This SLO County baseball team has the smallest roster in its league — and the best record

When Erik Wanner was hired as head baseball coach at Atascadero High School, he set out to implant a meaningful motto in his players’ minds: “Have a purpose. Have a plan. Have fun!”

After the season ends, he may add another motto: “Make the most out of what you’ve got.”

The Greyhounds are 19-4 and lead the Ocean League 9-1, two games over 7-1 Pioneer Valley.

Wanner’s team enjoys success not only because gifted players excel on the mound and at the plate. The Greyhounds’ record also reflects the versatility and flexibility of the team.

Two of Wanner’s players – junior Jarom Damery and senior Jake Hixenbaugh – have played every position except catcher.

Junior Jack Thompson catches pitches, and plays “a very solid second base,” Wanner explained via email.

“I like to refer to them as my Swiss Army knives,” Wanner said of his players.

The coach called his 12-player team “a tight roster.”

In fact, it’s the smallest roster in the league.

Three teams in the eight-team Ocean League – Pioneer Valley, Cabrillo and Orcutt Academy – have rosters with 17 players.

Mission Prep has 22 and Nipomo has 24. (Morro Bay and Santa Maria have not posted rosters on MaxPreps.)

So how does Wanner manage a winning first-place team with so few players?

Beyond resourcefulness, the coach has pitchers that pound the strike zone and hitters who crush the baseball.

Hixenbaugh is hitting .493, has 35 hits and 33 runs batted in.

Senior Johnnie Debrum (.446) has 33 hits and leads the team with 38 RBI.

Junior Drew Cappel (.444) has 32 hits and 25 RBI, and leads the team with 23 stolen bases.

Wanner’s mound aces keep opposing batters off the bases. Senior Donovan Kerr (4-4, 1.99 earned runs average) has struck out 40 batters, and junior Chase Viale (5-0, .037 ERA) has struck out 48.

Additional support for the varsity has come from Atascadero’s “resourceful and outstanding (junior varsity) roster from time to time,” Wanner pointed out.

The most critical games of the season will be played Saturday when the Greyhounds host the second-place Pioneer Valley Panthers (12-4-1) in a doubleheader.

With a split, Atascadero stays two games ahead of the Panthers in the Ocean League.

If the Greyhounds lose both, the teams will be tied. If Atascadero wins both, then it’s curtains for the Panthers.

The Greyhounds have two remaining games after Saturday – home and away against third-place Cabrillo (8-2 in League).

Wanner knows the “grind becomes harder and the competition gets fiercer” in these last four games.

However, he adds, if his team continues with “our purpose and our plan … we will have fun.”

This story was originally published April 29, 2023 at 8:00 AM.