Sacred Heart Cathedral baseball on the rise in tough WCAL
Sacred Heart Cathedral baseball on the rise in tough WCAL
[...] succeeding at America’s pastime in the West Catholic Athletic League, regarded as one of the best leagues in the state, has long been a big challenge for Sacred Heart Cathedral.
For the first time since the late 1990s, the Irish (12-3) have climbed into the Metro rankings following twoWCAL wins last week, 2-1 over then-No. 2 Bellarmine on Tuesday and a 3-1 win at No. 3 Serra on Friday.
The eighth-ranked Irish (12-3) play games at Mitty (10-6) and Riordan (5-9) this week.
“It’s a good week for us for sure, but it’s a good week for anyone,” SHC coach Brian Morgan said.
Playing, let alone beating, Bellarmine and Serra back-to-back, is no picnic.
“I’ve been in the WCAL as a coach and player a long, long time,” he said.
The Irish lost eight seniors off last year’s team and have five sophomores playing major roles, so this wasn’t supposed to be a breakout season.
[...] with superb pitching (0.50 ERA), good defense, timely hitting and “doing all the little things,” SHC has surprised even its coach.
In the win over Bellarmine, Diego Gonzalez fired a four-hitter with seven strikeouts and sophomores Martin Chavarria and Eric Casillas had RBI singles.
Against Serra, winner Justin Choy got relief help from Chavarria and Marty Cole, another sophomore, to limit the Padres to five hits.
Junior outfielder Aedan Leary-Vallejo had three hits and drove in two runs for the Irish, who are hitting just .238 as a team.
Gonzalez (5-1, 0.58), a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder, and Cole (3-1, 2.14) lead the way.
Leary-Vallejo (.342) and Erik Ochoa (.333) are the only .300 hitters.
The Irish are trying to win their second Central Coast Section crown, the other in 1998 with a Division II title.
“I don’t know how this will all shake out, but right now we’re on a roll and it feels great,” Morgan said.
More honors
Following Sunday’s All-Metro selections, here are my unofficial awards:
Boys Coach of the Year:
With only two seniors on a 13-man roster, the Pride (28-5) won 21 straight before taking No. 1 De La Salle-Concord to the mat, losing 51-45 in overtime.
Mellis got the Pride to play unselfishly and defensively.
First-team boys coaches:
Charley Johnson (Stuart Hall), Chuck Rapp (Serra), A.J. Kuhle (De La Salle), Don Lippi (St. Joseph-Alameda), Mark DeLuca (Berkeley), Mike Motil (St. Francis).
Girls Coach of the Year:
Monica Mertle (Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa).
With no seniors, Mertle, a former Ursline-Santa Rosa and St. Mary’s College forward, led the Cardinals to their first state title.
First-team girls coaches:
Kelly Sopak (Miramonte-Orinda), Sue Phillips (Mitty), Doc Scheppler (Pinewood-Los Altos Hills), LyRyan Russell (SHC), Donovan Blythe (Eastside Prep-East Palo Alto).
Boys Sophomore of the Year:
At 19.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, the 6-5 wing led Los Gatos to a surprising 18-8 season.
Girls Sophomore of the Year:
Haley Van Dyke (Campolindo-Moraga).
In a loaded class, the 18.8 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, plus 25 wins gives Van Dyke the nod.
Boys Freshman of the Year:
Adam Campos (St. Joseph).
The 6-5 post played with poise well beyond his years, helping the Pilots to a state crown.
Girls Freshman of the Year:
The 6-footer can play any position on the court.
Mitch Stephens is a senior writer for MaxPreps.com.
E-mail: mstephens@maxpreps.com Twitter: @MitchMashMax
Chronicle top 10 baseball
De La Salle
Heritage
Sacred Heart Cathedral
NR
NR
Monte Vista
NR
Chronicle top 10 softball
Foothill
Heritage
Newark Memorial
NR
NR