After graduating 12 of 18 players from a team that was 19-1 at one point last season, not much was expected from this season’s Amador Valley High School Varsity Baseball team. Despite the graduations, the Dons have posted a 12-3 record through the end of April and repeated as champion of the Willie Stargell Memorial Easter Classic.
Coach Lou Cesario, who is also the school’s Athletic Director and the unofficial head groundskeeper, has continued his emphasis on strong pitching and defense. This year’s team is very young and includes two freshmen, including starting third baseman Stephon Piscotty, and only seven seniors. The Dons have a wealth of pitching depth with seven quality arms on the team, all of whom have contributed to the team’s success.
What the seniors lack in numbers is more than made up in the level of leadership they provide to the underclassmen. Led by co-captains Pat Glenn and David Rowse, who will play next season at Santa Clara University and the University of the Pacific, respectively, the team is well prepared for the rough schedule ahead that should lead to another berth in the NCS Playoffs.
The remaining regular season schedule includes games next Wednesday at Deer Valley, at home next Friday against Livermore and May 17 against Granada.
The regular season ends with the traditional rivalry game with Foothill High, which will be played May 19 at the Dons home field.
Foothill Girls tops in swimming
The Varsity Lady Falcon Swimmers continued their perfect season with another impressive victory, downing Livermore 153 to 38. Lady Falcon swimmers finished first and second in all 11 events. Performances of note included a first place finish in the 200-meter freestyle by Melissa Bonnel and a first place finish by Neda Nguyen in the 100-meter fly. The Narum sisters–Jennifer and Lisa–dueled to a one/two finish in the 200-meter IM. The final dual meet of the season is today with Amador, when the rival Pleasanton high schools square off in the deep end of the pool.Foothill Varsity Boys Swimming
Not to be outdone, the Foothill Boys varsity swimmers took first place in 10 of 11 events in their meet against Livermore. The win included sweeps of first, second, and third in the 200-meter individual medley, 100-meter fly, 200-meter freestyle relay, 100-meter backstroke and the 100-meter breaststroke. Matt Kwan led the team effort with four first place wins. The boy’s undefeated dual meet season goes on the line today against cross-town rival Amador Valley.Dons drop one to San Ramon
In an EBAL make-up game, the Freshman Dons dropped one to San Ramon 9-3. Will LaMarch pitched four innings giving up three hits and three runs. Carter Loud came on in relief and Matt Hoey got his first call to the mound.San Ramon got some nice hits in the holes to give them the lead in the fifth inning. They tacked on some insurance runs in the seventh and although the Dons gave it a valiant effort, they just could not make up the difference.
