As the 2023 high school baseball season gets underway, the Dos Palos Broncos will head to the Central Coast for a pair of tough contests.
Entering his sixth season as the Bronco head baseball coach, Leonard Davis will watch his team take on Nipomo this Friday. The following day Dos Palos will travel to Atascadero for another game. This Tuesday, they will travel to Sonora for a weekday doubleheader.
Dos Palos, like most programs, is still recovering from the effects of the Covid shutdown, but Davis says things have turned around.
“I believe that we have overcome Covid with the number of players that have showed up to participate in my program,” Davis explained.
The Broncos have eight returners from a team that finished 22-7 last year, including 8-2 in the West Sierra League — the season also included the title of the Hilmar Easter Tournament.
The eight returners headline a team with good pitching, hitting, and defense balance.
The Broncos will have four quality pitchers to lead the team, led by left-hander Kanoa Ruiz. He will share the pitching duties with right-handers Aaron Jones, Will Montemurro, and Issac Mandujano.
“All of them are seniors, and they will bring leadership and a love and passion for the game,” commented Davis.
All four of them will be counted on to provide offense also. Catchers Peyton Van Worth and Mason Soares will bring “big bats” to the team, along with infielder Drake Hennagan.
With a veteran team to lead, Davis added that the team is working hard to improve on last season.
“All of my players have a great work ethic,” he said. “They show up early and stay late. This is a great group of kids.”
Which makes this season very exciting, he added.
“What makes me excited is that we have a great group of kids who have played ball their whole lives together. It’s been fun watching them all grow together,” he explained. “The team chemistry is awesome. I can’t wait to see what this season has in store for us. There aren’t many jobs more fulfilling than one where you work with kids, watch them grow and develop their own personalities and see the world through their eyes.”
