LJ baseball 2, Hilltop 0 - 3/21

Travis Lancaster (15), before

the Alumni Game Feb. 22.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Right-hander Travis Lancaster threw a complete-game, two-hit 2-0 shutout at home over Hilltop Fri., March 21, in the GMT Tournament.

Dropping his ERA to 2.55, the junior raised La Jolla's record to 4-5 in the young season. He walked one while striking out three in facing the minimum number of batters in seven innings, 21.

LJ track @ Cerveny VII, Mission Bay 3/22

Photos by Ed Piper

Sophia Biaforde (soph) and Emily Lanzel

(sr) of La Jolla both cleared 7'1"

and finished tied for 10th place

in the vault.

LJ freshman Angela Shen takes off

in the 300m hurdles. She ran 59.33.

Janae Stanley-Castillo (with the medals around

her neck) with family and a friend. The LJ soph

went second in both seeded discus with 68'11.5"

and seeded shot put with 32'2".

Stanley-Castillo (left) on the podium.

Chris Adamson (left) of Mission

Bay, with his guide David

Cervantes, is still a trailblazer

as a junior.

A blind athlete, he was first

in 100 meters, second in

200 meters, and fifth in shot put. 

LJ swim v. Patrick Henry 3/21

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ b golf: Are we the most athletic team?

By Ed Piper

Someone, I think Trevor Kula, asked La Jolla coach Christie Quinn, "Are we the most athletic team you've ever had?"

Quinn, a veteran links coach, didn't even wait. "Not even close," she said. "On my best team, every guy could dead-lift 200 (plus) pounds."

Kula: "But that doesn't make you athletic. We've got guys who play football (Carson Diehl), soccer (Tate Phillips), lacrosse (Seigo Lavinsky)..."

*  *  *

Kula, a junior, the talkative one this day, Thurs., March 20, at Riverwalk, when everyone else was deep into their game preparation driving and chipping balls, asked: "Who do you have in March Madness?"

I said, "Moorpark Junior College, where I played basketball." Trevor: "They're playing in the JC championships." Me: "They didn't win much--we weren't in the playoffs when I went there."

I asked the water polo player who he was going for. "Are you for Michigan? I've seen a lot of Michigan bandwagoners, especially among middle school boys I sub with." I can't remember who he said.

LJ badminton v. Morse 3/20

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ b golf v. Saints 3/20

Photos by Ed Piper

Junior Tate Phillips practices a shot

from the sand trap.

From left, on the driving range:

junior Trevor Kula, senior Gabe Vargas

(following through on drive), and

senior Seigo Lavinsky (partially hidden,

behind Vargas).

LJ b lax 2, Cherokee Trail (Aurora, CO) 11 - 4th quarter - 3/19

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ baseball: Trio off to hot start at the plate

By Ed Piper

In the Vikings' first six games--despite a 2-4 record--three starters have gotten off to a hot start at the plate. Senior Hank Hansen and sophomores Zach "Snacks" Gergurich and Carter Strauss are all hitting the ball at a .300 clip or better.

Hansen, the four-year starter who should end up putting up some pretty good career numbers, has a .526 OBP to go along with a .438 average in five games played. He leads the infield this season at shortstop, moving over from third base.

The likeable "Snacks", who earned the moniker for his proclivity for imbibing said food items, and carries the heft to prove it, goes .389, equalling Hansen's seven hits, with a .476 OBP. "Gerg" is holding down Coach Gary Frank's DH duties.

Meanwhile, Strauss is catching, leading off in Saturday's game Feb. 15 against Madison, and hitting an even .300. His OBP at this early point is .500.

On the mound, starter Travis Lancaster has faced, by far, the most batters (65) of any hurler on pitching coach Koa Scott's staff. The senior right-hander has started two games, has a 1-2 record, and has struck out 12 in 15 innings.

Hansen leads the Vikings with three stolen bases.

LJ baseball 1, Madison 6 - 3/15

Photos by Ed Piper

Pitcher Travis Lancaster (not pictured) clearly

picked off Easton Ochoa of Madison at

first base in the top of the fourth. Making

the tag is Viking first baseman Ryan Kestler (3).

Lancaster throws out the Warhawks' Dakota

James (not in view) on a comebacker

to the box to start the fourth inning.

LJ starter Travis Lancaster (with left

stirrup coming out) strides in the top

of the third inning.

Vike leadoff batter Carter Strauss grounds

out to start the bottom of the first.

Third-slot hitter Hank Hansen pauses before

clubbing a ground-rule double over

the left-centerfield barrier to drive in

Ryan Kestler from third base

in the first inning.

Steve Booth (R), a former La Jolla assistant

coach, and strength and conditioning coach,

who coaches third base for the Warhawks.

(Note helmet he has to wear to be

on the field.)

LJ wrestling: Postseason awards

By Ed Piper

A good time was had by all, I'm sure, at the end-of-the-season wrestling team dinner and awards presentation Sat., Feb. 8, at a family home in Pacific Beach.

Your friendly correspondent was not able to attend, due to Spring Training baseball in Phoenix, but head coach Kellen Delaney announced the following team awards:

--Senior Matisse Pickett and junior Noah Pace, both of whom advanced to the CIF Section Masters meet at the Ryan Center on the campus of Christian High in El Cajon, were named girls MVP and boys MVP, respectively, for the Vikings.

--Most Improved was Patrick Fitzmaurice at 150 pounds.

--Named Most Coachable was Chase Weise.

--Especially dear to Coach Emeritus Walter Fairley Jr. is the Terry McPherson Award, given in the name of an athlete who dedicated himself to the sport and drew respect and admiration for the way he carried himself. This year's recipient was Matisse Pickett, who wrestled all four years of high school, was named team captain over both the girls and boys team members, and progressed from a novice competitor as a freshman to the CIF Masters meet her final year at La Jolla High.

I would have to think that Matisse is the first female recipient of the award.

LJ softball: Photos 3/3

Photos by Ed Piper

Freshman Brandy Cuevas (34, OF)

First baseman JC Taylor (R) talks on the phone

in the dugout before the game; catcher

Aviv (ah-VEEV) Laska.

LF Maddie Quach, who plays

golf, wrestles--she does it all.

Freshman Ella Pearl, hitting in the third

slot in the order; third baseman.

Natalie Alvarez heads to first base,

after watching her HR land in the planter

in left-centerfield.

Aviv Laska flings her bat after hitting a high

flyball to right-center, that bounced once

before going over the temporary barrier

for a ground-rule double. Laska's double

drove in Savannah Putnam.

Third baseman Ella Pearl, a freshman, lined out

to Aztec pitcher Brianna Hernandez

in the bottom of the first.

LJ b VB 1, Bishop's 3 - 3/3

Photos by Ed Piper

Ben Salmon (left)

hits against the block.

Junior Zepher Smith (left)

on the block.

Salmon (left) spikes the ball

past the block.