A dominant no-hitter, an unfortunate walk-off loss, and a visit to Disneyland, the baseball team’s trip to California was filled with exciting times.
The Jesuit Crusaders baseball team had a great spring break trip to California from March 23rd-26th, facing off against three tough teams while strengthening their camaraderie both on and off the field.
The first game of the trip took place on Monday, March 24th, against Xavier Prep, a Jesuit school in Palm Springs. The heat was intense, with temperatures reaching 95 degrees, making it one of the hottest games of the week. Despite the challenge, the Crusaders rallied behind a stellar pitching performance from Calvin Martinez.
Kainoa Santiago and Dylan Garg led the offense, and once Jesuit took the lead, they never looked back. The final score was 9-5 in favor of Jesuit.
The following day, the Crusaders faced off against Servite High School in Anaheim, a powerhouse team ranked among the top teams in California. It was an intense match, with the Friars showing their mid-season form.
Senior Johnny Ingalls delivered an excellent pitching performance, and the game remained competitive, even going into extra innings. Unfortunately, the Crusaders fell short with a tough walk-off loss in the bottom of the 9th inning, losing 4-5. Despite the tough defeat, the team displayed resilience and determination throughout the game.
On the final day of the trip, Jesuit played San Marcos High School from San Jose. Tensions ran high before the game, with the opposing team chirping at the Crusaders during pregame warm-ups. However, the Crusaders were unfazed, and sophomore Chase Kelly responded by pitching a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and just one walk.
The performance shut down San Marcos completely, and Jesuit won 6-0, capping off their trip with a dominant victory.
“I was just trying to stay loose and have fun,” Kelly said. “I had a great defense behind me and they kept making plays. It was a lot of fun and a great win”
The trip wasn’t all about baseball. On Sunday, March 23rd, after arriving in California, the team spent the afternoon at Disneyland, enjoying rides and building team chemistry. The time at Disneyland helped strengthen the bond among teammates.
Looking back on the trip, one thing stood out to the players: the strength of their team’s camaraderie.
"What I love most about our team is our camaraderie that really puts us above any other team," junior Jake Rolling shared. "We have the talent to match any team in the state, but our willingness to put ourselves out there for any guy on our team and knowing that we always have each other’s backs is what makes us special."
The California trip not only helped the team bond but also allowed them to showcase their skills on the field, going 2-1 over the course of the three games. From the thrilling win against Xavier Prep to the tough loss to Servite, and the stunning no-hitter against San Marcos, the Jesuit Crusaders proved they are a team to be reckoned with.
Junior Griffin Nichols is excited for what's ahead.
“The boys have been looking really solid. The team is clicking and we’re feeling like we could dominate against anyone right now.”
The Crusaders face off against Mountain View next Tuesday the 8th, which will be streamed live on JCTV.