Reedley College Opens 2026 Season with Statement Sweep of De Anza
Reedley College couldn't have scripted a much better opening weekend to the 2026 season, earning a convincing two-game sweep over De Anza College with a 7–4 road win on Friday, January 23, followed by a dominant 10–0 shutout at Tiger Field on Saturday.
Game 1: Reedley 7, De Anza 4
January 23, 2026 – Cupertino, Calif.
Reedley set the tone early and never fully relinquished control in the series opener, riding a balanced offensive attack and strong pitching to a 7–4 win at De Anza.
The Tigers struck first in the opening inning when Micah Raygoza delivered an RBI single to score Marc-Anthony Carroll. Reedley continued to apply pressure throughout the middle innings, highlighted by Dom DeCanio's solo home run in the third and an RBI double from Carroll in the fifth to extend the lead to 4–0.
On the mound, starter Reece Van Alen was outstanding, tossing five shutout innings while allowing six hits and striking out nine without issuing a walk. His command kept the Dons off balance and set the foundation for the win.
De Anza finally broke through in the seventh, capitalizing on defensive miscues to score two unearned runs, and added single runs in the eighth and ninth. But Reedley answered decisively in the eighth inning, plating three runs behind an RBI single from Kam Bowen, an RBI walk by Tyler Tuckness, and a sacrifice fly from Carroll.
Carroll finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Raygoza and Ayden Oliveras also drove in runs. DeCanio added a homer and a stolen base as part of a strong all-around effort.
Game 2: Reedley 10, De Anza 0
January 24, 2026 – Reedley, Calif.
If Friday's win showed Reedley's resilience, Saturday's game showcased its dominance.
Locked in a scoreless duel through four innings, the Tigers broke the game wide open in the fifth with a six-run explosion fueled by patience, aggressive baserunning, and De Anza errors. Reedley scored four unearned runs in the frame, with RBIs coming from Nolin Santillan, Ricky Simental, Andrew Mora, and Micah Raygoza.
From there, Reedley never looked back. Two more runs crossed in the sixth, followed by a pair in the seventh, including a run-scoring triple by Auston Sharp, who finished the game with three runs scored and an RBI.
The story of the game, however, was the pitching. Case Anker was dominant in his season debut, firing six shutout innings while allowing just three hits and striking out seven. Ian Snell and Noah Melendez closed the door out of the bullpen, combining to allow just one hit over the final three innings to complete the shutout.
Reedley scored 10 runs on just six hits, taking full advantage of five walks, multiple wild pitches, and De Anza's defensive miscues.
Weekend Takeaway
Across two games, Reedley outscored De Anza 17–4, showcasing depth on the mound, timely hitting, and the ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes. With strong performances from both veteran contributors and new faces, the Tigers opened the 2026 campaign with momentum—and sent a clear message that they'll be a force to watch this season.