In his 21 years of coaching baseball, the last eight as head coach at Rancho Bernardo, Jeff Baumback can’t recall ever having two brothers as starting pitchers.
Certainly, none as successful.
Heading into this week, left-handed senior Brady Dockan has compiled a 6-0 record with a 1.30 ERA in seven starts, striking out 28 batters while walking 12. Caden Dockan, a right-handed sophomore, is 3-0 for the Broncos with a 0.99 ERA to go with 16 Ks and eight bases on balls.
“They’re both physically similar,” said Baumback. “They’re each about 6-2 and 175. They’re both composed and confident on the mound. Each has command of the strike zone with three primary pitches. They really do look alike — they’re mirror images of each other.
“Brady is a three-year starter and he’s headed to Cal State Fullerton. Brady has started big games like the section semifinals and a state regional game last year, so he has been doing this at a high level a long time.
“This is Caden’s first year on the varsity. He was supposed to play freshman ball last year, but he suffered a broken wrist. He put in a big summer, and I didn’t see him until the fall and noticed he’d grown a lot.
“He has the ability to make an opponent swing and miss.”
Baumback has a deep pitching staff.
“Originally, Travis Arnold, who was 7-1 last year, was going to be one of three starting pitchers but now he and Mason Garris come in out of the bullpen,” the coach said.
“We’re very confident with Brady, Joe Johnson (4-2, 2.90 ERA) and Caden starting with Arnold and Mason Garris coming on in relief. We’re very deep in pitching—even our seven, eight and nine pitchers are good.”
As for the brothers, they complement and compliment each other.
“Caden is a good teammate and brother,” said Brady. “He’s a very valuable piece on this team, which didn’t surprise me. I’m his biggest cheerleader and maybe sometimes I’m a little harsh because I know what he can do.
“We were teammates when we won the Carmel Mountain Little League and were All-Stars, but we didn’t get very far in the playoffs.
“We’re both very, very competitive and sure, we have little arguments, usually over bragging rights, but we never let it go on too long. Being Caden’s big brother is important to me because I feel I need to set the example for him and my teammates.
“It’s been so great to be on the same team with him this year — I’m definitely going to miss him next year.”
Won’t he try to recruit his brother for Cal State Fullerton?
“Definitely,” said Brady, “but you never know. I think he’s going to be a ton better next year.”
Caden says he studies his brother when he pitches.
“It’s definitely cool to see what he does,” ‘caden said. “Because of him there is a little less pressure on me but the key for me is to throw strikes — especially early in the count. I watch how he carries himself on the mound, he has so much confidence.
“I just try to be as ive for him as I can.”
The younger brother played on the California Baseball Academy traveling team in the summer after recovering from the wrist injury and said playing a lot of games, in the state and in Arizona, helped him gain confidence heading into the RB tryouts.
“My brother got to play in Florida and Alabama,” said Caden, hoping in the next two years he’ll have the same opportunity.
So, the two don’t have their own identity?
“Oh no, Caden has much better style with his clothes,” said Brady.
“And Brady is the better golfer, no doubt,” said Caden.
Both brothers are focused on finishing the regular season strong with the Broncos starting the week with a one-game lead over Carlsbad in the Palomar League, a team they face twice next week to finish the regular season.
One thing is certain, they’ll be pulling for each other.
