Player of Year Ippolito Kept Helix in Sync

A few weeks ago, Helix High School’s Rob Ippolito and buddies Tom Hall, Joe Smithey, Haval Abbas and little brother Chris entered a lip-sync contest.

Like a Mike Tyson opponent, they were not expected to win, just survive and not embarrass themselves too much.

But with lead mime Ippolito, the group overwhelmed the audience and the judges with its rendition of the Village People’s “YMCA.” Ippolito and friends stunned the pantomime world and took home the first-place trophy and $150.

“That has got to be the highlight of my high school year,” Ippolito said, smiling. “It was really wild.”

Well, as prolific and profitable as his pantomimic career has been, Ippolito is a pretty good baseball player, too.

He had a terrific 1989 season that, like a good fish story, began with inflated numbers and ended with the one that got away.

In his first 24 at-bats, Ippolito had 18 hits, a .750 average. By the end of the season, he had “cooled off” somewhat but still led the county with a .511 average and 41 runs batted in. Among his 45 hits were four home runs.

As a pitcher who was used against Helix’s toughest opponents, he was 11-2 with a 2.58 earned-run average and struck out 92 in 87 2/3 innings.

A 16-year-old junior, Ippolito led a veteran Helix team to the San Diego Section 3-A title game, where the big one slipped away in a 19-14 loss to Mt. Carmel.

For his efforts, Ippolito was named 1989 section player of the year in a vote by local media representatives.

“Robby’s had the kind of year that 99.9% of players dream about,” Helix Coach Jerry Schniepp said. “It really was one of those fantastic years. As far as what he’s meant to our team, his numbers speak for themselves.”

“He’s our superstar,” said Rich Haar, Helix shortstop and another first-team all-section selection. “Without him, we don’t have the kind of season that we had.”

Ippolito has good baseball instincts and talent, but his production also can be attributed to the same attitude he carried onto the stage for the lip-sync contest--be loose, do your best, but most of all, have fun.

“He approaches the game with a positive, up-beat attitude,” said Louie Graham, assistant coach. “Nothing bothers him. He wants to do everything possible to help the team. He comes into the game with the attitude, ‘I don’t care who does well as long as it’s for the good of the team.’ ”

Said Schniepp, “He’s got that pitcher’s personality. He’s a little off the wall. He’s always having fun, goofing off. But he’s a real straight-laced kid.”

Ippolito (6-feet-2, 183 pounds) could not imagine having the kind of year he had. “If someone had said I would hit .500, I would have laughed in their face,” he said.

“In the first game, I batted seventh in the lineup. I wasn’t even sure--and I don’t think coach was either--that I would even play every day.”

Ippolito started last season on the varsity but was dropped to the junior varsity after about a month. It was disappointing, but he realized that there just wasn’t room for him with pitchers Damon Luban and Rick Navarro leading Helix to a 26-2 record and the 3-A title.

He decided to channel his efforts toward the upcoming football season. He was to have been the starting quarterback but came down with mononucleosis in the preseason. Tory Winrow took over and performed so well that Ippolito never regained his job. But he caught three touchdown passes for the Highlanders, which finished 8-2-1.

He decided to skip the basketball season to concentrate on baseball. And that led to his status as the county’s best for 1988-89.

Other first-team selections:

Byron Klemaske, pitcher, Mt. Carmel--Klemaske was 15-1 with a 1.28 ERA. After taking a loss to St. Augustine in relief in the first game of the season, Klemaske won 15 consecutive games and led the Sundevils to the 3-A championship. He will attend Nevada Reno in the fall.

Jeff Myers, pitcher, Carlsbad--Myers, a first-team selection in 1988, was 12-3 and led the Lancers to the 2-A title. Myers, who will attend Pepperdine, also hit five homers.

Gordon Sanchez, catcher, San Marcos--Sanchez hit .388 with six home runs and 24 RBIs and is considered an excellent defensive catcher. He signed with Cal State Long Beach and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs.

John Tejcek, infielder, Mt. Carmel--Tejcek hit .510 (second in the county) with six homers, 30 RBIs and a school record 49 hits. A shortstop for the 3-A champs, he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics.

Mark Van Aelstyn, infielder, Mt. Carmel--A senior third baseman and the third Sundevil representative, Van Aelstyn hit .447 with six home runs and 37 RBIs. He was four for five in the championship game.

John Tatum, infielder, Grossmont--One of four non-seniors on the first team, Tatum, a junior, hit .453 with 39 hits, five home runs and 28 RBIs. In 30 innings of pitching, he posted a 4-0 record and 1.75 ERA. In the playoffs, Tatum was 10 for 11 with two triples and two doubles.

Rich Haar, infielder, Helix--Haar was a three-year starter at shortstop for the Highlanders and a two-time first-team selection. He hit .414 with 14 doubles, two homers, 29 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. During the regular season, Haar, who will attend UC Santa Barbara, committed only two errors.

Brian Giles, outfielder, Granite Hills--Giles was second in the county in home runs with 10 and hit .489 with 44 hits and 34 RBIs. An excellent, fast outfielder, Giles was drafted by the Cleveland Indians.

Eric Turner, outfielder, Crawford--Turner helped Crawford establish county records for hits (305), runs (252) and doubles (72) in a season, hitting .505 with 46 hits, 38 runs, 11 doubles and 19 RBIs.

Tony Clark, outfielder, Valhalla--Clark, a 6-foot-7 junior, led the county with 11 home runs, and had 31 RBIs to go with his .377 average. He also was 4-3 with a 1.86 ERA.

Benji Gil, utility, Castle Park--The only sophomore picked, Gil was 8-0 with a 1.74 ERA for the Trojans. He also played outfield and batted .422 with 27 RBIs.

John Lynch, utility, Torrey Pines--He had a 5-6 record but a 0.87 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched. He pitched two one-hitters. Lynch, who will attend Stanford as a quarterback on football scholarship, hit .429 with four home runs and 20 RBIs.

ALL-SECTION BASEBALL TEAM

Name School Pos. Year Byron Klemaske Mt. Carmel RHP Sr. Jeff Myers Carlsbad LHP Sr. Gordon Sanchez San Marcos C Sr. John Tejcek Mt. Carmel IF Sr. Mark Van Aelstyn Mt. Carmel IF Sr. John Tatum Grossmont IF Jr. Rich Haar Helix IF Sr. Brian Giles Granite Hills OF Sr. Eric Turner Crawford OF Sr. Tony Clark Valhalla OF Jr. Benji Gil Castle Park Util. So. John Lynch Torrey Pines Util. Sr. Rob Ippolito Helix Util. Jr.

SECOND TEAM

Robert Erp, Escondido, P, Sr.; Travis Arnold, Mira Mesa, P, Sr.; Robert Guerrero, El Capitan, C, Sr.; Todd Cady, Grossmont, C, Soph.; Manny Gagliano, Crawford, IF, Sr.; Ricky Hastey, Mira Mesa, IF, Sr. John Fenn, Granite Hills, IF, Jr.; Juan Beltran, Castle Park, IF, Sr.; Marcus Lee, Mt. Carmel, OF, Sr.; Tyrone Upton, Hoover, OF, Sr.; Dirk Fisher, Fallbrook, OF, Sr.; Tony Lennan, Mission Bay, Util., Sr.; Scott Karl, Carlsbad, Util., Sr.