ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. – On Wednesday, January 25th, the Sonoma State baseball team was picked to finish 7th in the annual CCAA preseason poll announced earlier today. The Seawolves overcame the odds and a tough start to the 2022 season and finished league play with a four-game series sweep over Cal State San Bernardino to clinch their spot in the CCAA Tournament. Head coach John Goelz and his squad would see postseason action for the first time since 2014 and represent the 4th seed in the tournament. 

SSU retain much of their pitching staff and some of their best offensive talent as they look to make back-to-back conference tournament appearances for the first time since the 2014 season, where they were crowned league champs and made their fourth straight CCAA Tournament appearance dating back to 2011. The Seawolves kickoff their 2023 campaign in a three game set with Academy of Art on February 4th, and will make their home debut on February 7th against Holy Names. 

GET TO KNOW THE COACH:

Head coach John Goelz enters his 38th year leading the SSU baseball program ahead of the 2023 season. Goelz currently stands as one of the most decorated coaches in Sonoma State athletics history. He is the program's most winningest coach and holds an overall record of 1,127-787-5, eclipsing 1,100 wins in 2020 before the rest of the season was canceled due to COVID-19. 

After missing out on postseason action for five straight seasons, Goelz turned around his group last season and went on a solid run, winning 9 of 12 games over three conference series in the second half of the season. They would close out the regular season with a four-game sweep over San Bernardino to clinch their spot in the CCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. 

The 7-time NCAC/CCAA coach of the year will look to make repeat postseason appearances for the first time since 2014 when the team went to the conference tournament four straight seasons, three of which they would also qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Among his impressive accolades and awards, Goelz holds 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, 10 regular season titles, 5 CCAA Tournament Championships, and 2 NCAA West Region Championships with the latest one coming in 2011.  

Full Bio (click here)

KEY RETURNERS:

Despite graduating the majority of the team's field starters, the Seawolves retain some of their top offensive talent and nearly their entire pitching staff. Highlighting SSU's pitching staff is versatile starter Michael Benz. The right hander transferred in from DI member University of San Francisco and made a direct impact last season. Benz led all pitchers with 17 appearances and a 6-4 record. 

Alongside Benz and former teammate at USF is senior right hander Nick Roth. Roth made 10 starts last season and finished with a sub-four ERA representing one of the Seawolves most effective pitchers. The pair were top two on the team in innings pitched and strikeouts as they look to lead the way this season. 

In the field, Braeden Holliday, Sean Pauly, and Christopher Wright return as some of the team's best offensive weapons. Despite an injury late in the season, Holliday stood as one of the team's most consistent hitters finishing with a team high .370 batting average in his 30 games played. He would finish the season as the only SSU hitter with an OPS over a thousand and was tied for second on the team with 7 home runs. 

Sean Pauly was an electric freshman for the Seawolves as the 6-foot-3 outfielder finished his 2022 campaign with a .311 average 6 doubles and 2 triples. Pauly anchored the corner outfield positions, able to play both left and right field. Left hander Christopher Wright returns for his junior season as he finished with a solid .231 average and a pair of homers in 2022. Wright was a near every day starter at first base for the Seawolves, finishing with 201 putouts and a .991 fielding percentage. 

Other notable returners for Sonoma State include pitchers Jake Dent, Tanner Fonoti, and Blake Janowicz, as well as additional field players including Jared Esparza, Brandon Herter, Niko Tejada, and Lucas Townsend. 

GAME DAY MEDIA LINKS:

This season, all SSU home baseball games will have free admission for all attending fans. Important game day media links, field location, parking information, etc. can be found below or online at sonomaseawolves.com

Parking
Field Location
Live Stats
Live Stream
Full 2023 Schedule

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