LJ baseball: Game story Mon., 3/25

Junior Adam Lafever shags flies

in pregame warm-ups Mon., March 25.

Lafever had 3 RBI's with two hits

in the Vikings' 18-0 win.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The Viking lineup piled up 16 runs in the first three innings, starting through their batting order the third time against a third Colorado pitcher in the bottom of the third inning, as host La Jolla overwhelmed Mountain Range, a suburban school outside of Denver, Colorado, 18-0, in the opening game of the annual Lions Tournament Mon., March 25.

In the offensive onslaught against over-matched Mustang hurlers, rightfielder Adam Lafever and DH Travis Lancaster had three RBI's apiece, while centerfielder Declan Kelly, Ryan Kestler, and Evan Wied checked in with 2 RBI's each. Coach Gary Frank's batters smashed 12 hits to produce the dozen-and-a-half runs.

Left-hander Cole Roberts went four solid innings to pick up the win, giving up four hits, striking out seven. The senior went to 3-1 in five starts, with a 2.05 ERA. He also has three saves on the season.

Meanwhile, Hank Hansen, Lafever, and Lancaster registered multi-hit games in the tourney opener. At the end of the week, after the Lions finale on Thurs., March 28, Kestler, the first baseman, stood atop the Viking (9-5) hitters with a .389 average in 14 games.

Mustang right-hander Landen Calabrese, a 6'4" senior, lasted 1 2/3 innings, yielding seven runs and leaving with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second.

Shortstop Corey Druse is batting an even .333, likewise playing all 14 games, while Kelly and Lafever follow at .312 and .306.

Lancaster, who has not played in a few games, is on a streak, hitting .421 in 19 at-bats.

Meanwhile, during Monday's game, the temperature in Westminster, Colorado, where Mountain Range High is located, was 19 degrees and snowing.

Junior Travis Lancaster, the DH Monday,

fires a throw in to the infield in pregame

practice March 25. Lancaster is hitting

a robust .421 in part-time action.

LJ baseball 11, North Hollywood 1 - 3/28 - Lions Tournament finale

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ b VB: Q&A with Coach Dave Jones - 3/26

LJ Head Coach Dave Jones is in the far right seat

on the Vikings' bench at La Jolla's match

at Madison Wednesday night, March, 27.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Dave Jones is a long-time teacher on campus at La Jolla High. He is a rarity in many ways, as a coach from the teaching staff, as differentiated from a "walk-on", a coach who works outside the school setting who is hired to coach the team in a particular sport. His voice is important, as he brings together the outlook of a campus teacher and a coach in athletics.

These comments came before the Vikings' home league game against Mira Mesa Tues., March 26.

Give me an update. How's the season so far?

I think we're 14-7. We had a pretty good start. We won the Silver Division in Sweetwater (Feb. 24). We lost our opposite (hitter) last weekend who dislocated his (foot?) (junior Ben Salmon).

Is he coming back?

We're still waiting to hear the prognosis. So he's out, and our OH2 is out today. We're missing a few people, so whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger, so we're going to battle through it.

Have you started league play?

This is our second (Eastern) league match. We're 1-0 in league. We beat High Tech (March 20, 3-1), which was a more formidable opponent than I expected. They're doing a good job over there.

What are your thoughts about league play?

Our goal is to both contend for the league championship and the Division 2 championship. We have the tools to do that, if we execute.

LJ b VB 3, Madison 0 - 3/27

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ track: Q&A with Payton Smith - Trailblazer, Consensus-Builder

Olivia Smith (standing, right) stretches out her

sister Payton (lying on the turf) before

the 4-by races Wed., March 27 at home

against OLP and St. Augustine.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Payton Smith recorded the 10th-best time in the U.S. this year in the 200 meters at the Mt. Carmel Invitational Sat., March 23. The La Jolla senior is ASB President, a very popular Homecoming Queen, committed to compete for the University of Michigan next year.

This interview took place at the Vikings' home meet against OLP and St. Augustine Wed., March 27.

You're enjoying your senior year?

Yes, I am. It's been fun.

What about it?

I have a nice group of friends out here--those guys over there (gesturing toward Viking teammates on the infield turf at Edwards Stadium). They've made it really fun.

My sister's (Olivia, a sophomore) out here.

That looks like fun. You guys are running in the same races.

So that's been fun. A lot less pressure, because of senior year. I'm already committed.

That really drops the (pressure).

All the stress has been a little bit down. (A big smile on her face.)

You seem like a person, working in ASB, that can bring people together. I watched you set up for football (in the fall), very much like the one who is working with people, working to get people together. Are you like that?

Yes, I would very much say that I'm a leader that chose ASB, and out here (in track), too. Yeah, that's what's been fun about it this year, is getting everyone together. Everyone vibes together well, so it's really easy to get a good vibe with everyone, and lead the way.

Do you feel like, looking back at freshman, sophomore years, last year, this year, that you have kind of blossomed this year as a person?

I think so. Last year was kind of my breakout year for track, like my times and what-not. But this year has been a year to focus on the mental part, have fun... This is the first year actually having fun. We have really good coaching out here, which has been awesome. We have a couple different coaches throughout my whole years.

So when you run, can you enjoy it?

I think so, yes. That's something I've learned. 4-by-4's have been really fun for me recently. Especially being a mentor for some of the younger kids. Giving my expertise or what-not.

Your friend who runs at Madison (High)?

Amirah Shaheed.

You guys are close buddies?

Yes.

What do you do together?

We train together. So I train in the summer with her, and in the winter, and right after the season is over, I go over and train with them at Madison.

Great.

So we compete together, we travel together.

The U-T article pointed out that you're the first Black ASB president (at La Jolla High). So you are a trailblazer in a lot of ways. There are people who can follow you and go, this person's done it already, and I can step into that more easily. Do you see that?

Yes, for sure. I think, with ASB, specifically, too, we have on our Exec Board--it's out of eight people, seven of them are girls, and then they're all girls of color, which is super cool. I think it kind of started the trend of getting up to that. I don't know, just a new level of what we have going on. All super-smart girls, too.

LJ b VB 3, Mira Mesa 0 - 3/26

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ baseball 18, Mountain Range (CO) 0 - Lions Tournament - Mon., 3/25

Photos by Ed Piper

Baserunner Austin Ramirez of Mountain Range

is thrown out at second trying to steal

by LJ catcher Shane McMillan, shortstop

Corey Druse applying the tag,

to end the top of the second inning.

Outfielder Abel Delgadillo prepares

to fire a ball in after catching a flyball

in pregame warmups.

Charlie Martin (19)

Declan Kelly (7) throwing

Adam Lafever waits under a fly

in warm-ups.

LJ FB: Hurt's son gets designer cookies, and a spot on the team

 

Designer cookies waiting for

Dodger pitcher Kyle Hurt

in his hotel room

for the Seoul Series.

(Courtesy Kevin Hurt)

Kevin Hurt is the kicking/punting coach for the Viking football team. His son, Kyle, grew up attending Torrey Pines High and playing baseball at a high level.

For the Seoul Series featuring the Dodgers and Padres last week (March 20-21), Kyle received a special gift: waiting in his hotel room at the Fairmont Ambassador were three designer cookies. They depicted a glove, a baseball, and a bat, in a nice gift box. (See photo above.)

The even bigger news for Kyle, a right-handed pitcher who was on Los Angeles' 40-man roster over the offseason, was that this week he earned a right to a cubicle in the Dodger clubhouse (see photo below) upon making the team out of Spring Training to begin the 2024 season State-side.

It's quite an accomplishment, and one that son and father have worked hard for over the past decade-plus. Congratulations, Kyle!

Not infrequently, during games in the Fall for Coach Tyler Roach's football team, proud papa Kevin would have his phone handy to catch play-by-play of a postseason game. He subscribed to MiLB, the minor league baseball broadcasts that included Oklahoma City, the Dodgers' AAA affiliate that Kevin last played for.

Kyle Hurt's new cubicle

in the Dodger clubhouse.

LJ track: Smith runs 10th best time in nation in 200 meters

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ's Payton Smith begins her 26.18 time

in the 200 meters, wind-aided--

the 10th-best time in the nation this year.

Chance Rynearson of Mission Bay

vaults 13'8". He eventually vaulted

15'2" for fourth place at the

43rd Mt. Carmel Invitational.

Ana Villela of La Jolla high-jumps 4'10" on a

rainy afternoon. She went up to

5'0" feet for third place in Division 2.

Ana Villela

LJ b lax 0, Lakewood (CO) 4 - Halftime 3/22

Photos by Ed Piper