The Woodland Christian boys baseball team enjoyed a sustained period of unrivaled excellence over the past four seasons, which included capturing four straight league championships, back-to-back CIF Sac-Joaquin Section titles in 2024 and 2025, and a CIF NorCal championship in 2024.
This year, however, despite failing to capture a third straight CIF SJS championship in the team’s second season under head coach Nelson Randolph, the Cardinals still won the Sierra Delta League with a perfect 12-0 record and went 23-5-1 overall.
That performance, along with the success from the previous three seasons, earned the Cardinals a promotion from D6 and 7 into the CIF SJS D5 bracket and a No. 4 seed. Ultimately, in the opening round, the Cardinals suffered thorugh a 3-2 home upset loss to the No. 13-seeded Marysville, ending their season.
“The season was a success; we played non-league teams that were very competitive,” Randolph said. “Teams like McClatchy Herritage, and a number of other schools out of conference that were highly competitive, and we played some of our best games against them all year. I think the competition really got our team ready for it.
“In the playoffs, I think that when it came to Marysville, the guys kinda read all the stuff written out there about how good we are and came into the game a bit nonchalant, and it may have bit us in the butt. Overall, it was a great season.”
For their troubles, the Cardinals were still handsomely rewarded for a fantastic SDL season, taking home the league MVP award for superstar senior Jayden Badhesha, first-Team All-League selections fellow star seniors Armaan Badhesha and Jordan Villanueva, and juniors Landon Schneider and Makai Hernandez, along with two second-team nods for the freshman and sophomore pair of Chris Cames and Mason Green.
Jayden enjoyed one of the best baseball seasons in Woodland history, finishing first in the state of California with 57 RBI to go with team highs in hits (48), home runs (11), and doubles (11), along with 40 runs scored, a .539 batting average, 10 steals, and a triple.
On the mound, he was even better, posting a 0.72 ERA over 48.1 innings, along with a perfect 5-0 record and 71 strikeouts in 11 appearances. He took home the team’s overall MVP award.
“I have had four or five NCAA Division I players, and of course, two players in the major leagues, one got a Gold Glove twice (Maruicio Dubon), but out of all of the things that all of those guys did, Jayden did it all with his pitching and his hitting. He is by far the best high school player that I have coached,” Randolph said during the team’s senior night back in late April.
“There was no senioritis with him. He is driven for excellence, and that is the best thing about him. He strives to get better each and every time, every day, and every outing. He always goes up against everyone’s No. 1 and competes to the best of his ability, and has always been the best pitcher on the field. He is special.
“He had a career that I have never seen. I have had great players, and this dude was something special. His demeanor, he’s not up or down, he’s just even keel. He’s super competitive but also easy-going. I hope he does well at the next level.”
Catching all those high-octane innings behind the dish as the team’s catcher was Armaan. Not only did he manage to play indispensable defense, but he was also fantastic with the bat, leading the team in batting average (0.571), while scoring 28 runs, stealing 7 bases, picking up 44 hits, and driving in 38 RBI, to go with 11 doubles and 2 home runs. He took home the team’s offensive MVP award.
“Having Armaan back there, he’s just been a quiet leader and understands the game and calls it so smart,” Randolph said. “Again, I have had a lot of great catchers, and he is up there with the best of them.
Rounding out the seniors with a first-team selection was Villanueva, who finished 11th in the state with 51 runs scored while leading the team with 25 stolen bases on top of racking up a 0.506 batting average to go with 42 hits, 21 RBI, 10 doubles, 2 triples, and a home run. On the mound, he logged 32 innings pitched, striking out 53 batters while posting a 2.19 ERA.
“Jordan is one of the main reasons why I stayed to coach here,” Cardinals head coach Nelson Randolph said. “After his freshman year, he was set to go to Woodland High School with his friend, but after we talked, I told him that if he stayed, I would stay. He has just been amazing to watch as a shortstop. I have coached many great shortstops, but this guy is smooth and is one of the best. Seeing him grow as a young man has been great.”
The senior trio will play junior college baseball at Sierra College in the fall.
Schneider and Hernandez rounded out the list of first-teamers with a pair of fantastic junior seasons. Schneider hit 0.429, scored 14 runs, picked up 24 hits, 17 RBI, 6 doubles, and 2 home runs, while Hernandez put up a 0.345 average with 28 runs, 20 hits, and 12 RBI, and a home run respectively.
On the mound, Schneider finished second on the team in innings (35.2), with a 2.19 ERA and 50 strikeouts.
“I’m very excited to bring them back,” Randolph said. “To achieve an all-league selection is an honor. The real honor is that they were all-academic as well. Thats what it’s all about. In our league, we were the best team and had the best players, so hopefully the young guys will build on that.”
Cames flashed on the scene as a freshman, hitting 0.271, with 29 hits, 16 runs, 18 RBI, 5 doubles, and 2 home runs. Green also enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore, hitting 0.361 with 16 hits, 22 runs, 16 RBI, 5 doubles, a triple, and a home run. On the mound, the duo pitched 19 and 8 innings respectively, with 31 and 17 strikeouts each.
“Those guys are also really going to help us out,” Randolph said. “We are going to be so strong with those guys next year after playing summer and fall ball. They, along with the influx of eighth graders, will all enhance our program, not only this year but over the next five years.”
The team’s fourth and final senior, Joaquin Rodriguez, hit .190, with 6 hits, 4 runs scored, 7 RBI, and 3 doubles, and received the team’s Cardinal Award.
“The great thing about him is his maturity level,” Randolph said. “He has really grown as a young man, and he is set to go into youth ministry when he graduates. He’s been great for the team, and to get him on the mound for his Senior Night was good for him and the team.”
Billy Flowers, who will return next season as a senior looking to break into either the first- or second-team all-league squad, hit .269 with 29 hits, 14 runs, 17 RBI, 7 doubles, and a home run on his way to earning the team’s defensive MVP award.
“Even though we had heartache in the end, we will have a great team coming back next year. We have a great group of incoming players, and our non-league games will be highly competitive once again. These experiences over the past few years will really help the players we have and those coming into the program. We will work hard to get that section and state title again.”