High School Sports:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor:

While most of his contemporaries are spending their summer at the beach, being lazy or chasing chicks, two-sport Glendora standout, Braydon Wooldridge, is preparing for his baseball career at UC Davis.

Wooldridge, 18, is playing for the Inland Valley Pirates in the Best of the West summer collegiate league.

With four games to play in the regular season, the Pirates (15-5) trail the first-place Ventura County Pirates (16-5) by one-half a game in the league standings.

The VCP and IVP meet up today (Wednesday) at LA Valley College in their final head-to-head matchup.

The regular season ends this Sunday, and we’re not sure in what order, but the IVP and the VCP will open the playoffs as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, starting next Wednesday.

While Braydon is batting .333 for the Pirates, I wanted to focus more on the remarkable run he had at GHS.

Wooldridge was a four-year member of the Glendora varsity baseball team, and spent three years playing for Gordon Hamlow’s basketball program.

Braydon was described by his coaches and teammates as being versatile and clutch, and they credited his tireless work ethic for the success he’s enjoyed in both sports.

Wooldridge took up baseball at four years of age, and one year later, he would begin his basketball career.

Without a doubt, and for a number of reasons, Braydon’s high-water mark in basketball came in 2021.

While his junior-year stat totals were a fraction lower than in 2022, Wooldridge and his boys wrote themselves into the history books.

On June 10th of 2021, the Tartans won their first CIF-SS (Division 3A) championship in 20 years, thanks to a 53-50 victory at Marina High School.

On their CIF-SS playoff journey, the Tartans would claim playoff victories over San Dimas, Oak Hills, Palm Desert, and before heading to Huntington Beach in the finals, GHS got by Citrus Valley.

After the first-round, 15-point win over SDHS, the Tartans would grind out four consecutive nailbiters, never having a margin greater than three points, and that included a quarterfinal round, 55-52 overtime victory at Palm Desert.

Aside from the obvious, what made 2021 so rewarding?

It starts with the fact that practices and games began four months or so later than usual.

And those practices took place on the asphalt, as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the world.

Indoor sports were projected to be dead on arrival, but somehow things just fell into place, and GHS couldn’t be more thankful.

Wooldridge’s contributions during the title run weren’t just statistical.

He played a supporting role behind a three-headed monster (in a good way), named Noah Smith, Austin Clark and Luke Jacobson.

Along the way, Wooldridge averaged five points, four rebounds and two assists in both the CIF-SS and the CIF State playoffs.

GHS would see its season end, 67-65, in an overtime, second-round state playoff game to visiting Shalhevet.

The Tartans saw four of their five starters foul out and they were without the services of Austin Clark during the state portion of their 2021 postseason run.

What hasn’t been mentioned until now, however, is the fact that unlike any of his teammates, Braydon would wander over to the basketball gym after playing for two to three hours for Dan Henley’s baseball program.

And because of the heat and the length of games, there were a number of occasions that Wooldridge looked absolutely spent.

But time after time, he dug deep and found a way to contribute, especially on the defensive end of the court.

Braydon finished with 592 career points, which is good enough for 37th all-time at GHS.

That gets us to baseball.

In spite of a third-place team finish in 2022, Wooldridge ended his high school career as the Palomares League’s Most Valuable Player.

One of the many things I learned while collecting data for this story, is just how monumental of a junior year it was for Joe Gilkeson, who led the Tartans in almost every category.

But back to Wooldridge.

Braydon led GHS in RBIs (26), wins (six), ERA (1.20) and strikeouts (78).

He was second in batting average (.384, Joe Gilkeson hit .524), hits (33, Gilkeson 43), seven doubles (Gilkeson, 15), OBP .471 (Gilkeson, .570) and fourth in runs (17, Gilkeson 27).

During his four-year run, Wooldridge had a cumulative batting average of .310.

He finished with 82 career hits, 45 runs, 50 RBIs, 21 doubles, four triples & one HR.

On the mound, Braydon was 9-3, with a 2.90 ERA.

He walked 29 batters and struck out 107.

Aside from his impressive on-the-field prowess, a 3.8 GPA aided Wooldridge in being able to continue his baseball and academic career at UC Davis.

Braydon has the unusual good fortune of knowing he’ll be allowed to pitch and bat for the Aggies.

Wooldridge has a great family as well.

His parents, John and Brittany Wooldridge, have successfully raised Braydon to be a quality young man, who values hard work and has his priorities in order.

Braydon looks up to his brother, Bryce, who was also a great athlete, and served as a solid role model for his little bro.

Lastly, I asked Wooldridge to touch on the following topics: What do you like better about baseball than basketball and vice versa? Why are you playing summer ball? What do you like about UC Davis? What do you appreciate most about your parents and what is a trail of theirs that you’ve adopted? What would you want to tell your teammates in both baseball and basketball, and what do you hope your younger teammates remember about your time with them?

Said Braydon Wooldridge: “I would say one thing about basketball I like more is the fast pace of play and the high energy from tip off to the last buzzer. And for baseball, it’s the ongoing mental battle between hitters and the pitcher throughout the game. I play during the summer because I love the game and I wanted the opportunity to play at the next level, and if it meant I had to make some sacrifices, I was willing to do it. I really like the UC Davis campus. It really felt like home, and on top of that, I also really like the coaching staff and I’m looking forward to getting there in the fall.

My mom has supported me from day one. She’s treated every game as if she were playing. One trait I’ve learned from her is to always be the best person I can be on and off the field/court at all times. One thing I appreciate about my dad is the time he invests in me. He always gives me that extra push when I need it and it helps me that much more. One trait I’ve learned from him is to always play the game as hard as I can, regardless of the score or the sport. I would like to let them know that they made these past four years memorable and I’m happy I got the chance to play with them. I hope they remember me as someone who liked to have fun, but also left it out there on the line when it mattered.”

To view a photo gallery of Wooldridge, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook

Quotable:

GHS basketball coach, Gordon Hamlow: “Braydon was a leader defensively and came up clutch late in several games, knocking down three 3’s vs Ayala & two 3’s in the last minute at Claremont, to seal victories in 2021. In addition, he often came straight from baseball games with brick dust still on his socks and ready to play. He thrived in his assignment was the opposing scorer. This past season his 3pt% & FT% went up. He had converted seven 3’s vs El Toro (7 of 11). A great work ethic, Braydon was a true joy to coach!”

GHS baseball coach, Jerry Lewallen: “Braydon is a very impressive young man. He excelled in the classroom, excelled as a multi-sport athlete and also is a great person. Braydon developed into a great leader. He never asked a teammate to do something he wouldn’t do himself. He never backed down from big moments. He is a fierce competitor who wanted the ball in key situations. The biggest compliment I can give him as a baseball player is just that, he is a ball player. He is goal oriented and driven to be the best he can be. He is the type of player that can play multiple positions. He worked hard at his craft, even when nobody was watching. He constantly put in more work than was asked of him. He understands the importance and value of being a great teammate.”

GHS assistant basketball coach, Cliff Hamlow: “Being a quality, two-varsity sport player is very difficult. Braydon was always ready to play and give an extra team effort. He was a respected leader for our team and example of solid efficient defense. He could turn a game around quickly with his three-point shooting.  He was a pleasure to coach.”

Former GHS basketball player, Ayden Green: “Braydon is the type of teammate everyone loves. He is always bringing great energy and having a fun time. But you knew when it was game time he was going to lock in and was going to give his all. You always knew Braydon wouldn’t give up. Outside of sports, he is just an all-around great guy and super nice to talk to. He’s always cracking jokes.”

Former GHS baseball player, Carson Mounce: “Braydon is as competitive as they come. He’s a two-sport guy, so that just tells you about the kind of athlete he is. I loved being teammates with him, and as a pitcher and me being a catcher, we have always had each others’ backs. It was an honor to play with him, and I wish him the best at UC Davis.”

Former GHS football/baseball player, Matt Gonzales: “He’s a great competitor on and off the field and court, He’s always working to get better. He’s always going to have his teammates backs and will be a big team guy anywhere he goes. You could tell he was raised right and has a good head on his shoulders.”

Former GHS basketball player, Luke Jacobson: “Braydon is someone that I always trusted on and off the court, and he has the best competitive spirit, which made him the best teammate, because of his love for winning. I am so glad that we were able to be teammates and become better friends and I wish him the best.”

Soon-to-be GHS senior baseball player, Michael Moses: “Braydon is one of the best baseball players and competitors I have ever played with, Braydon had extreme success at the plate, and on the mound all four years of high school. Braydon also did an amazing job leading by example and showing me and the other younger guys what it takes to win.”

Braydon Wooldridge Career Stats at GHS:

Baseball:
2022:
Batting: .384 average, 33 hits, 17 runs, 26 RBIs, seven doubles, one triple & one HR
Pitching: 6-2, 1.20 ERA, 19 walks, one save & 78 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched

2021:
Batting: .370, 30 hits, 22 runs, 16 RBIs, nine doubles & three triples
Pitching: 0-0, 10.50 ERA, five walks, 11 strikeouts in eight IP

2020:
Batting: .217, five hits, five runs & three RBIs
Pitching: 3-1, 2.00 ERA, five walks & 18 strikeouts in 14 IP

2019:
Batting: .269, 14 hits, eight runs, five RBIs & three doubles

Batting Totals: .310 batting average, 82 hits, 45 runs, 50 RBIs, 21 doubles, four triples & one HR

Pitching Totals:  9-3, 2.90 ERA, 29 walks & 107 strikeouts

Basketball:
2022: 10 points per game, four rebounds, two assists & hit 49 3-pointers
2021: seven points, three rebounds, two assists and 30 3-pointers
2020: six points, three rebounds & an assist

Glendora’s record w/Wooldridge:
Baseball: 46-41
Basketball: 59-29