Goen's complete game 5-hit gem, homers from Gray and Nelson lead NVC baseball to win
Photos: Seven Napa Valley College players were introduced and honored on "Sophomore Day" at Storm Field on Friday, April 25.
Photos by Marty James
By MARTY JAMES
It was a day that began with Derek Mayer introducing and honoring seven Napa Valley College players on "Sophomore Day," with the Storm's head coach presenting each of them with a home gold jersey that is framed.
Addressing the fans on the first-base side of Storm Field in a pre-game ceremony, Mayer said: "I really appreciate all your support. This group of guys have been incredible to work with. Parents, you can be proud of your young men. They're extraordinary men."
It was a day that ended with Blake Goen, the winning pitcher who threw a complete game five-hitter against Solano Community College-Fairfield, persevering through windy, rainy and cold conditions, taking a throw from first baseman Myles Gray and making the final putout in the top of the ninth inning on Friday, April 25.
"He ended the year on his best performance," Mayer said of the Storm's freshman right-hander, who has been a stalwart late in the 2025 season. "He hit his stride in about the third inning. He was locating his fastball and change-up early, and then all of a sudden, his slider came, and that's when things started to get difficult for them, because they had three pitches to combat.
"His mechanics looked good, his (velocity) stayed good. He was carving them up. Pitch-count aside, he was still getting outs. He was doing his thing. He's by far been our best pitcher over the past month. So, it's kind of hard to take the ball out of his hands when he wants it. He wanted the ball, we gave it to him, and he rose to the occasion."
It was a day when Napa Valley turned on the power, with Gray and Owen Nelson hitting back-to-back home runs over the left-field fence, highlighting a four-run sixth-inning scoring surge.
It was a day for the offense, with the Storm totaling 13 hits.
It was a day when Napa Valley made plays in the field.
"I'd say this was probably one of my favorite wins of the year, because we weren't playing the best the last couple games, and then we turned it around, put our heart and soul into this game, and ended this season on a high note," said Gray. "I'm glad, as that also boosts momentum to go into next year. Great, great pitching from Blake. Again, every week, he seems just dominating out there. Big win. That was a big win."
Indeed. In its final game of the regular season, Napa Valley played very well in all aspects of the game, beating Solano in the third and final game of a season-ending series, 4-1, and avoiding being swept by the Falcons.
"Going back-to-back like that was a boost of momentum and got us into the game," said Gray. "I think this was a great win for the team. Pitching, hitting and defense was all aligned. That's really what we were missing this season, is doing it in one game. So, I think that was a great way to end the season and catapult things the next year. We've got to keep moving forward."
Napa Valley (10-29 overall, 9-12 Bay Valley) and Solano (17-22 overall, 9-12 Bay Valley) end the season in a tie for fifth place in the conference standings.
"That's one thing to this team. The boys, they just don't give up. They don't concede," said Mayer. "They show up every day with a smile on their face and ready to play ball. We haven't had the results that we all wanted, as far as wins and losses. But they show up with a smile and we have fun every day. So, it's kind of a happy but sad day, because I know it's been a long season, but at the same time, these guys are starting, I think to play really well with each other. It seems like we're really kind of starting to play well in all aspects. So, next year, we'll be looking at playoffs hopefully."
With Goen returning to next year's staff, the future definitely looks bright for the Storm.
Goen faced 37 batters, pitching all nine innings, throwing 140 pitches and allowing just one run (earned), walking two, striking out eight and hitting one batter. He got 11 groundouts and nine fly-outs.
"He threw a ton of strikes. He was in the zone. He changed speeds. He did a good job of staying away and changing speeds," Solano head coach Scott Stover said. "If you're going to be effective at this level, you don't walk guys, and he did exactly that."
Goen had a streak of 20 straight shutout innings broken when Cameron Taylor of Solano homered in the sixth inning. It was Taylor's second home run of the series and his fifth of the season.
"I was very determined to go the distance. Anything for that win," said Goen. "I trust my defense 110 percent, so, just throw strikes, the ball gets put in play and they make the play. That's all I can ask for.
"I'm glad I was able to pull through for all the sophomores. We didn't have the ideal season, but we did our best, and we've competed every single game."
Goen pitched eight shutout innings against Mendocino College-Ukiah on April 11. He threw seven shutout innings against Laney College-Oakland on April 18.
"He was pounding, he was attacking," said Mayer. "The change in the speed really kind of gets them thinking."
Goen was effective with all three of his pitches – fastball, change-up, slider.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of him," said Nelson, the Storm's catcher. "He's one of my favorite guys on the planet. He's been working so hard all year, and it seems like every game he's been getting better. And for him to go out there and do this in his last start of the year, his last home start of the year, I'm just so proud of him, and I'm happy for him."
Goen was on his game, setting down Solano in order in the first, fourth and fifth innings, and working out of a bases-loaded situation in the second inning.
It's his longest outing of the season.
"He's always wanted the ball. It's like, 'Keep me in.' It's like, 'Hey, we've got to watch your arm," said Storm assistant coach Bobby Wright, who earned All-America honors at San Joaquin Delta College-Stockton and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. "But today was the day that we decided, it's his game. We're ahead. Let him finish it.
"He's been the hottest pitcher for the last three weeks. He's been on fire. Definitely, very proud of him. Competitor."
Goen, who is out of Tokay High School-Lodi, ends the season with a 3-6 record and 4.97 earned run average in 13 appearances (11 starts). He threw 76 innings for the Storm.
He was red-hot in the month of April, making four starts, going 2-1 in 31 innings with a 0.87 ERA.
"I hope I can just carry it over into the next year," said Goen.
Napa Valley scored all four of its runs in the sixth inning. Gray and Nelson got it started, homering in back-to-back fashion. This was followed by Ethan Boatman with an RBI single that drove in Caleb Morant and Wyatt Smith with an RBI single that drove in Jaden Hunter.
"Once we hit the sixth inning, when we put up four (runs), I felt like I had every pitch. Every pitch was working. I was locating early on, but once I got that lead, I didn't look back and just kept doing what I do," said Goen. "I love pitching with leads. It just made me feel better about myself."
It was cloudy, cool and windy, with temperatures in the mid- to high 50s. Winds were out of the south-southwest. It started raining at 2:35 p.m.
Pitching in that kind of weather, Goen said: "You really have to just lock in and throw to the glove. That's what I did."
Marcellus Cueva led the Napa Valley offense, going 4-for-5 with a stolen base.
Jaden Hunter was 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Ethan Boatman was 2-for-4.
With one hit each was Wyatt Smith, 1-for-5; Myles Gray, 1-for-4, run scored; Owen Nelson, 1-for-4, run scored; Shosei Tatsuno, 1-for-4 with a triple; and Caleb Morant, 1-for-4, run scored.
Napa Valley left 10 runners on base.
"We've been working so hard all year," said Nelson. "This win is everything. It's what we've been fighting for all year. It's the kind of baseball we've been trying to play all year. I felt like all year we've been so close to being where we needed to be. And it kind of felt like, even though we were so close, it was like we're a mile away at times. But today, it just clicked. It's a good way to end the year.
"I can't be more proud of how the guys played."
Solano's Cameron Taylor, a Napa High graduate, ended the season batting .352 (44-for-125) with 11 doubles, four triples and 30 RBIs in 35 games played.
"I think for me, it's not about hitting bombs. It's just doing the little things right. And it's just about trying to help my team win," said Taylor, a sophomore outfielder.
Rolando Ramos, Joseph Dain and Trevor Lesperance each had a double for Solano.
Tyler Chalk started and took the loss for Solano after going six innings. Devon Hancock pitched two innings of relief.
The seven players who were honored on "Sophomore Day" were Sam Anderson, pitcher; Jaden Hunter, infielder; Marcellus Cueva, infielder; Caleb Morant, outfielder; Yugo Sakagawa, pitcher; Owen Nelson, catcher; and Connor Ray, catcher.
It was also a day where players, families and staff joined together for a group photo at the end of the game.
"It's to honor everybody, because it's been a long season for everybody," said Mayer.
"We have a solid group of freshmen coming back. I think the experience of this tough season has battle tested us for what's to come next year. We're taking strides in the right direction."
* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.