Calexico baseball one win away from San Diego Section title game

The Bulldogs are looking to get back to a CIF championship game for the first time since 2023, and will get two chances to advance at home

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Bulldogs baseball is by no means in a title drought, having won their most recent San Diego Section title in 2023.

Pitcher Jose Ortega was just a freshman, leading the way to seal the championship for Calexico in La Jolla, Calif.

Now, Ortega is a junior, and his Bulldogs, while much different than his freshman year squad, are once again in contention to lift a trophy.

Head coach Luis Briseno has gotten his team in a good position, coming into the Division III bracket as a one seed.

The seeding, and home field advantage coming with it, has all come in Briseno's first year with the program.

"I come from a background from softball, well, obviously baseball (too), but I've been coaching softball for about six years, so I think that kind of prepared me for this step as a head coach," Briseno said.

Despite the successful season so far, Briseno says things got off to a rocky start for this year's team.

"There was no bond, so I think that was, the the biggest issue, or the biggest task for me was to kind of bring them together as a team," Briseno said.

The lack of chemistry cost the Bulldogs early, as they were swept in their two-game opening series against San Ysidro.

Calexico was outscored in both games 20-4, getting shutout in the opener.

"I think it was just an eye opener for all of us, I mean, as a coach, our staff, from there on, we just turned it up," Briseno said.

The wake-up-call proved to be valuable, as the Bulldogs would then win seven straight games, finishing the rest of the season 20-2-1.

"They're all skillful, they're all talented, I mean, they all know how to play ball," Briseno said.

Calexico's big run has now led up to Tuesday, where they'll take on five seed Escondido at Elmer Belcher Field.

Playing by the border has proved to be key for the Bulldogs in the playoffs, with San Diego area teams having to make the trip to Imperial County, dealing with heat they're not used to playing in.

"It's nice, I mean, it's been in our favor, we do see the other teams kind of struggle with the heat," Briseno said.

As for how Calexico will get it done in the semi-final, Briseno says his team is more than ready.

"If our offense keeps doing what they're doing, our pitching is there, I think we're good, It's going to be a good game, it's going to be a good matchup," Briseno said.