By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

There is so much work that has gone into getting Napa Valley College baseball ready for the 2025 spring season.

There is the fall program, which began in late August and encompasses practices and scrimmages.

There is conditioning, which puts an emphasis on weight training and running.

There is study hall.

There is also all the extra work that players are putting in at Storm Field – such as getting in more and more swings in the batting cages, either before or after practices, or just getting out on to the field to play catch. They go about doing this on their own, without being asked, because as head coach Derek Mayer puts it: "That's where their heart and motivation is."

There are 53 players who are out for baseball at Napa Valley, which had scrimmages during the fall against Sierra College-Rocklin, Contra Costa College-San Pablo, City College of San Francisco, Benicia High School and Clayton Valley Charter High School-Concord.

The scrimmages gave Mayer and his staff a chance to see a lot of players during the fall.

"We did pretty well," Mayer said last week. "We were kind of mixing teams and mixing spots. We've got a lot of guys that we're trying to figure out where they're sliding into this and what their roles are. But we've had a pretty successful fall, for sure.

"They're really gelling as a unit. So, as far as I can see, they all really enjoy being here. We have worked a lot."

The work is continuing into December, with players working out in the weight room and also running.

"I think the culture is changing here," Mayer said. "We're excited to see what this group of guys can do, because we've brought in a great group of freshmen and we've had some solid transfers come in from other schools. The pieces that we've been able to put together has kind of surprised us, because we really didn't know what to expect after our first season of recruiting.

"Wholeheartedly, honestly, we're really excited and proud of what these guys have already accomplished to this point."

It's been nonstop for the Storm since the start of the school year in August.

They started out the fall with a focus on weight training. They are ending the fall with a focus on speed, agility and weight training.

"When they go on (Christmas) break, they have a wealth of knowledge of how to lift, but also speed and agility. They know they have to continue to work through the break when nobody's looking. And that, in turn, is really why we recruit character over talent," said Mayer.

The fall program has consisted of practices, intra-squad scrimmages and also scrimmages against outside opponents, prior to the Thanksgiving break.

"The team is looking really great," said Marcellus Cueva, a sophomore second baseman/shortstop/third baseman, who is a transfer from Solano Community College-Fairfield. "I feel like our team chemistry is at an all-time high. We just want to win together as a team and push each other to get better every day, whether that's on the field or in the classroom. We stay on each other for our grades. I'm just really looking forward to this year. I think we're going to do some great things this year."

NVC baseball also had a golf event that served as a fund-raiser at Napa Golf Course at Kennedy Park.

NVC's spring season starts on Jan. 6, with the Storm resuming its conditioning, with intrasquad scrimmages to follow during the month. There are also tryouts for walk-ons, said Mayer. The Storm has a scrimmage on Jan. 17 at Sierra College.

"We're looking to turn things around, especially after last year, bringing in some new leaders, some new leadership roles, and get things going in a whole new direction," said Cuevas, a 2021 Vanden High School graduate, who is from Fairfield.

"Everything is looking like it's going to come together and jell together perfectly. Our pitchers know how to throw strikes and our defense is there to back up our pitchers."

Cuevas played the 2022 season at Butte College.

Napa Valley (9-28 overall, 8-13 Bay Valley Conference) tied for fifth place in the Bay Valley last year. The Storm lost its last six games of the season.

Mayer said he is expecting to have 40 players on the roster for the 2025 season, with 36 or 37 players that will travel with the team.

"Obviously, 40 guys are a lot, and not everybody plays all the time. But you know, everybody will get a fair shake when their name is called, for sure," said Mayer.

NVC has 24 pitchers in the program. Mayer said he will be going with 12 to 15 pitchers – numbers that provide the Storm with much better depth – to start the season.

Mayer's assistant coaches are Robbie Wright, Bobby Wright, Dave Enochson and Dan Eaton.

"We tell all of our recruits, when you come in here, you have to come in here with the blank canvas," said Mayer. "Whatever you know about the game, or whatever you think you know about the game, that's great – put it in your back pocket. But come here with a blank canvas, because we're going to teach you everything from scratch.

"At the end of the day for these guys, they are being evaluated at every moment. That's on and off the field. They believe and they trust in us. These guys have been wonderful on making those adjustments and giving us exactly what we want, even when we push them out of that comfort zone. It's a solid group of guys."

Napa Valley opens its season on Jan. 24 with a nonconference game at Modesto Junior College. The Storm plays at San Joaquin Delta College-Stockton on Jan. 25.

NVC's home opener is on Jan. 31 against Shasta College-Redding.

The Storm has additional nonconference games against Sacramento City College, Butte College-Oroville, Ohlone College-Fremont, Cosumnes River College-Sacramento, Sierra College-Rocklin and Folsom Lake College.

The Bay Valley Conference season begins in March.

"There's a lot of accountability with this program. Our coaches push us very hard. We work and we run a lot every day," said Wyatt Smith, a freshman shortstop/utility player, who is a transfer from Jessup University-Rocklin and a 2023 graduate of St. Patrick/St. Vincent High-Vallejo. "The coaches that came and recruited us this year have done a really good job.

"I think that we're creating a very good family. We're becoming one as a team and not a bunch of individuals. I think a lot of camaraderie is happening here, building great relationships, especially between players and coaches."

Owen Nelson, a sophomore catcher, returns for NVC after hitting .281 (38-for-135) with nine doubles, three home runs and 26 RBIs in 36 games last year. He also had four stolen bases.

"Last year didn't go how we wanted," said Nelson, a 2022 Montgomery High-Santa Rosa graduate. "I think we clearly changed the culture here, and it was recognized by a lot of people. It helped bring some talent in.

"A lot of new faces here is a very positive thing. We have a lot of guys that not only want to make a name for the program, but make a name for themselves. So, I think all that together is going to change a lot of things this year. The program is on a rise.

"We definitely have an increase in talent this year. The coaches have spent a lot of time building this program, finding players and recruiting players."

Nelson is a third-year sophomore who redshirted one year at Santa Rosa Junior College and transferred to Napa Valley.

"This is probably one of the closest teams I've ever been on. Our team chemistry is greatly improved this year and it's a positive thing," said Nelson. "I think all of us are really looking forward to the spring and seeing what we can do this year."

From a planning and organizational standpoint, the program is far ahead of where it was last year, said Mayer.

"Everything was such a learning experience last year," said Mayer. "This year, we've got everything pretty well planned out and executed at this point. The program is installed.

"For me, I'm excited. I live and breathe this. I get to come here and be around a group of guys that want to be here."

* 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.