Head coach Scott Ahlstrom offers guidance to a player during a previous game, reflecting the leadership that helped drive the team’s successful season. Photo by Rick Sloan

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Following one of the more sensational late-season rallies in recent memory, the Cordova Lancers earned themselves a spot in the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) Sac Joaquin Section Division II playoffs this week. 

The Lancers trailed Metro League rival Antelope by one game for the third and final playoff spot given to Metro League teams as of April 24, when the two teams began a season-defining two-game series. The Lancers would sweep the series and put themselves in the driver’s seat for playoff positioning, ultimately winning four of their last five games, including a 3-1 mark in league play, en route to securing third place in the league standings and the No. 16 seed in the postseason bracket. 

Sophomore Nate Jones makes contact at the plate during a previous game for the Cordova Lancers, who have qualified for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs. Photo by Rick Sloan

After falling in the Division II play-in game a season ago, Cordova (12-15-1 overall, 8-7 Metro League at press time) bounced back this spring and earned a playoff berth outright, led by head coach Scott Ahlstrom. This current Lancers’ team has been playing together for quite some time, so everyone on the roster knows they will need to play their part if they want to win. 

“These guys have played together for a while and everybody knows their roles,” Ahlstrom said. “It’s a thing that, not everybody plays all the time there's guys that do play all the time. The guys that are filling supporting roles are doing just as big of a job as the guys that are in the roles all the time. It’s a big team effort, and it's nice to be around them all the time and have them come together.”

As the No. 16 seed, the Lancers were given the tough task of taking on the top seed in Division II in the Elk Grove Thundering Herd (22-6 overall, 13-2 Delta League) on Wednesday, May 6 at Elk Grove. Final results were not available at press time, but Ahlstrom knew his team had their work cut out for them entering this weeks’ contest. Even so, with Cordova keeping things close against top area teams like McClatchy and West Park in games this season, Ahlstrom felt his team was up for the challenge coming into the week.

Levi Nyberg pitches during a previous game for the Cordova Lancers, who have qualified for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs. Photo by Rick Sloan

“There’s no question it's an uphill battle,” Ahlstrom said. “This team is seasoned though. We may not get all the acolades and whatnot, and may not be as deep, but our guys know how to win and play good teams close. This team knows how to mix it up with the really good teams and keep the game close.”

Ahlstrom was undecided on who would start on the mound for Cordova against Elk Grove when asked over the weekend, citing strong performances across the board in recent games by multiple pitchers. It is safe to assume that senior ace Levi Nyberg would be atop the list of names to get the nod, however. This season, Nyberg finished sixth in Division II in strikeouts (60) as well as 10th in earned run average (1.33), with the American River College commit seemingly poised to make potentially his last appearance on the mound for Cordova. Offensively, the team will rely on several players including junior shortstop Bro Ahlstrom, who led the team in batting average (.413), on-base percentage (.525), and runs batted in (20) during the regular season to keep the Lancers in the game.

Final results will be published next week.