Morro Bay baseball sets school win record as CIF playoffs are set to begin
Morro Bay’s baseball team already was having a record-setting season as they prepared to launch their playoff bid on Friday.
With an 8-5 win over San Luis Obispo (13-13, 7-5 Sunset) on Tuesday, the Pirates (23-5, 12-0 Ocean) set their school season record for wins with 23, topping the stellar 2020-21 season in which the Pirates went 22-8.
And Morro Bay also never before as a school baseball program swept a league season as the Pirates did this year winning all 12 of their Ocean League matchups.
On Tuesday, Morro Bay was led by Evan Davis, who launched a two-run home run to right center at SLO’s ballpark to start the scoring. Davis also pitched two scoreless innings before Cruz Wilkinson came on in relief for the next four and Colton White pitched the final frame to secure the record-setting win.
Infielder Quentin Crotts, who played shortstop and third base Tuesday, was 2-for-5 with a run scored as well to help Morro Bay to the victory.
“We treat every game the same, but we knew there was a little something going into this game because of the school record,” said Morro Bay Coach Jarred Zill. “So this was kind of like a pre-playoff game for us. And the boys came out ready to go.”
Davis said that the Pirates team gauged the wind, and he was able to take advantage by launching a fastball, which was up and in the middle of the zone, over the fence opposite field for his second home run of the season.
“We realized during before the game, the wind is blowing really hard to right field,” Davis said. “So we were looking to hit the ball to right field and get the outside pitch and hit it hard.”
Davis, a junior, described a balanced attack and good team chemistry that has led to success.
“We’ve trusted each other, we have two good pitchers, and our defense has picked us up for sure,” Davis said. “We’ve just made plays in the field and hit the ball really well.”
In the last game of the regular season for both teams with CIF-Central Section playoffs starting Friday, Zill recapped a season that has been special thus far.
“We have a great group, and these kids just love playing baseball, and they play hard,” Zill said. “They’re not scared and so that’s what I really like this group, that they they keep good attitudes, they don’t get down on themselves, and they don’t get down on each other. These guys are so close. It’s kind of cliche, but these guys have all grown up together and they really care for each other. Everyone wants everyone to succeed.”
Eli Brown, Morro Bay’s starting pitcher for the playoff opener, was set to get the ball on Friday, and Zill said “and we’re going to let him go as long as he can.”
Zill said he was unsure of where the Pirates would be seeded exactly, but he expects they’d be penciled into the Division 3 bracket.
SLO eyes playoffs ahead
For SLO, the Tigers wrapped up a strong season in which they finished as co-champions in the Sunset League, tying with Paso Robles. Both SLO and Paso finished with 7-5 league records.
SLO Coach Dean Treanor said the Tigers celebrated Senior Day on Tuesday, and he was able to get all of the seniors into the game.
“I think we let that game get away from us,” Treanor said. “But now the focus is on Friday. We’ll find out tomorrow who and where we play. I feel good about us making a run at this thing.”
Treanor said the team made some costly errors on defense that allowed Morro Bay to build an early lead that proved insurmountable.
“That always comes back to bite you,” Treanor said. “When we play the game clean, we’re gonna have a chance to win.”
Sophomore Parker Wyatt, playing second base, went 3-for-4 with two RBIs on Tuesday. He’s leading the Tigers with a .375 season batting average.
“Parker has done really well for us,” Treanor said of Wyatt. “We played him at third and second in the infield, and put him in that three hole (in the batting lineup) all year. He’s an offensive weapon for us. As a sophomore, he’s done really well at the varsity level.”
Senior Hayden Hall had a two-hit game, including a double, and scored a run.
SLO’s top pitcher, 6-foot-3 right-hander Joe Isaman, will take the mound on Friday, entering with a 2.91 ERA and a 3-3 record with 36 strikeouts in 43.1 innings pitched.
Other SLO County league finishes
Elsewhere in SLO County baseball, Arroyo Grande (12-15-1, 6-9) finished fourth in the Mountain League, and Mission Prep (12-11, 5-10) finished fifth in Mountain.
Templeton (16-12, 6-6) finished third and Atascadero (13-14, 5-7) finished fourth in the Sunset League.
Nipomo (9-15, 6-6) finished second in the Ocean League.
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM.
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