As CIF playoffs are underway in prep spring sports, the girls softball team and boys’ lacrosse teams are leading the way in a busy season for PLHS athletes.
GIRLS SOFTBALL
The Pointers completed an undefeated season (6-0) in City League play to earn a No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in Div. III action before facing the winner between No. 5 Bayfront Charter and No. 12 Escondido Charter earlier this week.
Sophomore starting catcher Nanako Schroth leads the team with a .400 batting average while freshman sister Ryoko Schroth led the pitchers with a 1.71 earned run average over 77.2 innings.
“We had a rough year last year,” veteran head coach Billy Hunyady said as his close-knit team celebrated Senior Day after last week’s 10-2 win over Morse. “But Ryoko is a dominant pitcher who enables us to match up with the top teams.”
“We expanded our roster this year and we have a lot of depth. I can put anybody in at any time and feel they can compete,” Hunyady added. “It’s really added to our versatility.”
As part of Senior Day, freshman junior varsity player Molly O’Donnell was allowed to join her senior sister Megan O’Donnell for a once-only time to play together in high school.
BOYS LACROSSE
This team also put up an undefeated league season (5-0, 16-1 overall) with a 14-game win streak. They scored 67 goals while only giving up nine in Eastern League play. This dominant performance by head coach Billy Buchhauser’s team resulted in a No. 3 seed and Div. II first-round bye.
To date, the Pointer boys have eliminated No. 6 Pacific Ridge 15-5 and played No. 7 Rancho Bernardo earlier this week in their quest for a CIF title. The finals will be played on May 20 at 2:30 p.m. at Del Norte High School.
BASEBALL
Finishing 11-15-1 overall and 4-8 in a tough Western League, head coach Jeff Solis’ Pointers were awarded a No. 5 seed in Div. III. They played a single-elimination game earlier this week against No. 12 Canyon Crest.
Frankie Giacalone led the team with a .378 batting average and tied with Jordan Otjen with three home runs. Otjen’s 20 RBI’s were tops. Drake Cobb led in three categories with a .505 on-base percentage and 16 stolen bases and tied with Otjen with 25 hits over the 27-game schedule.
On the mound, Jasper McGrath’s 0.95 earned run average was the best while Johnny Nuanez (41) and Will Sanford (39) struck out the most batters.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Awarded a No. 6 seed in Div. I, head coach Davis Ransom’s girls earned a first-round bye before taking on No. 3 Eastlake High. After defeating them 3-2, Eastlake won an elimination match 5-0 earlier this month.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Head coach Morgan Jackson’s team earned a No. 10 seed in Div. II but lost their first game to No. 7 Valley Center by a 16-7 score.
BOYS GOLF
Dylan Giang shot an excellent 76 in individual CIF playoffs.
BOYS TENNIS
Daniel Lombrozo win his first-round individual match 6-4 and 7-5 but lost in the second round.
SWIMMING
Head coach Ken Toma’s crew had many athletes place in the CIF title meet. The highest among them was girls’ 200-yard freestyle: Martina Divis, third place with a time of 1:56.38. Divis also finished third in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:07.67.
In the boys’ 100-yard breaststroke, freshman Leon Chen, fifth place in 58.78.
The girls’ 400-yard freestyle relay team finished ninth in 3:47.49. It included Divis, McKenna Carroll, Anne Borger, and Sienna Borchert.
