The standings may show a disappointing start to the season, but if you step into the NOMA Club Baseball dugout, you won’t find a team that has quit. Instead, you’ll find Treasurer Antonino Balistreri and Safety Officer Cayden Thompson leading what can best be described as a lesson in resilience.
For these two seniors, this season isn’t defined by the final score, but by the hours spent in the cages and on the dirt, as well as team gatherings outside of practice to ensure underclassmen never lose their competitive edge.
In a club sport where there isn’t always a large coaching staff, leadership responsibilities often fall on players themselves. Thompson explained how the team divides those duties.
“We never had a coach here. We just rely on our captains, as well as our team president, Diego Delgado, to tell us who does what,” Thompson said. “During practices, I’ll run the infield drills since I play shortstop.”
Thompson emphasized that communication is essential for the team to function effectively.
“We are all a unit. Whenever we’re split into groups during practice, we all need to communicate and listen to each other,” Thompson said.
He also said leadership goes beyond the field. When a teammate appears to be struggling or having a difficult day, Thompson makes an effort to check in with them personally.
Thompson wants the club baseball team to remain a brotherhood, one that is competitive but also supportive and accepting of each individual both as a person and as an athlete.
When it comes to Balistreri, his leadership often shows when he is working with the pitching unit. He said he can recognize when a pitcher is having an off day because of the close bond they share.
“It’s cool whenever I see someone struggling because I get to go up to the mound and tell them, ‘No worries, we got your back. Just get up there and throw some strikes,’” Balistreri told the Sonoma State Star.
Handling pressure is another responsibility both leaders understand. Balistreri recalled a recent high-pressure moment during a series against Oregon.
“The last time I could relate to a high-pressure situation was the Oregon series, where the bases were loaded with zero outs and I was put in to get everyone off the field,” Balistreri said.
“I knew I was nervous, but once I got up there, I knew what to do,” he added.
Like Thompson, Balistreri hopes the team continues to build a culture that welcomes everyone and accepts people for who they are.
At the end of the day, Balistreri and Thompson are working to ensure NOMA Club Baseball remains a brotherhood where every player feels accepted, supported and ready to compete together.
