LJ baseball 9, Alumni 2

The Vikings' new turf field, installed last summer,

to replace the original turf field dating to 2009.

The facility is located on the grounds of

Muirlands Middle School, next to

the LJHS campus. (Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Rob Ortiz, a third baseman from the Class of 2010, remembered at the annual Alumni Game Sat., Feb. 18, that La Jolla had originally installed the first turf field back in 2009, right before his senior year.

"I remember that's when they put the field in," said Ortiz, a veteran of the hot corner who took his turn there during the seven-inning exhibition against the present Viking team, which the Vikings won, 9-2. (The varsity has won all but three of the games against the alumni in the 30-year history of the event: 2005, 2017, and 2018.

Stan Smith, a catcher and infielder from the Class of 1960, played the National Anthem on his trumpet for the 29th time before the first pitch. (No game was played in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.)

Stan Smith, Class of '60

catcher/infielder, played

the National Anthem

before the Alumni Game

for the 29th straight

year.

Sophomore varsity left fielder Adam Lafever (12)

fouls off one of many foul balls, before dropping

the ball just inside the right field line for a basehit

to lead off the bottom of the first inning.

Lafever later moved to shortstop, then

second base.