Baseball: Pacifics warming up for new season in Pecos League

The San Rafael Pacifics have been an anchor in an ever-changing Pecos League Pacific Division since joining the league in 2021. The Pacifics will have a slightly different look this season, as will the independent Pecos League, ahead of this month’s opening day.

Longtime manager Austin Fitzpatrick is stepping into a role as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, handing the reins over to veteran Pacifics hurler Chris Johnson, who is still on the pitching roster.

“CJ knows what it’s all about. The Pacifics are in good hands,” said Fitzpatrick, whose full-time career away from baseball got a lot busier.

San Rafael has just one exhibition game scheduled, May 19 at Martinez, before the the regular-season opener against the erstwhile Santa Rosa Scuba Divers on May 22 at Albert Park.

The Scuba Divers, formerly the Vallejo Seaweed, will play home games in two cities, and with two names, this season. Pecos League owner Andrew Dunn was at odds with the City of Vallejo over fees the recreation department said he owed. So, Dunn moved to the Seaweed to Santa Rosa and changed the team name, but a last-minute deal was struck to bring the team back to Vallejo’s Wilson Park for nine games as the Seaweed. The rest of the season, team will be known as the Santa Rosa Scuba Divers.

The Marysville Drakes have left the Pecos League, which means the duck mascot costume for Francis the Drake that was on loan from the Pacifics is back in San Rafael. The Monterey Amberjacks are back in action after a year’s hiatus. Martinez, Dublin and Bakersfield all return along with San Rafael.

The Pacifics will play home games Thursdays through Saturdays at the spruced-up Albert Park, in addition to a Father’s Day game against Martinez on Sunday, June 15. The Pacifics will host the Amberjacks for a July 4 game, and San Rafael will host the Pecos League All-Star Game on July 16.

The stalwart Pacifics are looking to follow up on their 2024 division pennant. San Rafael, the 2023 Pecos League champions, lost in back-to-back games to the Alpine Cowboys of the Mountain Division in the playoffs.

Fitzpatrick said the roster is nearly settled, but the Pacifics are still evaluating talent, and will host a tryout on May 11 for players who either did not find a home with a Major League Baseball affiliate, or who are just wrapping up their college careers.

“We’re always looking for pitching, especially with the short three-month season,” Fitzpatrick said. “But our pitching is looking good.”

College of Marin pitching coach and Pacifics veteran Alex Valasek anchors San Rafael’s pitching corps, along with familiar names Caleb Davis, Johnson and Jake Dent. Novato’s Josh Idell is back after successful shoulder surgery.

Other veterans returning include catcher Beau Dorman and the popular Blake Diggle, Frederick Buckson, and Aki Buckson.

“When we have veterans in the clubhouse, they can be a mentor to the new guys,” Fitzpatrick said.