractured vertebrae in his neck while playing football and injured a finger playing baseball in high school.

"When he is healthy, he's a tremendous asset to our ballclub," Allen said. "He's shown a lot of power. He's hitting balls to all parts of the ballpark. He's been great with the bat."

Donte, like Andrew, hopes to play beyond Sequoias.

The 6-1, 180-pounder would have played too many games last season to be granted a medical redshirt had the pandemic not hit. So Donte is making the most of his opportunity to play a proper sophomore season at Sequoias, hitting in 17 of the Giants' 18 games so far.

Donte is riding a 10-game hitting streak, during which he's produced at least two hits in nine straight, as he makes his case to earn a scholarship to a four-year university.

"I know it's getting tougher. There's a lot of people backed up at all the universities," Donte said of the backlog of players caused by the freezing of athletic eligibility. "I'd like to play again, 100 percent, but I'm just focused on this year and trying to do my best this year."

The Valdez' continued their hot hitting as the Giants split a non-conference doubleheader against Cerro Coso on May 11 in Ridgecrest.

Andrew and Donte each had three hits and combined to score six runs in Sequoias' 13-11 loss during the first game.

Donte was 4 for 6 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs, while Andrew went 2 for 4 with a home run and four runs as the Giants rallied to win the second game 20-8.

Flavio Perez Jr. (Hanford) had a five-hit performance in the second game, and went 8 for 10 with two doubles and seven RBIs during the doubleheader.

Andrew Pompa (Dinuba) and Marciano Corona (McLane-Fresno) each drew their first starts of the season in the second game for Sequoias, with Pompa going 3 for 6 with an RBI, and Corona going 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

Benjamin Pedersen (Tulare UnionO hit run-scoring triples in both games for the Giants.

Sequoias (14-4 overall, 13-3 CVC) holds a 3 1/2-game lead on Fresno City (11-6, 9-6) with eight conference games remaining heading into the May 14th doubleheader, which will be live streamed at https://vimeo.com/event/980320. 

"I really like how this team is playing," Donte said. "I love our confidence. I love how we get after people. We have a lot of determination."