By Robert Haugh

Santa Clara University’s baseball team has earned its first regional berth since 1997 by winning the WCC tournament.

Kudos to the Broncos who had a record of 35-18 this year.  They’ll open their regional against Arkansas, the No. 3 national seed, on Friday.

Santa Clara’s strong performance in the WCC tournament, where they outscored their opponents by a cumulative score of 42-8, has given them an eight-game winning streak.

Left-handed pitcher Brandon Gomez, with a 6-3 record and a 3.50 ERA, played a crucial role in the Broncos’ 6-0 victory over Portland to clinch the conference tournament title.

Junior infielder Efrain Manzo has been a standout player for the team, hitting a team-high 17 home runs.

Brothers Dawson Brigman and Coleman Brigman, both alumni of Valley Christian in San Jose, have been key contributors to the team’s success. Dawson has a batting average of .317 with 6 home runs and 12 stolen bases, while Coleman boasts a .303 average with 12 home runs and 10 stolen bases.

The Brigman brothers provide leadership and a sense of calm to the team, according to coach Rusty Filter.