Thursday, April 16, 2009

Mater Dei vs. El Toro In Finals


The Anderson Bat Classic is an opportunity to showcase talent from around the country. It's a chance for the East to show how it stacks up with the west. For Northern California to prove that it can hang with it's cohorts to the south, but just about every year, it boils down to two southern California powerhouses duking it out in the championship game.

Last year it was Crespi and Orange Lutheran featuring Yankees 1st round draft pick Gerritt Cole who chose UCLA over the Bigs. While Palm Beach Central took the crown in 2007 and DeLa Salle in 2006 against SoCal opponents, the other years have featured SoCal teams.

We mentioned how DeLa Salle and Don Bosco Prep are nationally ranked multi-sport schools...Well, Mater Dei is also dominant in just about every sport as well.

Sports Illustrated reecently named Mater Dei the #2 high school athletic program in America. Competing annually against the best competition in Southern California, Mater Dei has compiled an enviable record for football success:

462 wins and only 171 losses
25 league championships
9 CIF championships
2 USA Today national championships
5 undefeated seasons
Only 4 losing seasons

In addition, Mater Dei is one of only two high schools in America that has produced two Heisman Trophy winners. Quarterback John Huarte (Mater Dei Class of 1961) won the award in 1964 after an All-American career at Notre Dame. And quarterback Matt Leinart (Class of 2001) won the award in 2004 after completing a record-setting career at USC.

In Basketball the Monarchs have enjoyed 7 state championships, 19 CIF championships, 25 league championships, and an overall record of 797-74 as well as many top recruits. This year they featured 6'10" twins David and Travis Wear who are headed off to 2009 National Champion North Carolina Tar Heels next year. Over 31 Mater Dei senior athletes in boys and girls sports will be playing Major D-I sports in 2009-2010.

But it's baseball that is being played today by the Monarchs and they have the stars on this sqaud too. Five players have signed to play D-I ball next year. They are: Jake Hamblin, University of Southern California, Stephen Lapchak, University of California, Santa Barbara, Ian McCarthy, Oklahoma State University, Ruben Orosco, University of California, Irvine and Spencer Venegas, Dartmouth College

El Toro doesn't have the overall pedigree of Mater Dei, but they can play baseball. Coming off a 25-7 record and a 2008 CIF Southern Section Championship, the 2009 Chargers are looking to repeat for another CIF crown.

They are led by Nolan Arenado and AFLAC All American, Chad Thompson who are headed to Arizona State. The University of San Diego has signed Aaron Wirsch and UC San Diego will enjoy the talents of Dillon Penprase next year. The Chargers of El Toro have mowed down their competition in the Anderson Bat Classic, outscoring their opponents 35-10. Their last opponent was Florida power Palm Beach Central. The Chargers showed no mercy and won 10-1. Can their bats stay hot against a nationally ranked Mater Dei?

It should be a great Championship game.

Wednesdays Results
Game #17 Aptos, CA - 3 vs Mamaroneck, NY- 8
Game #18 Spanish Fork, UT- 6 vs Don Bosco Prep, NJ - 5
Game #19 Norco, CA - 7 vs Northview, CA - 4
Game #20 Jesuit, CA ____ vs De La Salle, CA ____ - Field #1, 4:00pm
Game #21 Notre Dame, AZ - 12 vs Arch Bishop Mitty, CA - 11 (8 inn)
Game #22 Notre Dame, CA - 13 vs El Dorado, CA - 10
Game #23 Mater Dei, CA - 6 vs Esperanza, CA - 5
Game #24 Palm Beach Central, Fl - 1 vs El Toro, CA - 10

Today's Games
Game #25 Aptos, CA ____ vs Don Bosco Prep, NJ ____ - at Field #1 (JV), 2:00pm
Game #26 Mamaroneck, NY ____ vs Spanish Fork, UT ____ - at Field #2, 4:00pm
Game #27 Arch Bishop Mitty, CA ___ vs El Dorado, CA ___ - at Field #2, 10:00am
Game #28 Notre Dame, AZ ____ vs Notre Dame, CA ___ - Field #1, 10:00am
Game #29 Northview, CA ____ vs Loser of Game #20- at Field #2, 1:00pm
Game #30 Esperanza, CA ____ vs Palm Beach Central, Fl ____ - at Field #1, 1:00pm
Game #31 Norco, CA ____ vs Winner of Game #20 - Fld #1, 4:00pm

Championship Game
Game #32
Mater Dei, CA ____ vs El Toro, CA ____


At Field #3 - Cal State Fullerton, 7:00pm


No comments: