Fresno City College’s baseball pitcher Bowen Salyards was the 2025 Central Valley Conference of the California Community College Athletic Association pitcher of the year.

Salyards has played baseball and been a pitcher his whole life. 

Last season, Salyards played in 16 regular season games where he pitched 98 strikeouts and only walked 23 batters; he pitched eight innings out of the nine in one of the regular season games.Salyards was a freshman last year and he had a great relationship with his team and his coaches. 

“Last year we had a great connection, but we honestly built that connection more in the spring,” Salyards said.

As the Rams prepare for this upcoming baseball season Salyards role will look a little different this year. As a returning student athlete and a returning pitcher he will be one of the leaders in the locker room for the incoming players on the team.  

“You’re obviously expected to do good, but at the end of the day, you’re putting work every day to meet those expectations,” Salyards said. “It’s my second year and obviously trying to win a state title is the ultimate goal, because me winning the award doesn’t help the team right.”

After winning the award the Rams expects Salyard to be the one with good leadership or someone the team looks up to.

With the leadership role Salyards will be taking but also the pressure that will apply and come with being a leader. 

“Try to stay pretty level headed, you know and not let the game get too big. It’s just a game at the end of the day,” Salyard said.

Salyards found out he won pitcher of the year from social media. He was surprised when he found out he won the award.

“There’s a lot of good people in this league you know to compete with. I think it’s just a good battle.” Salyards said.