All-league honorees

BURBANK — Patrick Haney is the latest member in a growing tradition with the Bellarmine-Jefferson High baseball team.

Haney proved to be a dominant force this season in the Santa Fe League, despite the Guards finishing third. Because of his fine play, he was rewarded by being named the Santa Fe League Player of the Year.

If is the fourth MVP award won by a Bell-Jeff player in the last five seasons.

“He just did everything for us,” said Bell-Jeff Coach Hector Perez about the senior. “When we needed him to pitch, he stepped up. And when we needed him at the plate, he came through for us.”

Haney joins Jairo Trujillo (2008, 2007) and Danny Casey (2006, 2005) as recent player-of-the-year honorees.

The Guard was among a group of area players who earned all-league accolades for the 2010 campaign.

Haney put up impressive numbers for the Guards. On offense, he paced the team with a .521 batting average. In addition, he had 25 hits, scored 25 runs, had 12 runs batted in, five doubles, five triples, an .833 slugging percentage and a .593 on-base average.

On the mound, he was 6-4 with a 4.16 earned-run average and 80 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings.

He also notched a no-hitter in a 15-0 league victory against Verbum Dei.

Also earning all-league honors for the Guards was sophomore shortstop Matt Landini, junior outfielder Henry Terrones, freshman outfielder Johnny Karalis and freshman catcher Mitch Kellogg.

Karalis hit .353 with 18 hits and 15 runs scored, Terrones had a .333 average with 16 hits, 14 runs scored and 14 RBI, Landini hit .315 with 17 hits, 14 runs scored and 10 RBI and Kellogg hit .311 with 14 hits, 13 runs scored and eight RBI.

Bell-Jeff (11-7) made the CIF Southern Section playoff and won its Division VI wild-card game against Chadwick, 4-3.

Under Coach Hector Perez, the Guards have made the postseason for eight straight years, something no other local program has been able to accomplish.

Burroughs was able to defeat its cross-town rival in its final regular-season game to place third in the Pacific League

The Indians boasted four all-league players — including two first-team honorees.

Making the first team were sophomore catcher Ryne Kahikina and designated hitter Christian Garia. While Kahikina — who earned his second-straight all-league honor — batted .436 with 31 hits, a .661 slugging percentage and a .557 on-base average. Garia hit .388, had three home runs and a .501 on-base average.

Making the second team was senior outfielder Brandon Lawton (.338 average), and senior pitcher Nate Albers (.351 average, four home runs and a .678 slugging percentage to go along with a 3-3 record) was an honorable-mention pick.

Burroughs ended the season with a 12-16 record for first-year Coach J.R. Schwer.

Burbank again qualified for the postseason, and five Bulldogs earned all-league accolades, including two on the first team.

The two first-teamers were senior shortstop Lonnie Kauppila and senior pitcher-first baseman McCauley Taylor.

Kauppila but together a solid season for the second year in a row. Kauppila, who has signed with Stanford, led the team with a .443 average. In addition, he had 35 hits, scored 35 runs, had 22 RBI, eight doubles, four triples, three home runs, walked 21 times, had a .759 slugging percentage and stole 21 stolen bases.

In the field he had a .930 fielding percentage, 72 assists and 39 put-outs.

Last week, Kauppila was selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft. He was drafted in the 44th round — 1,325 overall — by the Oakland Athletics. He is the first Bulldogs player to be drafted in 10 years.

Taylor was second on the team with a .395 average. He also had 32 hits, 29 RBI, scored 20 runs and also paced Burbank with five home runs. On the mound, he was 5-3 with a 2.18 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings.

Earning second-team honors for Burbank was senior third baseman David Goldberg and senior outfielder Brandon Zepeda. Zepeda hit .362 with 34 hits, 35 runs scored and 16 runs batted in and Goldberg batted .333 with 27 hits, 15 runs scored and 19 RBI.

Freshman second baseman Dylan Mersola earned honorable-mention honors, as he had a .263 average, 29 hits, scored 23 runs and had 11 RBI.

Burbank finished the season 14-15.

Providence was the lone local team that didn’t qualify for the postseason. Only one Pioneers’ player, senior infielder/pitcher Oscar Urzua, made the All-Liberty League team.