The 2018 West Valley baseball posted the second-largest win turnaround in the CCCAA. The nine-game leap from 2017 to a 21-19 mark and a narrow miss at a post-season berth gives Coach Rick Wiens' 2019 team an aura of optimism and unfinished business. The Vikings open the 2019 home season Saturday (1/26) against the Big 8's American River College Beavers, a team also looking for a return to the playoffs. The 2019 Vikings are young; Wiens welcomes back only six sophomores to his 35-man squad, but those returners represent experience and talent at multiple positions. All-Coast OF Jake Pao returns and looks to add to his .302 average, 22 RBI, 34 runs,and  two-HR freshman campaign. Versatile Erik Ochoa, also an All-Coast performer last year as a catcher, knocked in 16 runs and roped seven doubles in 2018, and can play any position. 3B Nate Petrov batted .281 last year, with two HRs, 27 RBI and 10 doubles, while OF Zach Smits had two HRs and nine RBI. Rounding out the returners are Kyle Ochoa (IF), Danny O'Reilly (OF) and Matt Reiley, a right-handed pitcher who joined the Vikings near the end of last seasaon and appeared in three games. The 2019 schedule features seven 2108 NorCal playoff teams - Butte, Feather River and the Coast's Chabot, Mission, Monterey Peninsula, Ohlone and San Mateo. First pitch against American River Saturday is 1:00pm.