The Present Dei

Coach Ed White counsels and encourages the baseball team between games at the March 3 double-header in Avalon on Catalina Island.  The Avalon High School Lancers defeated the Eagles in this back-to-back pre-season matchup. 

Photographs and story by John Stradley, Moderator, The Present Dei

The Avalon High School Lancers defeated the Verbum Dei High School baseball team twice in the March 3 doubleheader on Catalina Island.  The final scores of the preseason games, considered a practice exercise by the Verb coaching staff, were 9-22 and 6-12 respectively.

“This is like our spring training,” said Coach Ed White.  “We need this practice.”  The need for a honing of fundamental skills was evident in double digit errors by the Verb squad in each of the two games.  The team is reestablishing itself with some seasoned veterans and several new players, said White.  “We were a little tentative at the plate,” said White on the return boat from Catalina Island, where decades earlier, the Chicago Cubs held their own spring training.  “For many, it was their first game.”

The opening game started well for the Eagles with three runs scored in their first at-bat.  However, after finishing the first scoreless, the Lancers began chipping away at that early lead in the ensuing two innings; the score at the bottom of the third inning remained with Verb on top 7-2.

“The fourth inning – we gave them seven outs,” said White, when asked about the turning point of the game.  Three critical infield errors and one fielding error began to turn the blue Pacific tide to Avalon’s favor.  The inning ended with the Lancers scoring nine, bringing their lead to 11-7.  Standout defensive play by junior Christopher Gomez and sophomore Noe Vera did little to stem the tide, as Avalon added three to the scoreboard in the fifth, four in the sixth, and another four in the final seventh inning. Held scoreless through the middle of the game, the Eagles managed to add two runs.   The batting prowess of senior Victor Perez was evident on the scoreboard.

The Eagle squad took the field in the second game as home team, while Avalon began to exploit their knowledge of their intimate home field with a strong offensive display at the plate.  The first inning ended 0-5.  Verb rebounded defensively in the second inning, holding the Lancers scoreless, but the third and fourth innings proved devastating.  While White observed that the second go-round was a “more winnable game” than the first, he admitted, “The fourth inning got us again.”  The fourth ended 0-10.

A late inning rally of sorts put Verb on the scoreboard with five runs scored in the bottom of the fifth.  The rally was comprised of two hits, three bases on balls, and one hit batter.  Verb batters were hit by pitched balls more frequently than normal, commented White.  Eight Eagle batters were hit by pitched balls in the back-to-back games.  As a pair of deer began foraging on the ridge above the ballpark during the final innings, the Eagles added one to the scoreboard and Avalon added two.

Clean-up batter senior Christian Depraect begins his sprint toward first base after connecting with the ball in Game One of the March 3 double-header.  The game began well for the Eagles with an early lead that lasted until the third inning. 

Freshman Nick Spates looks for an out against a strong St. Anthony defense January 25 at the Long Beach campus.  The Eagles were grounded 67-54 despite an uninterrupted series of 3-pointers by senior Rory Riggs.  Photograph by DJ Stradley

By John Stradley, Moderator, The Present Dei

In a match-up marked by plodding resolve, egregious turnovers, and heated exchanges, the St. Bernard High School Vikings grounded the Eagle varsity squad Saturday night 63-26 at SBHS.  The Bernard victory was not unimpeded however, as the Eagles executed a series of impressive first down upon first down drives based on tried and true running plays and agile running backs Anthony Charles and Dylan Hall.

Early in the first quarter, the Viking offense blundered in a missed hike, which led to the loss of 15-yards, but such Bernard errors were rare for the duration of the game.  Bernard was first to show on the scoreboard with a touchdown and successful field goal.  The Verbum Dei High School defense kept the Vikings mid-field for the remainder of the quarter, owing much to key tackles by senior linebacker Avery Crump and Charles. As the roar of jumbo jets from adjacent Los Angeles International Airport filled the air, a VDHS possession and the first in an impressive series of first downs on a scoreless drive ended the quarter 0-7.

The second quarter began with a Verb possession, but the squad faced a strong Viking defense.  A string of punchy running plays culminated in a long pass to running back Hall, who deftly caught the ball after it bounced off the hands of a Viking defender.  Hall’s touchdown brought the score to 6-7.

The marauding Vikings responded with a 57-yard kick return for a touchdown and successful field goal. A loose ball by the Verb offense resulted in a scramble, but after being juggled between two horn-clad Vikings, Bernard retained possession of the ball and scored, bringing the lights to 21-6.  The post kick off Verb possession near its own goal line was hard fought with the Eagles clawing only 10-yards in their efforts against the formidable Bernard defense.  The subsequent Viking possession led to touchdown pass and unsuccessful field goal attempt, ably blocked by the Verb defense.

A sustained Verb possession brought the half to a close.  With 5:25 remaining in the half, an Eagles offensive drive began deep in Verb territory.  Short passes and handoffs to running back Charles moved the squad down the field to a first down.  That first down was the beginning of a quick series of successful first downs, including a pass completion to Crump for a 16-yard gain and another running play gain of 15-yards.  Only 43-seconds remained on the clock when a successful reception by Charles resulted in a Verb touchdown.  The unsuccessful conversion attempt that followed brought the Eagles halftime score to 12-27.

The third quarter began with a number of Eagle missteps.  A Viking pass interception, a 43-yard touchdown run, and a successful conversion added lights to the Viking scoreboard.  An Eagle fumble, recovered by the Vikings deep in Verb territory, resulted in another Bernard touchdown and successful field goal, bringing the numeric lights to 42-12.

The post kick off Verb possession was true to form for the night with a quick series of successful ground plays dependant upon stalwart running backs Charles and Hall.   The successive first downs were halted by a Viking interception at their 20-yard line.  Impressive tackles on Viking running plays by Verb senior corner back Eddie Molina and safety Caylin Moore slowed progress as the Vikings sailed downfield toward another touchdown.  A successful field goal gained scoreboard insurance for the Bernard squad at 49-12.

Verb began yet another quick sustained drive with first downs gained upon the running backs of Charles and Hall with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. A touchdown and successful conversion by Charles illuminated the scoreboard 20-49. The Vikings retained a lighted 56-20 cushion on the board, the result of a quick touchdown and field goal drive of their own.

The remainder of the game included a handoff to Verb’s Crump, who showed the power, strength, and determination that has been a hallmark of his play this season.   Plowing through the Viking defense, Crump scored the final Verb touchdown, followed by an unsuccessful Eagle conversion attempt.  The score was 26-56 when Eagle junior Marquis McNeil quashed a potential Bernard touchdown on the kick return by grabbing the foot of the ball carrier and bringing him down mid-field.

A Viking pass completion resulted in a touchdown and successful field goal brought the game to a close with a final score of 63-26.  The Eagles, 2-3-0 in league play and 5-4-0 overall, will take on Cantwell-Sacred Heart High School in their final Del Rey League game of the season at 7:00 P.M. on November 4 at C-SHHS in Montebello.

Verb faculty, staff, and friends and family support Homeboy Industries in the 2nd Annual Run/Walk for Homeboy 5K Saturday, October 29.  Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ, Homeboy Industries founder, is pictured at far right.  Photographer unknown

By John Stradley, Moderator, The Present Dei

Several Verbum Dei faculty and staff participated in Homeboy Industries 2^nd Annual Run for Homeboy 5K held October 29 at the California State Historic Park near Chinatown and Homeboy’s headquarters.  Father Gregory Boyle, SJ, founder of the organization that provides direction and meaningful work for at-risk youth and adults, walked alongside the athletes who ranged from first-timers to veteran runners.  The event, a fundraiser for the various gang intervention programs of Homeboy Industries, is reputed to reinvest 75% of registration fees into supporting the lauded organization.

Approximately 500 runners, walkers, and a fair number of dogs participated in the morning run around the circumference of the historic park.  Representing Verbum Dei were Principal Dan O’Connell, Cristina Cuellar-Villanueva of Corporate Work Study, Paul Hosch of Development, John Stradley of the English Department, Michael Putnam of Campus Ministry, Ronda Eddy and Yvonne Woods of Finance, and Martinique Belgarde of College Guidance.  Various friends and family members joined the Verb team in support of Homeboy Industries.  Top times for the Verb contingent on the 3.2 mile course were garnered by Putnam (4th in age category and 15th overall with 21:11.6 minutes) and O’Connell (17th in age category and 70th overall with 27:47.5 minutes).

Verb’s participation in the 5K was the culmination of more than a month of preparation by faculty and staff that included semi-weekly training runs/walks around Ted Watkins Memorial Park north of the campus.  Some participants utilized “From Couch Potato to 5K” training programs found on the internet to schedule their conditioning.

“Homeboy Industries free support services focus on case management, education (including Opportunities for Learning Charter High School), job training and placement, legal services, mental health counseling, twelve step meetings, pre-release and transition counseling, and tattoo removal,” according the event web page.

By John Stradley, Moderator, The Present Dei

The Verbum Dei Eagles overtook rival Mary Star of the Sea High School October 14 in a spirited, and, at times, contentious 43-27 victory at Daniels Field in San Pedro.  The Blue and Gold’s offense was heavily dependent on the running game, but quarterback senior Caylin Moore took the game heavenward with successful passes at critical moments.

Although leading at the beginning of the 2^nd quarter 13-7, Mary Star faltered defensively in the opening minutes, allowing a mid-line gap for runningback Dylan Hall to penetrate for a short-run touchdown.  Conversions were the Eagle order for the day, and senior Hall brought the additional points.  Mary Star responded with a long run. Though tackled near the goal line by senior cornerback Aaron Carrington, Mary Star brought the score to 20-15.  Effective passing and running plays added an additional Eagle touchdown and conversion.

Defensively impenetrable, the Eagles kept Mary Star scoreless and mid-field in the critical waning moments of the first half.  A Mary Star pass interception allowed the team possession with 17 seconds remaining.  Feeling resolute pressure from the Verb defensive squad, Mary Star threw a series of incomplete passes and ultimately attempted a 28-yard field goal, which flew wide, leaving the score 23-20 at the half.

The third quarter began with a remarkable show of power by Verb senior fullback Avery Crump who plowed through the Mary Star defense, dragging several players with him for an additional 10 yards on the return.  Verb’s running game began in earnest in the third quarter, as a hand-off to runningback Dylan Hall and three consecutive hand-offs to runningback Anthony Charles led to a touchdown and unsuccessful conversion.

Bringing the score to 27-29, Mary Star fought back with a series of successful running plays, aided by a 10-yard pass interference penalty against Verb.  A Verb offensive drive picked up momentum with five minutes left in the third quarter.  A quarterback-keeper with stand-in QB Dylan Hall began the drive.  Anthony Charles carried the ball down the field to Mary Star’s four-yard line.  Hall ran the ball for a touchdown, bringing the score to 35-27.  A failed Verb conversion ended unsuccessfully with a backfield tackle.

The Eagles scored once more in the forth quarter, while Mary Star, ending the game with no additional lights on the scoreboard, struggled offensively.  The Eagles, 4-3-0 overall and 1-2-0 in Del Rey League play, will take on LaSalle High School Saturday, October 22 at 5:30 P.M. in their Homecoming game at LA Southwest College Stadium.

By John Stradley, Moderator, The Present Dei

In what could be billed as a defensive showdown in the Del Rey League opener, the Verbum Dei Eagles fell to the Bishop Montgomery Knights 14-21 September 30 at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles’ Rancho Cienega Park.  Touchdowns were far and few between, and the defensive lines and rushing of both squads kept the scoreboard barren for nearly the entire first half.  Senior Full back Avery Crump plowed past the line of scrimmage to score one of the Eagles two touchdowns in the second half.

Bishop Montgomery, defending Del Rey League champions, effectively utilized on-side kicks numerous times to maintain possession, while the Eagles struggled to adapt to this strategy.  The Eagles’ offense was primarily based on a running game; Verb’s passing game, so devastating to their opponents in earlier pre-league games, was largely absent Friday.  Turnovers occurred with frequency.

When the Knights lost possession on downs after a failed 37-yard field goal attempt, the Eagle offense had a glimmer of hope for victory with a final down-field march in the last minutes of the game.  The Eagles made a valiant drive toward a mid-field first down with a series of punchy running plays gaining 4-5 yards each, but the clock was against the offensive squad.  The possession returned to Bishop Montgomery on downs with less than minute remaining in the fourth quarter.

The 3-2-0 overall Eagles will take on Bosco Tech October 8 in their second of six league games.