Heavy hearts but carrying on

Tragedy struck San Mateo, Calif., Post 82 while it was on the way to winning the Western Region. While that tragedy stays with the team, the Shockers are doing what they can to honor the memory of one of their own.

Calvin Riley, who played with San Mateo in 2015 and played for San Joaquin Delta College last season, was shot and killed on Aug. 6 by an unknown assailant while in the Fisherman’s Wharf area of San Francisco.

The Shockers got the news of Riley’s death before the Region’s championship game on Aug. 7.

“We were all devastated as a whole,” said catcher Ricardo Barraza, who was a teammate of Riley’s at Serra High School. “A majority of our team played with him. We couldn’t believe it.”

The Shockers won the regional 6-5 against Tucson, Ariz., after trailing 4-2 in the eighth inning. Post 82 scored three runs in the bottom of the eight and, after Tucson tied the game at 5 in the top of the ninth, scored the winning run when Tyler Villaroman drove home Tyler Brandenburg.

“We were able to make a big comeback, and it felt like Cal was watching us,” Barraza said. “And now we feel like he’s here watching us.

“All of us knew how much he loved baseball. And we know he’d want us to carry on for him.”