El Camino wins baseball opener

The Colts’ opening day turned out to be a perfect afternoon for baseball. El Camino's new manager Chris Davidson embarked on his varsity coaching career with a 3-2 home win over Washington-SF under bright, blue skies.

“Awesome,” Davidson said of his first win. “This is my first year here. We’re still getting to know each other and all I did was ask them to come out and compete, and they responded.”

With the program tasked with replacing beloved longtime manager Carlos Roman following his retirement in 2012, Davidson is El Camino’s third varsity manager in four years. But he has brought a noticeable flair to the position. A throwback to the days of legendary El Camino manger Lou Zuardo, his inclusive brand of old-school coaching keeps players engaged with constant chatter.

“He’s just like — we have to be together,” Colts starting pitcher Jesser Hernandez said. “We have to be more like a team and be together ... and keep always working hard.”

Hard work seems to be right up the Hernandez boys’ alley. Senior right-hander Jesser Hernandez earned the win with 4 1/3 innings of work, then his younger cousin Bismark Hernandez took over to earn the save with 1 2/3 innings of shutout baseball.

Bismark Hernandez also provided a clutch swing of the bat in a key third-inning comeback rally. After Washington jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the frame, El Camino came surging right back. No. 9 hitter Johnny Vazquez — who went 2 for 2 with an RBI and one run scored — sparked the rally with a bunt single to lead off the inning. After Vazquez stole second, Bismark Hernandez smoked an RBI double up the gap in left-center, and advanced to third on a throwing error.

“Johnny Vazquez had a great leadoff at-bat — got on and stole a base ... and then I got to 0-2, got my pitch and just hit it,” Bizmark Hernandez said.

Bismark Hernandez then plated the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout by Armin Webb. El Camino then added an insurance run with a two-out rally in the fourth. Slugging first baseman Matt George banged a long double off the fence in left-center. Then Vazquez floated an RBI single to left, giving the Colts a 3-1 lead.

The insurance run benefitted Jesser Hernandez, who departed in the fifth after surrendering his second run of the day. Still, the senior’s first opening-day start was all about composure, according to Davidson.

“He did a great job,” Davidson said. “Jesser is a guy who gets really fired up. He’s animated out there. ... For him to go out there and get us to where we needed to go, that was great.”

Bismark Hernandez then emerged to keep the lead in tact. Against his older cousin, Washington had three straight batters reach with one out. Declan Lloyd had the RBI single to plate David Scolari — who was 3 for 3 with both Washington runs — and knock Jesser Hernandez out of the game.

The right-handed Bismark Hernandez punched out the first batter he faced. Then after a walk to load the bases, he bounced back with another strikeout. The junior totaled four strikeouts on the day, including the final out as he retired the side in order in the seventh.

The Colts also flashed some leather in the outfield. Vazquez — a returning varsity junior — made a critical running catch in the third, causing Washington to strand a runner at third. Vazquez was shading towards right-center when Jacob Villarosa hit a smash to the left-center gap; but Vazquez got a great first step to make an all-out running catch breaking back on the long liner.

While clutch hitting was at a premium, the Colts produced nine hits in the game, and had a knock in every inning.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do ... but I do think by the end of the year, this will be a really good hitting team,” Davidson said.

El Camino is Davidson’s first varsity managerial post. He served as the head coach of the Carlmont junior-varsity team from 2012-15. He started his coaching career the previous season at his alma mater Cañada College. First-base coach Matt Arbunich — an Aragon graduate — also makes the jump to El Camino after serving on Davidson’s staff at Carlmont for three seasons.