Friday was the start of the 2025 College World Series in Omaha, Neb., and of the eight teams vying for the national title is Arizona, who have a face familiar to many locals on their roster.
With the Wildcats for this run is Dom Rodriguez, a 2021 graduate of Turlock High School. The junior outfielder already appeared as a pinch-hitter in the club’s 7-4 loss to No. 11 Coastal Carolina in the opening game.
Rodriguez joined Roger Gregg in 1957 with Cal, Frank Duffy with Stanford in 1967, Tom Mendonca and Blake Amador with champion Fresno State in 2008, Kevin Kramer with UCLA in 2013, and Austin Bush and Ryan Cumberland with UC Santa Barbara in 2016 as former Bulldogs to make it to college baseball’s biggest stage.
In 17 games with the ‘Cats this season, Rodriguez has had 27 plate appearances, logging five hits — including two doubles — a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a run driven in.
Heading into Friday’s opener, the Wildcats had a 44-19 record, punching their ticket to Omaha for the 19th time in program history by winning the Chapel Hill Super Regional last week.
Arizona will play in an elimination game on Sunday at 10 a.m. PST against the loser of the night-cap Oregon State and Louisville matchup. Results were not available by press time.
Sotomayor, Fresno State bounced in LA Regional
Missing out on the festivities in Omaha is Fresno State, who saw their season end on May 31 with an 8-3 loss to UC Irvine in the Los Angeles Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
The Anteaters had a 5-0 advantage by the time the Bulldogs mustered their first run in the fourth inning. Turlock’s Griffen Sotomayor, leading off, was held hitless in five chances as the Bulldogs were held to seven hits compared to Irvine’s 11. They finished at 31-29 overall and a Mountain West title to add to their trophy case.
Sotomayor, a junior who graduated from Turlock High in 2022, played in 55 games in his first season in Fresno, hitting .326 (71-for-218) with seven home runs, 18 doubles and a triple and 41 RBI.
Walker sets Fullerton records
Olivia Walker’s first season as a member for the Cal State Fullerton program is in the books, culminating in multiple records and a strong showing at the 2025 Big West Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Titans secured sixth place in the women’s standings with 58 points, with Walker contributing plenty.
As a member of the 4x400 relay team alongside Arionn Livingston, Alyssa Heinlein and Nancy Dematte, also secured a third-place finish, clocking 3:40.77. The freshman also had a seventh-place finish in the heptathlon with 4919 points. Her best finish in the heptathlon events was second in the 800-meter race at 2:17.39.
Walker, a 2024 Turlock High graduate, owns the Fullerton school record in the heptathlon, setting it twice this season.
Shet first claimed the school crown in early March at the Bryan Clay Multis, accumulating 4,856 points. It eclipsed the previous record of 4,592 set by Taylor Frank in 2015.
But she would have more in store, putting up 4,919 points at the Big West Multis Championships on May 9.
Stan State trio achieve All-American statuses
Stanislaus State had a stellar showing at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 22-24, as Trent Lauderdale, Mila Real and Annie Wild earned All-American honors with top eight finishes in their respective events.
Lauderdale placed fourth in the men's 400-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 50.16, becoming the 46th All-American in Stan State Men's Track & Field history. His time ranks second in program history, just behind Kenny Hill's 50.02 set in 1994. This marks Lauderdale's second career All-American accolade, following his 2023 USTFCCCA Second Team recognition.
Wild continued her stellar sophomore campaign with a fifth-place finish in the women's 1500-meter run, clocking in at 4:32.30. This marks her second All-American award of the year, having claimed the national title in the mile during the 2024–25 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. She became the 55th All-American in Stan State Women's Outdoor Track & Field history.
Real rounded out the trio with an eighth-place finish in the women's 400-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 59.91. This performance earned her the first All-American honor of her career, making her the 56th All-American in Stan State Women's Outdoor Track & Field history. She was the only sophomore among five underclassmen in the final.
Spaulding at NCAA Championships
The 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships began Thursday in Eugene, Ore., with 2023 Turlock High graduate Ella Spaulding making the trip representing the Fresno State program.
Spaulding’s run began Friday, though results from the opening events were not immediately available by press time. The day’s events were the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200-meter dash. She’ll round out her heptathlon events with the long jump, javelin and 800-meter race throughout Saturday evening.
