Spring has been good to the Webb Schools’ varsity baseball team, which is ranked 4th in CIF and is 9-1-0 in Prep Standings as they wind up season play.

After a bye week in which Webb was set to play non-league teams West Covina on May 1 and Lucerne Valley on Friday, May 4, Prep League competition continues with a game against Pasadena’s Poly High School on Tuesday, May 8.

Considering the fact Poly (6-2-0 in league) has won the Prep League championship 16 years in a row, the Gauls are feeling motivated.

“We’re hoping to break that streak,” said Webb Schools athletic director Steven Wishek.

The season will conclude with a game against the Flintridge Prep Rebels (2-7-0 in league) on Thursday, May 10. The team will then await the draw for CIF, which Mr. Wishek expects to be announced on Sunday, May 13.

Webb has a strong baseball coach in Jeff Stodgel, but Mr. Wishek doesn’t attribute all of the Gauls’ success to his leadership. The team is supported by some great players, including 2 pitchers who Mr. Wishek feels have the potential to be Division 1 athletes.

These include junior Aaron Digiamarino, who in 54 innings this season has 72 strikeouts. Aaron has a .464 batting average with 5 home runs and 27 RBIs.

Another pitcher, junior Nick Gollin, almost averages 2 strikeouts per inning. In just 25 innings, he has 46 strikeouts. Offensively, he has a .318 batting average with 15 RBIs.

Another offensive standout is senior Sam Woodward (.358 batting average), who has helped the team with 4 homeruns and 32 RBIs.

Mr. Wishek lives on the Webb campus with his family, which includes 2 sons. When the eldest, who is 8, wants to shoot baskets, it’s no problem. “I’ve got the keys to the gym.”

Even Mr. Wishek’s 5-year-old enjoys attending the various athletic games to cheer on the Gauls. “They live and die Webb, just like the players do,” he said of his sons.

As a sports fan, the constant exposure to team competition makes the Webb position a dream job for Mr. Wishek.

“Part of my job is to go out and watch teams play in the afternoon. You can’t ask for anything more.”

CHS girls varsity track team are league champs. Again.

Success is twice as nice for the girls of the Claremont High School varsity track team, who are league champs for the second year in a row.

The Wolfpack takes a 5-0 record to league finals Wednesday, May 2, at Chino Hills High School.

There are talented athletes leading CHS, most notably senior Mariella McCormack, who went undefeated this season in the 400 meters as well as excelling in the 200 meters.

Though this is only her second year on the track team, Mariella will leave behind a legacy when she heads to Columbia University this fall on a combination athletic/academic scholarship. At the Arcadia Invitational earlier in the season, she beat the CHS and her own 400-meter record with a time of 56.51.

Other athletes who contributed to this year’s championship include 100-meter and 200-meter standout Brittany Brown and throws specialist Reagan Henderson, both seniors.

At today’s meet, which will determine individual league championships, head girls track coach Jose Ancona expects that a handful of girls will qualify for CIF. If they do, they will head to CIF prelims on Saturday, May 12. CIF finals are set for the following week.

The Wolfpack hasn’t made it past CIF finals to a Master’s Meet, and beyond that, to a state championship in the 11 years that Coach Ancona has been helming the team.

“We’re hoping,” he said.

—Sarah Torribio