In a season shortened by the Covid-19 pandemic, Rio Americano is cramming in all the wins that they can, riding a 12-game winning streak to an 18-1 record (10-0, Capital Athletic League) and a spot in the Sacramento Bee’s prep top 10.

Their only loss was 3-0 defeat to Ponderosa on April 23. Since then they have swept league play including a 3-0 win over second-place Del Campo on May 24.  

“We’re doing great and that’s thanks to everyone on the team contributing to the team,” said said senior first baseman Will Heron. “Even when we’re in tough games we fight hard and we have come up with the win in 18 of our 19 games we’ve played” 

The Raiders benefited from standout pitching from Daniel Gibberson and Elija Rogalski, who lead the team in ERA and strikeouts respectively. Heron, who will attend Lewis and Clark next year, leads the team in hitting with a .466 batting average.

But the Raiders’ success is a team effort. 

Rio is hitting .358 as a team with a combined 23 home runs. 

The pitching has also been stellar, Rio has an ERA of 2.11 as a team. They have struck out 152 batters. 

And when the team falters in one area it makes up for it in another. 

Rogalski gave up more runs against Christian Brothers last week than he had in all his previous five starts this season–combined. But Rio bats came to the rescue, hammering the Falcons with an 8-run seventh inning for a come-from-behind 12-6 win. 

In the most recent game against Del Campo, senior third baseman Max Kitay picked up both RBI’s in the 3-0 win, while Rogalski recorded a complete game shutout.