The Pipeline

Thursday, March 19, 2026

LJ badminton vs. Madison - 3/18

Photos by Ed Piper

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

LJ b golf: Photos 3/16

Photos by Ed Piper

Quinn Daniels

Ben Itkin

Eugenio Cardoso Martinez

Monday, March 16, 2026

LJ b golf vs. Scripps Ranch @ Torrey Pines Golf Course - 3/16

The gang of eight, La Jolla High's boys golf team,

pause for a group shot. Their competitiveness is

greatly enhanced this season by the arrival of

two newcomers who are brothers, junior Santiago

Cardoso Martinez (seated on base of pole) and

freshman Eugenio Cardoso Martinez (second

from right). (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The boys were all there. Five of the six varsity starters, plus the strivers, were present at the Torrey Pines driving range early--"It's not like last year"--and in a one-for-all mood as they took on Scripps Ranch in a Western League match Mon., March 16.

The spirit was almost euphoric, as individuals went through their paces together on the range, facing north along Torrey Pines Road, with the gentle-but-aggressive interplay that teen young men have with one another.

"We're all juniors," said Quinn Daniels, a veteran of La Jolla's water polo Open Division champions last fall, as the eight present (Kellen McGrath absent) walked in a line toward the Lodge at Torrey Pines, near the first tee, from the range.

Only senior Tate Phillips, whose Viking varsity boys soccer team just pulled off a Division 4 CIF title earlier this month, was there (among three seniors in Coach Christie Quinn's lineup) to ride herd on his teammates.

Why not go into the match in a celebratory mood?

--The boys soccer team, as said, took their division CIF title (represented by Phillips).

--The boys water polo team (in the person of Daniels on the golf squad) reign for the first time as CIF Open Division champions.

--And for Quinn, a veteran of many boys and girls campaigns since she took over for Aaron Quesnell, onto her doorstep pop the talented brothers from Queretaro, Mexico, Santiago and Eugenio Cardoso Martinez.

How long had the Cardoso Martinez brothers been scheming to come to La Jolla?

"About three years," said Santi, who speaks for both brothers at this juncture, with his facility in English. He is a junior; "Eugene-yo", as their teammates seem to call his brother, is a freshman.

Santi explained. "I used to come here (from Queretaro, in central Mexico) for summer camp as a kid."

So he knew and was fond of the place.

On the line today? Quinn promised In-n-Out if the Vikes defeated the Falcons; the same if Ben Itkin, a freshman who had shot a low of 44 in the opening two weeks, "breaks" (Christie clarified, "or equals") 40.

In the first group, Phillips went with Eugenio at a scheduled 3:58 tee time. Santi and Quinn followed in the second group. Ben and Harley Robison, another freshman, went in the third group. Ryan Hassankhani, a sophomore who returned from last year's squad, paired with Carter Brown, a junior, also a returner, in their foursome.

LJ softball: 'Emmy award'

By Ed Piper

Emmy Cardenas, one of the all-time greats of La Jolla High softball, recently received another accolade. This had to do with what the Winthrop University (South Carolina) student-athlete does off the diamond.

In a poll on line, Cardenas--whose talents the small La Jolla softball compound could not contain, as she even blasted home runs over the high fence in left field into neighboring yards--was voted "Teammate of the Year", working with young Raegan Hornung, who is legally blind and deaf and who via Emmy has been incorporated into the Eagles family, hanging out in the dugout, take swings in the batting cage, and accompanying Emmy to other events.

The former Viking won the MVP award for the first Senior All-Star Softball game June 8, 2023 played at UCSD's Triton Field, as she hit and hurled the West team to a scintillating win to cap off her high school career. She drove a pitch to the left-center field fence on one bounce to drive in the go-ahead run, then in the top of the next inning entered the pitching circle to shut down the East squad to secure the win.

A two-way player, setting LJHS hitting and home run records during her four-year career from 2019-2023, the 5'8" standout played on Viking teams that varied in quality, so at times they had to surrender games after five innings because of lack of efficient fielding and run production.

But on the other hand, Emmy stayed on a path exhibiting leadership and preparation for the sport that she demonstrated to her teammates on the school and her travel teams.

Her father said that this award means a lot to her, showing the part of her life off the diamond and what a well-rounded person can be like.

LJ b golf: Cardoso Martinez era begins

Eugenio Cardoso Martinez,

a freshman, works on the

driving range before the

Vikings' league match versus

Scripps Ranch Monday,

March 16.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The Cardoso Martinez era of La Jolla High boys golf began two weeks ago. Santiago "Santi" Cardoso Martinez, a junior, and his younger brother, Eugenio Cardoso Martinez, entered the school--in Santi's situation, transferred--and began starring on the golf links as soon as this Spring season began.

To date, the younger brother, Eugenio--who didn't immediately comprehend my questions, albeit they were fired at him as he warmed up on the putting green at San Diego Country Club Thursday, March 12, before teeing off in the Saints Invitational--has been the number-one for Coach Christie Quinn's squad.

Asked what I call him, he replied, "Eugenio", enunciating the name clearly with the Spanish pronunciation. I lived for 14 months in Mexico City in another life right out of college, teaching language arts and journalism at a small, private secondary school (22 students), so having gained a teaching credential in that "world language" (as the term is now), I felt I had a little advantage in interacting with the brothers. I had never met them before Thursday, but I had seen their scores, and was interested in observing them.

It was hot. Eugenio said he preferred the heat over cold and rain. Definitely.

Earlier, only a short time before, I had met Santi (Santiago means James in English) as he practicing on the driving range, then joined his threesome to hear the ground rules for the tournament from the St. Augustine coach.

At this point, Santi is much more adept in English than his younger brother. I asked him if he was from Mexico City, and he said yes. But then, in the brief conversation before he teed off at 1:20 p.m. or so, he clarified that his family was from Queretaro, three hours from Mexico City.

Riding the bus to and from Mexico City (54-hour bus ride) three or so round-trips, I knew that Queretaro City (the capital of Queretaro state) was where vendors sold "caramelo" (caramel syrup) in jars to travelers as we passed through the city.

"Is it safe for you in Queretaro?" I asked Santi, not beating around the bush on the present "security" questions prevailing in Mexico. "Yes, it's the third safest city," he answered, citing an opinion poll that I didn't know of.