PASADENA, CA — The Arroyo Seco Saints begin their 2025 California Collegiate League (CCL) schedule by welcoming the CCL-Affiliate San Diego Waves to Jackie Robinson Field on Friday night.

The summer of 2025 marks the beginning of the Saints’ 22^nd year of operation and their ninth season of competition in the CCL.

The Saints advanced to the CCL’s wild-card round of the 2024 playoffs and ultimately fell to the Orange County Riptide, ending their season.

Making the playoffs is never any team’s goal, especially not the Saints’ goal. The team is used to success; they have a very solid track record both in competition and in setting up their players for future success. The Saints have sent more than 20 players into the MLB and have many players on this year’s team hoping to do the same.

Contrary to last year, this Saints roster will have much acclimation to do. Only two players, pitchers Tyler Herges (Azusa Pacific) and Brady Nelson (St Cloud State), were on 2024’s team.

During his redshirt junior year, Herges battled injury and was a reliable pitcher for his college team. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native will likely have to assume a bigger role in 2025 if he wants his team to succeed during the Saints’ grueling schedule.

Nelson logged a solid 2024 season for the Saints as he took home CCL All-South Division honors at the conclusion of last summer. Following his successful 2024 summer, Nelson logged 60 innings at St Cloud State in 2025, only giving up 68 hits and 23 earned runs during that time.

While the team’s roster is almost entirely different from the previous year, the coaching staff is not. The Saints’ head coach, Aaron Milam, returns for the summer of 2025 and has been with the team almost every year since its inception (was away for two years). Milam is a seasoned manager and is well aware of and accustomed to the inconsistencies and obstacles of balancing a summer ball roster.

The Waves roll into Pasadena riding a two-game win streak. They have allowed 11 total runs in that span but also outscored their two opponents 18-11. While the Waves do allow their opponents to score at a relatively high clip, their offense has picked up the slack early on in their 2025 season.

Home-field advantage should play a major role in Friday night’s contest as the Waves were forced to travel more than 110 miles to Jackie Robinson Field to face the Saints. The Waves have only played in San Diego so far this season, therefore, the Saints should come out swinging in front of the home faithful.

Additionally, the Saints did not play the Waves at all in 2024. Combining the nearly brand-new roster with a relatively unfamiliar opponent brings a palpable feeling of ambiguity to Pasadena.

Friday night’s much-anticipated face-off between the Saints and the Waves will begin at 6:05 p.m.

Contributors:

• Saints reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State)
• Edited by Saints reporter Nick Olquin (Ashland)
• Saints photographer Isabella Calagna (Trinity College)