ROHNERT PARK — Clear Lake High School senior Ryan Richardson tried out for the Elite Traveling Baseball team based out of Sonoma State University last week and was the only player outside of Sonoma County to make the 24-man roster.
Players on the team, which goes by the name Sonoma County Rebels, come from such high schools as Analy, Cardinal Newman, Montgomery and Petaluma, among others. The team is part of the Connie Mack under-18 league and started playing games May 29. It will play 40-plus games through the end of July when the sectional playoffs begin at Chabot College in Hayward.
The team”s head coach is Dolf Hes, who is an assistant coach at Sonoma State. Clear Lake High alum Paige Dumont is also on the Rebels” coaching staff.
According to the Rebels” Web site, the team”s objectives are “to prepare players for college baseball. The best of the best, these players are generally juniors and seniors in high school and follow an intense game and practice schedule. Connie Mack plays the top teams in the nation and regularly has pro and college scouts watching their games.”
Cloverdale High School”s Robby Rowland, recently drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third round of the Major League draft, is a former member of the team.
Richardson, a three-sport star at Clear Lake High, was the scheduled starting pitcher in a Wednesday game against the Santa Rosa under-19 Stan Musial traveling team at Doyle Park in Santa Rosa.
