FRESNO — Former Weston Ranch star Vinnie Devencenzi went 6 for 10 with three RBIs over the weekend in helping lead Delta College to a California Community College State Championship game appearance at Fresno City College, where the Mustangs fell to eventual champ Orange Coast College of Costa Mesa, 10-7.
The last time Delta won a state title was 1959.
Devencenzi was joined on the Delta roster by former Sierra standouts Garrett Yrigoyen and Andrew Gabriel, as well as former East Union hurler Trae Lopez.
Lopez got the start for Delta in the championship game, lasting 1 1/3 innings after allowing five runs on five hits.
Lopez also worked a pair of innings in a Sunday win over Diablo Valley.
Delta (34-19) was seeded ninth heading into the postseason after finishing third in the Big 8 Conference, and wasn’t even ranked among the state’s top 20 teams.
Head coach Reed Peters said the team, which routinely gathers to break bread together, had the best chemistry of any squad he had guided in six years of experience at the community college level.
“They believed they could win and worked hard,” Peters told the Stockton Record.
Delta reached the championship game with an 11-10, 11-inning win over OCC in the championship series.
Thomas Shull legged out a triple off the wall before pinch hitter Cody Scott provided a walk-off single through the hole.
Devencenzi was Delta’s starting right fielder and hit out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
Redshirt freshman Yrigoyen hit out of the six-hole and started every game this season.
Lopez and Gabriel, both first-year pitchers, played supporting roles this season, and will look to break out a year from now.
The last time Delta won a state title was 1959.
Devencenzi was joined on the Delta roster by former Sierra standouts Garrett Yrigoyen and Andrew Gabriel, as well as former East Union hurler Trae Lopez.
Lopez got the start for Delta in the championship game, lasting 1 1/3 innings after allowing five runs on five hits.
Lopez also worked a pair of innings in a Sunday win over Diablo Valley.
Delta (34-19) was seeded ninth heading into the postseason after finishing third in the Big 8 Conference, and wasn’t even ranked among the state’s top 20 teams.
Head coach Reed Peters said the team, which routinely gathers to break bread together, had the best chemistry of any squad he had guided in six years of experience at the community college level.
“They believed they could win and worked hard,” Peters told the Stockton Record.
Delta reached the championship game with an 11-10, 11-inning win over OCC in the championship series.
Thomas Shull legged out a triple off the wall before pinch hitter Cody Scott provided a walk-off single through the hole.
Devencenzi was Delta’s starting right fielder and hit out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
Redshirt freshman Yrigoyen hit out of the six-hole and started every game this season.
Lopez and Gabriel, both first-year pitchers, played supporting roles this season, and will look to break out a year from now.
— Brandon Petersen
