The Wheatland Pirates are the 2026 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Champions with an 8-4 win over Woodland on Saturday, May 23. Photo by Steven Bryla

SACRAMENTO, CA (YSBC) - The wait is over for the Wheatland baseball program as the 33-year drought of a section title was snapped as the Pirates defeated the Woodland Wolves 8-4 on Saturday, May 23 for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V title.

Wheatland last won a section title in 1993 and this was their first-blue banner in the program since they moved into the SJS at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year.

Throughout each huddle the Pirates had as a team, it always ended with the phrase “play our game” and that is exactly what they did.

Wheatland pushed across a run in the first inning as junior catcher Kale Nakamura launched a run-batted-in (RBI) triple that scored junior outfielder Ezekiel Gutierrez.

The Wheatland Pirates celebrate their first Sac-Joaquin Section blue banner on Saturday, May 23 with an 8-4 win over Woodland. Photo by Steven Bryla

Nakamura went 3-for-4 in the game with three RBIs and was a home run short of the cycle but hit a sacrifice fly in his final at-bat that brought in Gutierrez again to score.

Nakamura told Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports he credits his hitting from the consistent hitting reps he takes off the field with his best friend and neighbor, Pirates senior outfielder Jordan James.

Nakamura expressed to YSBC that they go into James’s backyard on a daily basis and get a lot of reps in together for extra practice.

James also had three hits and two RBIs in the win against st Woodland.

Wheatland head coach Bradford Barton celebrates with the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V pennant after defeating Woodland 8-4 on Saturday, May 23. Photo by Steven Bryla

It was a battle of sophomore arms on the rubber at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento as Wheatland’s Jaxon Becker controlled the Wolves’ lineup early as Woodland had runners, but Becker had them put the ball in play with a solid Pirates defense behind him.

Becker was also efficient in keeping his pitch count low compared to Wolves sophomore Riley Salvemini. Becker tossed 6 ⅓ in the victory for Wheatland where he allowed four runs off four hits, walked four and struck out four.

Wheatland extended their lead to 3-0 in the third as Woodland had a couple mental mistakes on a dropped third strike and an overthrown passed ball to the wide backstop at CRC.

The Wolves got their first run off Becker in the fourth after a leadoff double and an RBI single by sophomore Mason Rathagen.

Wheatland sophomore Jaxon Becker (42) tosses a pitch on Saturday, May 23 in the Pirates’ victory against Woodland. Photo by Steven Bryla

Both squads were passionate and did their best to rattle the opposing pitcher on the mound and Becker told YSBC he thought it was hilarious how that’s a constant thing and it excites him on the rubber.

“I love it when everyone gets into it and just makes me laugh when the parents join in and attempt to break me,” Becker said.

Salvemini finished fifth and was relieved in the sixth as his pitch count rose towards triple digits. Salvemini tossed five strong innings where he allowed three runs off five hits and struck out 11 Pirates’.

Wheatland plated five-runs combined between the sixth and seventh as they built a cushion on a lead that ended up being needed.

Becker was relieved in the seventh with one out and runners on by senior Chase Barton and Becker got love from each of his teammates and the Wheatland crowd.

Barton completed the last two outs and secured the blue banner for the Pirates.

Wheatland senior infielder Cole Rohleder (28) fields a ground ball during the Pirates’ win over Woodland on Saturday, May 23. Photo by Steven Bryla

Wheatland head coach Brad Barton let out a big smile as he received the pennant in his hands and raised it to his team.

Brad expressed to YSBC that this section title belongs to this squad for executing their plan all year and to the past players in the program that have paved the way for playing the “Pirate Way” Brad said.

He added that this group of players are grinders as they are always looking for a way of getting better on a daily basis.

Chase told YSBC that the win was special because he got to share the moment with his father and he couldn’t have imagined anything better to go out on his senior season than a blue banner.

James expressed that it was a surreal feeling to get to have the opportunity to play in the championship game and then to win it was amazing as he has progressed in the season each year throughout his four-year varsity career.

Wheatland will have to wait until Sunday, May 31 to see where the road for a NorCal Championship bid goes as brackets are scheduled to be released by the CIF then.

Wheatland junior Kale Nakamura (3) delivered three hits and three RBIs on Saturday, May 23 in the Pirates’ win over Woodland. Photo by Steven Bryla