Following the Wildcats’ loss in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament, the Wildcat seniors reflect on their tenures at CWU. Through the transfer portal, many seniors found themselves a path to the small town of Ellensburg, Wash.
The team finished the season with an overall record of 25-26 and a GNAC record of 15-17. The GNAC tournament was held at CWU Baseball field but the Wildcats hopes for their first title in 11 years came to an end after their second loss of the tournament at the hands of Montana State University Billings.
Brandham Ponce capped off his first year at CWU in a big way after transferring from Washington State University (WSU). In his final Central game, he launched home run number 19 of the season, breaking the single-season GNAC record. Ponce took the spot from CWU alum Kyle Sani who tied the record with 18 in 2013.
Ponce, a two way utility player, who can pitch, hit and field, was also recognized as GNAC Player of the Year and made GNAC All Conference First Team. His batting line to end the season sat at a .361 batting average, a record breaking 19 home runs and 65 runs batted in (RBI) which led the league. He was top three in the GNAC in nearly every hitting statistic. As for his pitching, he had a total of 45 innings pitched, had 25 strikeouts opposed to 15 walks, a record of three wins three losses and a 7.4 earned run average.
“I am very proud of myself now that the year is over. It’s been a tough couple years not being able to play much at all at [WSU] and being held in my own little shell,” Ponce said. “I’m just really happy I came here to CWU and had coach Desi as the guy to lean on. He does a really good job of just letting you do your thing and not having to worry about anything else but just playing the game.”
Not only does Ponce have to balance the life of a student-athlete, he is also a father to a one-year-old little girl.
“Sometimes I just sit back and sink it all in. It can be kind of tough but I think part of it is having those people around you,” Ponce said. “All the credit has to go to my girlfriend. She is the rock and soul of our little family. Without her sacrifices and what she does for us, I don’t think this year would have happened. Having her as someone I could depend on is perfect.”
Transferring to Central after two seasons at Spokane Falls Community College, second baseman Marcus Manzardo got off on the right foot being awarded 2024 GNAC newcomer of the year. He put up similar stats in his senior season with a few more extra base hits and shot two home runs out of the field of play. He found himself getting GNAC All Conference honorable mention recognition this season.
“I love [Coach] Desi so much. I never in a million years thought I would come here and love this place as much as I did and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for [Coach] Desi. I’m beyond blessed that he gave me that call to come here two years ago. I’ll always have that man’s back,” Manzardo said.
Outfielder Ben Leid finished his third year as a Wildcat. Prior to CWU, he spent two years at Wenatchee Valley College where eventually he made his decision to come to Central because of the great coaching. In his career at CWU he has totaled a batting average of .368, 20 home runs and 113 RBI’s. This season he found himself on the GNAC All Conference Second Team.
Leid originally came to Central to become the teams catcher, however a medial patellofemoral ligament tear ended his first season at CWU. This injury forced Leid to adapt to a new position in the outfield after doctors encouraged him to find a new spot defensively. “It was actually more difficult than you’d think. I think people think the outfield is a cakewalk out there. It definitely wasn’t very easy and that first year in the outfield was pretty rusty but I would say I dialed it in pretty well after that,” Leid said.
“Starting off getting injured my first year here, having surgery and then to come back and have three pretty successful seasons is something I am really proud of,” Leid said. “I’ve met some of my best and lifelong friends here at Central so it is full of great memories. I couldn’t be happier.”
Looking at the future of Wildcat baseball, Manzardo is confident in his teammates to step up next year and take the next steps to run the GNAC. “I have confidence in every single person returning to this program. I was just a sliver of this team this year, it’s the younger guys that are coming back and going to make an impact and carry on this culture. I’m not worried at all for the future of this program. These guys are going to take care of business,” Manzardo said.
Manzardo reminisced on some of his fondest memories with his Wildcat teammates. Stuck in the airport for hours waiting for their plane, Manzardo and the ‘Cats made the most of their wait.
“We got delayed in the airport last year, I think that was by far one of my all time memories at the time. It sucked, but looking back at it was fun. It was after a game we won so the vibes were high and it was just so much fun. We just played hacky sack at the end of the terminal because it was like three in the morning and nobody was there so we did what we could. That’s a memory I’m going to have forever, I love being able to be with these guys, I love this team,” Manzardo said. “I love this school so much, I will always bleed crimson.”
Starting pitcher and GNAC All Conference First Team member Jonathan Garza II posted to instagram after his final career game of baseball.
“They say baseball is a game of failure. I’ll let you know firsthand, it’s true. Arm pain, close losses and constant reminder of imperfections, baseball tests you in every way. So why did I play? Cause for a couple moments a year I felt like the whole world stopped. Time slowed down, everything and everyone faded away and just for a little while it felt like it was just me and a five-ounce ball. If I could live in those moments forever I would,” Garza II via Instagram.
