'This could not have happened to a better guy': Mr. Crawdad Ryan Ellis stands alone in Crawdads history

4-0, top of the ninth with one on and one out. A small Walnut Creek crowd tucked into the top corner cheered loudly as the new designated hitter, Ryan Ellis, replaced Sutter Moss in the role. For some — mainly the home fans — it felt uncharacteristic, especially given the season series has been a clean sweep in favor of Walnut Creek. Yet, the cheering and applauding presented a deeper-rooted meaning.

For the man designated as "Mr. Crawdad," it became a chance at history. Ellis sat on 84 RBI, tied for the most all-time in a Crawdads uniform, yet the ever-elusive 85th stood 180 feet away at second base. As Ellis cocked his hands back, he poked one into left, delivering his record-breaking hit. Rounding the bases, the small corner of Crawdads fans, wearing sweatshirts in the freezing air, cheered and chanted "Mr. Crawdad," while he promptly answered with a smile at second, and a tip of the batting helmet once back in the dugout, where his teammates high-fived him.

Walnut Creek's 5-1 victory over San Francisco on Friday featured multiple big moments, but none quite as memorable or as big a moment as Ellis' long-awaited record-breaking moment. For right-handed pitcher Noah Zirkle, who's been around Ellis for three seasons, it was only a matter of time.

"He's been great for a long time, and even after injury, he's worked through so much stuff," Zirkle said. "This is the type of thing he deserves, from his hard work and perseverance. He's still a game-changing player. He is a freaking crackup and he's the funniest guy. He's the nicest teammate. This could not have happened to a better guy."

To Ellis, Walnut Creek is a place that means more than playing summer baseball. The players and coaches, but specifically coach Brant Cummings, play vital roles in his constant return to the creek. Coach Cummings talked about how honored he is to know he's a part of that.

"It is pretty cool," Cummings said. "Maybe I don't give myself enough credit, but it is flattering to hear that some of these guys continue to talk and come back here not because of just the team name but also because of me. That makes me feel very good."

The even-keeled Ellis couldn't help but let out a smile when asked what breaking the RBI record meant to him. Being a part of an organization for so long sometimes has you forget just how close you are to breaking history.

"I heard about it watching one of the live streams the other day, but honestly forgot about it until the guys up in the stands started cheering," Ellis said. "It was pretty cool to see the support … I thought about how crazy it is how many RBI Ryan Brome had in essentially two seasons. I know he played a little bit last year, but basically two seasons. It just goes to show how good of players we've had in this organization, and it's really cool to have that record now."

While Ellis may not have fully realized he was one RBI away in that exact at-bat until after hearing the cheers, one thing remains certain: the name Ryan Ellis will forever be cemented in Crawdads' history. Catch Ellis and the Crawdads in their penultimate game of the regular season when they face the Stompers on the road July 25, 2026, at 6:05 p.m. PDT.