High school sports being played after graduation?
It’s among the possibilities the California Interscholastic Federation could address when its 10 section commissioners get together Friday, April 3, to further discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has affected high school sports in the state.
Schools throughout San Diego County have been closed since mid-March and California Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a stay-at-home order for the state’s citizens through early May in an effort to curb the spread of the highly infectious virus.
The governor’s executive order includes provisions for the cancellation of public events and private gatherings of 10 or more individuals, and also recommends social distancing of at least six feet between individuals.
This would seem to preclude a return to classroom settings and interscholastic sports competition.
Ultimately, local health officials may have the final say on when students can return to school and when it’s safe to head back to the playing field.
High school sports, including games and practices, are currently suspended. Even Little League has put a hold on the start of its season.
Sweetwater Union High School District schools are set to begin distance learning via the Internet beginning with the fourth quarter later this month.
Of course, there is still hope that student-athletes can finish the spring season despite its abortive start.
Eastlake High School baseball coach Dave Gallegos said his team would like the opportunity to defend the San Diego Section Open Division championship it won last year.
“Having this is a downside for the kids,” Gallegos said. “We’re hoping we can at least get in league play and maybe single-elimination playoffs, even if it means playing after graduation. We’d like to be able to defend our CIF championship.”
Any decrees resulting from the state CIF’s upcoming meeting will likely determine that.
The cancellation of the high school baseball season would be a major setback for recruiting as college and pro baseball scouts would be unable to evaluate this year’s class of talent.
Spring forward
The Titans were off to a 6-1 start after winning the championship title in the annual Aztec-Foothiller Tournament. So far, the team stands to have a minimum of 11 games wiped off its spring schedule through April 3, including the 70th annual San Diego Lions Tournament.
Classes in the Sweetwater Union High School District were set to resume on April 6, but that has changed due to additional recommendations from local and state health officials.
“It’s a shame because we were off to a good start,” Gallegos said. “I really feel bad for the kids, especially the seniors because without games they won’t have enough film to show colleges to try to get to the next level.”
Gallegos said he’s spent the time off during the extended spring break trying to facilitate the college recruiting process.
The Titans list nine seniors on their 2020 roster: Kai Saterstrom, Ethan Cashetta, Jacob Saldana, Zach Armstrong, Josh Smith, Dante Schmid, Nick Maldonado, Jordan Waller and Holden Stephens.
Maldonado was leading the team with a .500 hitting average with seven RBI and one home run while Waller was batting .412 with five RBI and one home run.
As a team, the Titans had clubbed six home runs and fashioned a 1.32 team earned-run average.
“Our pitching had been very good and our hitting clutch,” Gallegos said. “It’s too bad the season had to end because we were on a streak.”
Junior Nico Vallarelli had compiled a .438 hitting average with five RBI and one home run through six games while junior Ray Cebulski was hitting .364 with four RBI. Freshman Isaiah Lane, up from Eastlake Middle School, was enjoying a fabulous high school varsity debut with a .312 hitting average and five RBI
Junior Marcelo Mayer, who participated in last year’s San Diego Section All-Star Game, was hitting .294 with six RBI, two doubles and three home runs.
Cebulski (1-0) led Eastlake’s pitchers with a 1.26 ERA in three appearances while Schmid was 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA in three games. Cashetta was 1-0 with a 2.10 ERA in two appearances.
Cebulski had 11 strikeouts in 16 innings.
“Jordan Waller had been on a tear hitting the ball for us and Marcelo Mayer is one of the best players in the county,” Gallegos assessed. “Isaiah Lane had a great start; he’s going to be a dude for us.
“Our pitching staff is really good and our hitting is solid but our defense is so-so. We’re hoping we can get better over the next month.”
Hope remains the key word.
Metro Conference Baseball Statistical Leaders
Mesa League
(Non-league records)
- Eastlake Titans 6-1, .857 winning percentage
- San Ysidro Cougars 8-2, .800 winning percentage
- Bonita Vista Barons 4-3, .571 winning percentage
- Hilltop Lancers 2-4-1, .357 winning percentage
- Montgomery Aztecs 2-4, .333 winning percentage
- Chula Vista 2-6, .250 winning percentage
- Otay Ranch Mustangs 0-6, .000 winning percentage
South Bay League
(Non-league records)
- Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders 5-1, .833 winning percentage
- Mar Vista Mariners 6-2, .750 winning percentage
- Olympian Eagles 6-2, .750 winning percentage
- Southwest Raiders 4-5, .444 winning percentage
- Sweetwater Red Devils 3-4, .429 winning percentage
- Castle Park Trojans 0-2-1, .167 winning percentage
Top hitters
(Minimum 15 at-bats)
- Colin Overheim (Olympian) .636, two doubles
- Anthony Lovato (Bonita Vista) .545, three doubles
- John Pyle (Sweetwater) .529, two doubles, five RBI
- Sebastian Diaz (San Ysidro) .519, four doubles, eight RBI
- Angel Casanova (Olympian) .500, four RBI
- Dante Pacheco (Mar Vista) .464, two triples, six RBI
- Aldo Canedo (Southwest) .462
- Carlos Carda (Olympian) .444, three RBI
- Nico Vallarelli (Eastlake) .438, five RBI
- Alejandro Odeso (Olympian) .417
- Jordan Waller (Eastlake) .412, five RBI
- Austin Lukenbill (Mar Vista) .409, four doubles, 11 RBI
- Alejandro Gudino (San Ysidro) .400, five doubles, five RBI
- Claudio Coralles (Sweetwater) .400, three RBI
- Alberto Iribe (Sweetwater) .389, two doubles
- Erick Ordonez (San Ysidro) .387, four doubles, two triples, five RBI
- Karlos Jimenez (Chula Vista) .364, two doubles
- Ray Cebulski (Eastlake) .364
- Guillermo Guzman (San Ysidro) .360, four doubles, five RBI
- Joshua Barbato (Mar Vista) .360, two doubles
- Aaron Garcia (Olympian) .346, two doubles, three RBI
- Hector Acosta (Olympian) .333, two doubles, three home runs, nine RBI
- Ryan Lee (Mar Vista) .333, seven RBI
- Joseph Esparza (Sweetwater) .333, four RBI
- Johnny Ayala (Chula Vista) .333, two RBI
- Cameron Barbabosa (Bonita Vista) .333
- Adrian Herrera (Montgomery) .333
- Adam Amaro (Olympian) .321, three doubles, 15 RBI
- Isaiah Lane (Eastlake) .312, two RBI
- Carlo Rios (San Ysidro) .310, five doubles, eight RBI
- Emiliano Gomez (Chula Vista) .308, three RBI
- Omar Cordero (Bonita Vista) .304, five RBI
- Nate Nankil (Bonita Vista) .304, two doubles, four RBI
- Jesus Tellez (San Ysidro) .304, three doubles, four RBI
- Nevin Baclig (Olympian) .296, two doubles, four RBI
- Marcelo Mayer (Eastlake) .294, three home runs, six RBI
- Diego Garza (Mar Vista) .294, two doubles, five RBI
- Jose Mendoza (Montgomery) .294, three doubles
- Aryan Jaff (Olympian) .292, six RBI
- Emmanuel Alvarado (San Ysidro) .280, nine RBI
- Arturo Rodriguez (San Ysidro) .278, three RBI
- Randy Lopez (Chula Vista) .278
Top pitchers
(Minimum 10 innings)
- Adrian Herrera (Montgomery) 0.54 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 2-0 record
- Joshua Barbato (Mar Vista) 0.64 ERA, 0-0 record
- Jesus Tellez (San Ysidro) 0.93 ERA, 17 strikeouts, 3-0 record
- Glen Huggins (Bonita Vista) 1.24 ERA, nine strikeouts, 2-0 record
- Ray Cebulski (Eastlake) 1.26 ERA, 11 strikeouts, 1-0 record
- Armando Marquez Jr. (Olympian) 1.33 ERA, 28 strikeouts, 3-1 record
- Emiliano Gomez (Chula Vista) 1.40 ERA, 0-2 record
- Claudio Coralles (Sweetwater) 1.91 ERA, 14 strikeouts
Enrique Canedo (Southwest) 2.06 ERA, 15 strikeouts
- Dante Schmid (Eastlake) 2.10 ERA, 2-0 record
- Ethan Cashetta (Eastlake) 2.10 ERA, eight strikeouts, 1-0 record
- Joseph Esparza (Sweetwater) 2.69 ERA, eight strikeouts
- Arturo Rodriguez (San Ysidro) 2.72 ERA, 18 strikeouts, 2-1 record
- Agustin Chavez (San Ysidro) 2.80 ERA, 11 strikeouts, 1-0 record
