MORAGA, Calif. - During the preseason Bay Area college baseball Zoom news conference, Saint Mary's head coach Eric Valenzuela clearly expressed his enthusiasm for the 2025 Gaels.

"I love this group," Valenzuela said. "Regardless of what we lost and even transfer-portal guys that left, I feel like we have the right guys here, the guys that wanted to be here."

Saint Mary's went 34-22 (16-8 WCC) last year, and the early returns for 2025 were promising. After dropping their opener 9-4 to Saint Louis on Friday, the Gaels hammered the Billikens 16-1 in seven innings in the second game of Friday's doubleheader, 16-3 in seven innings Saturday and 9-2 in six innings Sunday.

In the process, Valenzuela -- who owned a 217-179 record at Saint Mary's through Sunday -- became the winningest head coach in program history. Miles McAfee had held the mark with 215 wins from 1973 through 1980.

The SMC hitters who thrived against Saint Louis included right fielder Diego Castellanos (8-for-13, 7 runs, HR), shortstop Jared Mettam (7-for-13, 6 runs, HR), second baseman Cody Kashimoto (7-for-14, 8 runs), first baseman Eddie Madrigal (6-for-14, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs) and third baseman Ryan Pierce, a preseason All-WCC selection (6-for-16, HR, 6 RBIs).

Making a strong impression on the mound was junior right-hander Donovan Chriss, a De La Salle High alum who spent his first two college seasons at UC San Diego. Chriss held the Billikens to a run on two hits in five innings in Friday's second game. He struck out a career high seven batters and walked two.  

Saint Louis, by the way, went 37-16 last season.

The Gaels' schedule wasn't going to get much easier in the short term, anyway. They headed south to face No. 21 UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday and then were set to play three at No. 15 Vanderbilt over the weekend. 

"We're going to have to schedule like this in the non-conference to even think about an at-large bid (to a regional) at some point," said Valenzuela, whose team also will play two at No. 19 Oregon in early May. "We're not afraid to play anybody, but you've also got to be smart with scheduling, too, and understand the team that you have."

Valenzuela understands that his team will be perceived as a decided underdog against the Commodores, who are a perennial national power. That's fine by him.

"Vanderbilt's going to have 15 guys that throw 97 miles an hour," Valenzuela said. "OK, well, let's see if they're going to be good today. Can they beat us today?"

Lefty Derik Eaquinto went 6-2 with a 3.46 ERA last season and was a first-team All-WCC selection. He described how Valenzuela motivates the staff each year at the outset of fall practices. 

"He gives us a picture of two dogs," Eaquinto said. "One dog is this little, tiny dog. It's got its tail between its legs. You can tell it's kind of hiding and shivering. And the other one is this pit bull who looks like it's ready to bite you in the ass. What kind of dog are you going to be?

"That's really just the mindset that he's trying to instill in us. … You've got to do the things that you need to do to feel like you deserve success on the mound." 

Over the past decade, Saint Mary's alums have enjoyed a good deal of success in the big leagues. Corner infielder Patrick Wisdom hit 76 home runs over a three-season stretch (2021-23) with the Cubs, but SMC alums have been more notable on the mound.

Right-handers Kyle Barraclough and Tony Gonsolin have made their marks and lefties Ken Waldichuk and Ky Bush are trying to make theirs. And, of course, right-hander Corbin Burnes has ranked as one of the top starters in the majors over the past four seasons. He won the NL Cy Young Award in 2021 when he had a 2.43 ERA with the Brewers and racked up 234 strikeouts in 167 innings. Burnes is now with the Diamondbacks.

Valenzuela can reference the careers of those big leaguers when he's selling Saint Mary's to prospective players.

"When you bring in players that are getting recruited by the 'big boys,' you're like, 'Look, guys develop here. They go and chase their dream.' 

"And then if they -- for whatever reason -- don't make it to the big leagues or don't (pursue pro ball), they're getting an unbelievable education and have such a great networking of alums here that want to help each other."

Valenzuela has begun his second season of his second stint with Saint Mary's. He led SMC from 2014 through '19, guiding the program to its first and only regional appearance in 2016. The Southern California native then left Moraga to take over the Long Beach State program. After four seasons at Long Beach, Valenzuela returned to SMC.

"My family and I have never been (happier) than we are right now," Valenzuela said. He and his wife Betty have three children, daughter Catalina and twin sons Benjamin and Noah. 

In discussing what has made Moraga feel like home to him, Valenzuela mentioned SMC head basketball coach Randy Bennett, who's finishing his 24th season with the Gaels.

"Look at Coach Bennett," Valenzuela said. "He probably could have been in the NBA by now. He could have done anything and there's just a reason why he's still here. It's a great place."

"I have so much energy and enthusiasm. I'm so much better of a coach, but I'm also so much better of a coach because of my four years at Long Beach as well. Learning about myself and what this place meant to me – and means to me."