The stage is set for Wednesday. The stakes are sky-high. It’s the North Coast Section Semi-Finals and the Dons are coming. ALL IN! Acalanes baseball isn’t just showing up. They’re storming in with chemistry and a laser-focused mission: survive and advance. Fueled by fearless seniors, the taste of an NCS title in their mouths, and a brotherhood forged in fire, this team is locked in and peaking at exactly the right time. The Acalanes Dons vs the Cardinal Newman Cardinal.
This isn’t just a playoff run. This is who they are. BLUEieve it.
David Gonzales – The Spark Plug
When David “Gonzo” Gonzales takes the field, everything shifts. A First-Team All-Leaguer with edge and electricity, he brings fire to every at-bat and energy to the whole dugout. He has sparks in every game, but he is a blaze in NCS, and it keeps burning. Gonzo isn’t just a player. He’s ignition! Playing the Cardinal, Gonzo is ready to put the flock in shock.
Keegan Goddard – The Lighthouse
Calm in chaos. Steady in the storm. That’s Keegan Goddard, the Lighthouse. This Second-Team All-Leaguer is steady. From center field, he sees it all, tracking every fly ball like it’s guided by radar. At the plate, he doesn’t just swing — he sends signals. Long ones. Loud ones. Steady. Reliable. Always shining. When the game gets wild and the moment gets loud, you follow the light. You lean on the Lighthouse. Keegs is ready from fly ball to fly home, Cardinal.
Branson Smith – The “B-Lock”
Branson “B-Lock / B Ice / B$” Smith isn’t just Second-Team All-League — ‘he’s a problem’. A problem for the Cardinal! Cold under pressure and fearless in big moments, he brings a closer’s mindset with a starter’s arsenal. Yikes! He’ll lock you down or block you out, ‘pick your problem’. Either way, B ready, because if Branson’s on the mound Wednesday… the Cardinals should definitely B Worried.
Austin McMannamon – The Donkey
Austin McMannamon is called ‘Donkey’: strong, steady, and stubborn in all the right ways. He’s reliable under pressure, unshakable on the mound, and when he delivers, it hits like a Donkey’s kick. He’s built for this. Pressure-proof. Strikeout machine. No Cardinal wants to see the Donkey, too bad they will see him but not his curveball.
Tyler Winkles – The Big Bat
Need a game-changer? Look no further. Tyler Winkles is the quiet assassin in the middle of the lineup, but make no mistake, he’s the quarterback of the offense. He reads the game, anticipates the moment, and delivers with precision. Cool under pressure, calculated in chaos, and built for the big stage. He finds his way to get on base. For the Cardinal, Winkles will turn their chirp into silence.
Jimmy Cusumano – The Handyman
Name a job, Jimmy Cusumano handles it. Whether it’s scooping low throws, stretching for outs, or flashing quick hands on a bunt, he’s the go-to guy at first base. He brings smart baserunning and tough, grind-it-out at-bats to every game. Call the Handyman. He shows up, tools in glove, and gets it done. Reliable, relentless, and always game-ready. Clip those wings on Wednesday.
James Stadt – The Duct Tape
James Stadt is baseball’s version of duct tape: tough, reliable, and always exactly where you need him. At shortstop, he holds the infield together with grit, game sense, and unshakable consistency. He is functional, durable, and built for the grind. Need a double-play turned under pressure? A cutoff throw nailed? A voice in the dugout when things get tight? Stadt sticks. He’s the guy who patches holes, steadies the ship, and never comes unstuck, no matter how tense the moment. The ‘Cardinal rule’? Don’t play us in the playoffs.
Every Don Has a Role
From the DH spot to the dugout loudmouths to pinch runners, every player on this roster is ready to make an impact. This team doesn’t just have depth, they have trust, belief, and fire. LOVE IT! That’s the difference. The Cardinal can circle the field, but the Dons will circle the bases. They will bring feathers, we bring firepower.
Why Acalanes Wins This NCS Semi-Final on Wednesday
Cardinal Newman? Their House Acalanes? Our Game. We. Want. It. More.
This group isn’t thinking about graduation speeches.
They’re thinking about raising the NCS 2025 banner.
They’re not picturing summer beach days.
They’re dreaming about this day.
School might be almost out —
But they’re all the way IN.
This team doesn’t flinch.
This team finishes.