After losing in the Sac-Joaquin Section championship game last season, the 2020 Jesuit High School Sacramento baseball team has one goal: to win a section title. 

“Everyone remembers what it felt like to fall short last year, and no one wants to repeat that,” said pitcher and University of Arizona commit Anthony “Tonko” Susac ’21. “We’re not satisfied, and we want more.” 

The Marauders have already begun their 2020 campaign, starting the season with a 2-0 record. Jesuit dominated its first two opponents, winning the games by a combined score of 22-4. 

Tonko no-hit Bellarmine College Preparatory through five innings, leading Jesuit to a 10-2 win in the team’s first game of the season. 

First baseman and outfielder Devon Walczykowski ’21 has three home runs, two of which came in Jesuit’s 12-2 win over St. Mary’s High School on Tuesday, March 10. 

Devon believes one of the team’s strengths is experience as most of the Marauders were on the 2019 team. 

“This season, we have a bunch of returning guys,” Devon said. “We have around 12 seniors with a lot of varsity experience, and this will definitely give us an advantage over other teams.”

Another component of Jesuit’s success could be the new clubhouse and upgraded batting cages, which were finished in October 2019. 

“I think the addition of the clubhouse is making and will make a huge difference in team chemistry, and I’ve seen it already,” said longtime Jesuit Varsity Baseball Head Coach Joe Potulny ’76.

After two dominant wins, the Marauders will be tested as Jesuit plays the De La Salle High School Spartans on Thursday, March 12. The Spartans are the No. 1 ranked team in the nation and have a 30-game winning streak stretching back to last season.

When the schools faced each other last season, De La Salle defeated Jesuit 17-0 and allowed only two hits.

In an effort to contain De La Salle’s stacked lineup, Jesuit will send its No. 1 starter Tonko to the mound. Tonko will be limited to 45 pitches as he is scheduled to pitch several days later in the Delta League opener against Cosumnes Oaks High School on Monday, March 16. 

Come support the Marauders as they host De La Salle on Thursday, March 12. The game begins at 4 p.m.