Despite having already clinched a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth, the Woodland High School varsity baseball team wasn’t quite able to put a bow on a fantastic season and celebrate Senior Day the way they would have liked after losing 7-1 to Golden Empire League foes Rio Linda.

The Wolves (21-8, 15-6 GEL) came into the game on a scorching six-game winning streak thanks to a tournament win over Cordova, a sweep of league foes Destiny Christian Academy, and taking the first two games of the series against Rio Linda. That win streak was enough to keep the Wolves in second place in the league, a mere game up on third-placed Casa Roble.

With the loss, the Wolves fell into a tie for second place with the Rams, but luckily managed to take the season series from them, winning two games.

“It’s one of those days where if you mess with routines before the game, it can take us out of our headspace, and we didn’t come prepared mentally at all,” Wolves head coach Danny Eoff said. “We were out of it from the start with our approaches at the plate or plays on defense or baserunning mistakes.”

Before the game, the school and community at Clark Field took the time to celebrate the team’s four seniors, including Joseph Cadotte, Joseph Quezada, Braydon Sandoval, and Brendon Stewart.

“These four are such an unselfish group and are special to me because this is the first group of seniors I have had all four years since I got here,” Eoff said. “They have all been so steady and dedicated. They come in and do whatever we ask, whether they are playing or not playing, winning or losing, and they do whatever we need. I told them before the game that they had made their families and school proud to wear that jersey the past four years.”

“These past four years have meant a lot to me,” Cadotte said. “I have so many great memories with this team and the seniors. We have had good runs all four years here. These seniors are the guys that I have played sports with and grown up with since we were kids.”

The Wolves stumbled early out of the gates, allowing a daunting 6 runs in the top of the second inning.

They’d have a chance to get a few of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Following PJ Pinegar reaching first on a hit-by-pitch and then David Tanner reaching base on a single, the Wolves looked to do some damage with only one out.

However, the bats weren’t batting, as a ground out and a strikeout stranded Pinegar and Tanner on second and first base, respectively.

In the top of the sixth, the Knights added another insurance run to go up 7-0. In the bottom half of the inning, the Wolves once again got off to a nice start after Pinegar reached base safely and Tanner doubled, moving them both into scoring position with no outs.

They’d find a way to strand them both following three straight outs to end the inning. After a non-consequential top and bottom of the seventh inning, Rio Linda gleefully got back on the bus home with a win.

Up next for the Wolves will be the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs with matchups, locations, and seeding, which are all set for Sunday afternoon. Eoff anticipates a possible first-round home game on Tuesday, but wasn’t so sure following the loss.

“Hopefully, we have a short-term memory and shake this off during practice on Monday,” Eoff said. “It looks like we might play on Tuesday. We have to know that we are better than this and that one game doesn’t define our season. Let’s get back on track and focus on the game.”

“I’m looking forward to getting back into it and hopefully getting far in the playoffs,” Cadotte said. “We have a great chance to make it to the section championships this season. We all preach that it’s ‘section season,’ so we are coming for it.”