Marysville takes GEL title after long drought

When Jay DeAlba first took over as Marysville High's baseball coach in 2008, his goal was to bring pride back to an Indians' program that had fallen on hard times.

The Indians were coming off two straight losing seasons, their home at Weldon Field was in desperate need of repair and interest in the team was at a low.

But four years have passed since DeAlba returned to his alma mater as head coach, and over that time the Indians have moved from the bottom of the pack to become the class of the Golden Empire League.

And with a 6-4 victory over Mesa Verde at home on Thursday, Marysville clinched at least a share of the GEL title, giving the school its first league crown in baseball in more than a decade.

Needless to say, pride in Indians baseball is back — and DeAlba is a big reason why.

"I'm not a big numbers guy, but it's been 10 years at least," DeAlba said of winning the GEL. "In my mind, that sense of pride has always been there, but everybody has come on board.

"We've been working hard and doing what it takes to win."

Marysville (15-7, 13-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Davis Walker and Kody Childers both connected for RBI singles in the bottom of the first. The Indians then gave ace Derrick Brown plenty of room to work with by scoring three more runs in the second.

A two-run throwing error and a run-scoring single by sophomore Chad Perry were the key blows in the inning, and with a five-run cushion, the Indians were in control of the game.

Brown made the lead stand by allowing two runs and scattering six hits over six solid innings. He struck out seven before giving way to Walker in the seventh.

The offense was led by Perry, who went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Blake Freechtle went 2 for 2 and scored twice and Walker drove in two runs as well in the win.

"Our bats have been up and down, but I was happy with our swings today," DeAlba said. "We haven't blown out a lot of people this year, but that's OK. We'll battle it out."

Since DeAlba took over as coach, the Indians made a meteoric rise up the GEL ranks. Marysville finished 9-17 in 2007, but has improved in every season since, going 11-10 in 2008, 13-10 in 2009 and 22-7 last year while making it all the way to the section semifinals.

DeAlba credits the dedication of his players and a strong coaching staff as the main reasons for the upswing.

"All four of my coaches and I played here under Byron Randolph and we know what hard-nosed baseball is all about," he said. "Hustle and heart — that's how we accomplished championships."

Now it's on to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs, where the Indians will represent the GEL as the No. 1 seed. They will open the playoffs on May 18 at Tony Zupo Field in Lodi where they will play the No. 2 team from the Mother Lode League.

"We've won a lot of close games and I'm glad these guys had to battle through league," DeAlba said. "I like the competition."

The Indians will play one final tune-up before the playoffs when they travel to take on River Valley on Wednesday.

"Everyone wants to win, but it's a good time to get your pitchers some work," DeAlba said. "It's a good tune-up for us and (River Valley coach ) Billy (Rollins)."