Most Valuable Player

Intramural sports are a big thing at Saints. The teams are comprised from each homeroom, so it’s the luck of the draw if a homeroom possesses any special skills. I have a pretty skilled homeroom, and we have had a perfect run through the basketball season.

The juniors and seniors are in one division, and the winner advances to face off against the winner of the freshman and sophomore division. My team - Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia - was undefeated in the regular season to win our division, and this week we beat the winner of the frosh/soph team. Here was the report from the school website:

March Madness on the Saints campus

(March 31, 2011) - The George Vasil Memorial School Basketball Championship game was played in the Saints gym which was packed with enthusiastic fanatical fans. The Pit was rocking and rolling and excited as the super sophomore Freshmen/Sophomore Championship team, Let's Get Tropical, captained by Joey Ramm engaged the dynamic junior Junior Senior Championship team, Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia, captained by Nick Sullivan.

The game heated up immediately as both teams contributed more than 10 three point baskets in the first half alone. The hardwood floor of our beloved gymnasium was the scene of a fine battle and tremendous defense from players of both teams. Mr. Igelman's team, Let's Get Tropical, could not grab the lead from Mrs. Carson's team, Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia, and was down 37 to 19 by half time.

With 6 minutes remaining in the second half Tropical stormed back closing the gap to 5 points but never got closer as the skilled juniors poured in two more three points shots to kill the rally. But the suffocating defense and well organized and dangerous Mafia finally were able to overpower the wilting Let's Get Tropical players. The resulting tally in a hard fought game:  Hopscotch 60 Tropical 46. Congratulations to both teams for outstanding seasons.

The most valuable players were Joey Ramm and John Dixon for the sophomores with 6 three pointers, and Nick Sullivan and Lars Leweck for the champion junior team. Nick Sullivan's Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia will attack the faculty team next Thursday.

Taylor Ahearn

Congratulations to Taylor Ahearn for being selected as Player of the Week (March 27, 2011). Sophomore Taylor Ahearn has gone 6 for his last 11 over his last three games played. He has 3 - 2B, 1-3B, 1-HR, 3Runs scored and an RBI.

2011 season - Week 3

These pre-season games are about seeing who can help the team. While there has only been some minor rotation for the position players, there has been a lot of rotation for the pitchers. We had three games this week which was plenty for everybody to get a turn... or at least there should have been.

I sat through our 7-0 victory over Coronado High School on Tuesday (3/22) and sat through a tough 3-4 loss to Madison High School on Thursday (3/24). But I figured my turn would come on Saturday (3/26) at Point Loma High School.

I was looking forward to this game as a few guys I've played with over the years are on the team. But the game was rained out. Bummer.

Junior Mass

St. Augustine High School has alot of traditions, and one of them is the Junior Mass. It comes just before student elections for next school year (on March 25th), and is in essence a 'passing of the baton' ceremony. We will soon be the leaders of the school - for better or worse.

After Mass, my class and their parents went to the Bali Hai restaurant for brunch. No speeches, no projects... just food. And that was the end of the school day. I think I did well at school today. (-;



Walking in with Elliott Lowell. "Heh Elliott, stand up straight. Oh, you are?"





 

With mi madre



Nick Ruppert

Congratulations to Nick Ruppert for being selected as Player of the Week (March 20, 2011). Junior Nick Ruppert went 4 for 5 on the week with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 stolen base and 3 runs scored to go along with a pair of RBI. Nick also gobbled up 4 put outs in centerfield.

Thanks mom!

Photos from the Cathedral Catholic HS game this week. Thanks mom!

  

Justin James

The Saints team has been full on since summer, which has kept me from seeing Justin James, who is a coach for the Point Loma Nazarene University baseball team and had been working with me on my mechanics.

After I got my first varsity inning in the Bonita Vista HS game, my dad sent Justin a note to let him know how I was doing. Here was his reply:

"That's great! He has worked hard and is a good pitcher. Throwing strikes in that situation is crucial and shows maturity. I was wondering how the heck you guys were doing! Coaches must have some confidence in him."

2011 season - Week 2

Just before varsity tryouts I had to sit out a couple practices with back pain. It wasn't that big a deal, but the trainer gave me some exercises, and I was fine for tryouts. At the end of tryouts when cuts were getting made, the coaches wanted to make sure I was healthy. I was, but I think I also earned some higher scrutiny going forward.

When our non-league schedule started last week, the coaches didn't seem to be in a hurry to get me in games. But this week was different. Our home game against Bonita Vista High School (March 15) went back and forth... and now was in the top of the 10th inning. I got the call, and just like putting an ice cube on a hot flame, I think the coaches were wondering if I would melt. I looked over at Evan Crower at first base and laughed to myself, thinking that this was a fine spot to start my varsity career. But I survived, threw strikes, stayed mostly ahead, gave up one run, and then smiled when in the bottom of the 10th, down 10-9, with two runners on, Saints centerfielder Nick Ruppert laced a 3-2 fastball to deep left centerfield drive in two for the win.

After missing out on the Cathedral Catholic HS game last Saturday when I was taking the SAT exam, I was happy to see we would play them again on Friday (March 18). The coach had said beforehand that he was going to be rolling through the pitchers, giving each only an inning or two. We were up by a run in the fifth inning when I was the fourth pitcher called. It took me five batters and 16 pitches, getting alot of ground balls with eyes and getting no calls on the basepath. I gave up a run, but felt generally good about how I did. Unfortunately, the wheels fell off the bus later in the game and we lost again to the Dons.

Here is my inning against CCHS:

Showcase schedule

Even though the varsity season has just started, I'm having to get my summer schedule organized too. This week I accepted two showcase invitations:

Perfect Game USA
Sunshine West Showcase - June 11-12 - Chula Vista, CA

Team One Baseball
Team One West Showcase - July 9-10 - Costa Mesa, CA

VJ Asaro

Congratulations to VJ Asaro for being selected as Player of the Week (March 13, 2011. VJ Asaro wins game 1 of season with bat and helps Saints to another victory in week two of season with his gold glove play.

2011 season - Week 1

The first week of the high school season had its moments for the Saints team - both up and down. Like Coach da Luz says, "It's a long season. Heads up!"

Our first game was at home against Rancho Bernardo High School (March 8), which are ranked #2 in county #8 in state. It was a scoreless grind with great pitching on both sides, with VJ Asaro punching to right the game winning RBI in the bottom of the seventh. Saints win 1-0.

We travelled to Granite Hills High School on March 10^th, which is the school both former San Diego Padres Brian and Marcus Giles played at, and Nascar champ Jimmie Johnson attended. We jumped to an early 3-0 lead, closed an early inning with a triple play, but let it slip away late for a 6-9 loss.

The low point for me was our away game on Saturday against rival Cathedral Catholic High School (March 12). I was scheduled to pitch. I was also scheduled to take the SAT exam. Guess what I ended up doing? After trailing early, Saints battled back to take lead but gave it back in the bottom of the 7^th to lose 9-10.

The games last week and this coming week have been part of the Hilltop/Lolita’s Tournament. Our schedule this week has a home game on Tuesday against Bonita Vista High School on Tuesday, a bye on Thursday, and then the Finals/Consolation games on Saturday.

Evan Crower

Congratulations to Evan Crower for being selected as Player of the Week (March 6, 2011). Evan Crower throws a 2 hitter through 5 innings of shutout baseball to shut down number 8 in the nation Rancho Bernardo.

Bobby Kinslow

With tryouts in the rear view mirror, the Saints baseball team had scrimmages against La Jolla High School and La Jolla Counrty Day (March 2, 3). The first game went well, the second one not so much. We beat LJHS, but had against LJCD we not only lost the game but also my friend Bobby Kinslow.

There aren't too many of us left who climbed the ladder from the Freshman team, and Bobby was one of them. After finally getting into a Varsity game, Bobby got rolled by a baserunner while playing second base and was laying like road kill on the field.

It was ugly, and we knew he was hurt. Turns out his forearm was broken in two places. End of season.