City Lights Public League notebook No. 81, Baseball rankings and Players of the Week
News and notes from around the Public League.
Senior center fielder Jayden Matticx and Lake View are looking to be a Public League power again. Photo by Mike Clark
Getting Lake View back to the top tier of Public League baseball is a family project.
The Wildcats won Class 3A regionals in 2009 and 2010 and had five straight 20-win seasons under coach Dean Stavrakas from 2006-10. They also had success under William Poole before he left to take over at Ogden.
But Lake View later dropped out of the top-level Jackie Robinson North to the second-tier National North. Coach Robert Matticx and his sons — seniors Jayden and Jaylen — are on a quest to get the Wildcats back to the JR North.
“Once (Poole) went over to Ogden, the program kind of went down a little bit,” said Robert, who had previously coached at Thornridge and Uplift. “So I came in, tried to turn the page a little bit, get the guys on the right page, get them to buy into what I was trying to do. … Things are coming along.”
Lake View and Clemente split their National North series and those are the only confereence losses for each team.
Part of the credit for the Wildcats’ resurgence goes to Matticx’ sons. Jaylen catches, while Jayden plays center field and pitches.
“They’ve been playing for me all their life,” Robert said. “I don’t treat them (any) different than I treat any other players. They know what’s expected of them.”
“It’s not really different,” said Jayden, who came up through the Welles Park youth leagues with his brother. “I feel like you’ve got to come out and work as hard as the other players. There’s not a spot given to you. I feel like you’ve got to show the spot is yours.”
Playing for his dad growing up had him prepared for this, according to Jayden.
“He pushed us to work hard since we were younger,” Jayden said. “We already knew the expectation even (coming to) high school.”
Getting Lake View back on the map before he and his brother graduate ia s priority.
“I feel for the city, it’s low-key unexpected,” Jayden said of the Wildcats’ 11-3 start (6-1 in the Nattional North). “I feel like they counted us out, moving us down even though we shouldn’t have been down.
“I feel like they thought that we weren’t gonna be a (good) team. But we worked hard, we competed, we kept our head down. … We just kept improving, improving and stacking up wins.”
Public League top 10 (with records through Friday, May 2)
1. Lane (15-9)
Champions have clinched Jackie Robinson North at 10-1. Hitting (.307 team batting average) and pitching (3.85 ERA) both have been solid.
2. Taft (14-12)
No Public League team has played Lane tougher than the Eagles, who beat the Champions 4-1 and lost 7-4 in eight innings. They’re tied for second in the JR North at 7-5.
3. Kenwood (10-6-1)
Senior catcher Brandon Stinson is hitting .517 with a 1.103 slugging percentage for the Broncos, who lead the JR South at 7-2.
4. Morgan Park (13-6-2)
Mustangs are second in JR South at 8-3 and own a win over Taft.
5 Young (12-13)
Do[phins split with Taft and are tied with Eagles for second in JR North. Luke Yolich has a 1.188 OPS.
6. Payton (10-14)
Grizzlies are 6-6 in JR North behind Derek Patton (.476, .605 OBP), Nick Linares (.408, .477 OBP) and Freddie Matvias (.353, .516 OBP).
7. Simeon (11-9-1)
Christian Lott is 5-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 27 innings for the Wolverines. They’re third in the JR South, a half-game behind Morgan Park.
8. Von Steuben (11-11-2)
Panthers also took Lane to extra innings before falling. Kayin Timble is hitting .397 with a .516 on-base percentage.
9. Lincoln Park (11-12)
Lions, fifth in JR North at 5-6, are yet another team to push Lane to extra innings before falling.
10. Clemente (12-7)
Wildcats lead National North and are 1-3 vs. Jackie Robinson teams, including a win over Lincoln Park.
Honorable mention, in alphabetical order: Brooks 8-17, Jones 10-14, Ogden 9-12, Solorio 7-12, Washington 9-14.
Public League Player of the Week for April 14-20
Luke Yolich, Young: The senior was 8-for-14 with two doubles, two triples, a homer and six RBIs.
Honorable mention, in alphabetical order
Robert DeMateo, Farragut: The freshman hit .667 with a .750 on-base percentage, one double, six runs, three RBIs and five steals. He also picked up a win, allowing one hit and no earned runs across five innings with eight strikeouts.
Jacob DeVinney, Lane: The junior catcher batted .462 (6-for-13) with a double, five walks and four RBIs.
Dodger Friedrich, Lane: The freshman pitched his first high-school complete game for his second win, allowing four hits, one earned run and one walk with five strikeouts.
Charlie Hockman, Young: The senior pitcher was 1-0, pitching six innings while allowing two runs, three hits and one walk with six strikeouts.
Freddie Matvias, Payton: The senior was 4-for-10 with a homer, four runs, five RBIs and four hit by pitches.
Henry Murray, Lane: The senior outfielder hit .467 (7-for-15) with a double, three triples, a walk, three runs and 10 RBIs in four games.
Derek Patton, Payton: The senior beat Amundsen, striking out seven and allowing no earned runs over six innings.
Arnie Rosenband, Young: The junior was 8-for-18 with two doubles, a homer and six RBIs.
Augie Ruf, Payton: The senior outfielder went 4-for-8 with a homer, three RBIs and two steals.
Isaac Stoelenga, Young: The sophomore went 7-for-18 with a double, a triple, a homer and nine RBIs.
Josiah Saucedo, Solorio: The junior was 3-for-8 with a triple, three walks, three runs and two RBIs. He also went 1-0 with seven strikeouts over eight innings, allowing one earned run, no walks and three hits.
Tyler Trapp, Lane: The senior second baseman hit .562 (9-for-16) with five doubles, six runs, four RBIs and a walk.
Nate Volkens, Payton: The senior went 4-for-9 with three walks, two hit by pitches and four RBIs.
Public League Player of the Week for April 21-27
Gio Bahena-Perez, Farragut: The senior hit .500 with a 1.500 slugging percentage, a 2.071 OPS, two homers, three runs and six RBIs.
Honorable mention, in alphabetical order
Marcus Garton, Young: The junior pitcher/first baseman was 5-for-10 with two doubles, seven runs and an RBI. He also struck out seven in six innings, allowing three hits, one walk and four runs.
Teo Greco, Lane: The senior shortstop hit .379 (5-for-14) with two doubles, a triple, three walks and a stolen base.
Charlie Hockman, Young: The senior pitcher fanned six across 5 1/3 innings while allowing two hits, one walk and one run.
Theo Kimmith, Young: The sophomore second baseman went 5-for-11 with two doubles, three runs, seven RBIs and a walk.
Nick Linares, Payton: The junior went 1-0 with seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed three hits and one earned run.
Freddie Matvias, Payton: The senior went 6-for-12 with two doubles, two homers, five runs, five RBIs and a walk.
Derek Patton, Payton: The senior was 5-for-8 with a double, a walk and three runs.
Conor Sullivan, Lane: The junior outfielder batted .444 (4-for-9), with a double, two runs, three RBIs, three walks, a hit by pitch and a steal.
Luke Yolich, Young: The senior shortstop was 6-for-13 with a double, a triple, a homer, four runs, five RBIs and two walks.