BASEBALL: Teaney, Quartz Hill say goodbye in quarterfinals
May 31, 2014
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor
QUARTZ HILL — As he walked off the mound in the sixth inning on Friday, Jonathan Teaney had no way of knowing that would be the last time he'd be on the field for the Quartz Hill baseball team.
On a day which already had conclusion written all over it, perhaps Teaney wasn't interested in the thought.
"It was fun while it lasted, I guess," Teaney said smiling afterward.
The Rebel senior had every reason to feel accomplished even as his team fell 5-2 in the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals to Bishop Amat. He, along with a handful of teammates, were immediately due at the football field for their graduation.
Everything comes to an end, including the Rebels' remarkable season and Teaney's superb high school career.
"Where we started at the beginning of the year to where we finished, I couldn't ask for more," Rebels coach Aaron Kavanagh said.
An inning prior to Teaney's final appearance in a Quartz Hill uniform, it looked as if the end would wait for another day.
A scoreless pitching duel between Teaney and Bishop Amat's Alex Garcia in the bottom of the fifth, senior Josh Van Dorp finally broke through for the Rebels, smacking a ball deep to center field for a two-out, two-run double.
It was the only extra base hit of the afternoon for Quartz Hill (21-10). Not that the Rebels thought they'd need any more.
"I thought that would be enough," Kavanagh said.
The Lancers (19-11) came back in the top of the sixth and got to the Rebels ace. After allowing only three hits and striking out 10 through the first five frames, Teaney gave up a leadoff single and a double before getting the first out.
After Teaney loaded the bases by issuing his third walk of the day, Bishop Amat No. 9 hitter Nicholas Valdez drove a ball deep to center field, one that dropped in the vicinity of Gaston Bastanchury and tied the game at 2-2.
Unbeknownst to everyone, that would be the last time Teaney, who was relieved by Jake Keily, would take the field for Quartz Hill. But he wasn't about to dwell on the pitching switch.
"I have confidence in all my teammates," Teaney said. "I know they can get the job done."
In an unfortunate turn for the Rebels, Keily's first pitch was ripped to deep center field again, this time by leadoff hitter Christian Moya, but this one would go beyond the wall for a three-run homer.
Just like that, a pitching duel had turned into a shootout, one the Rebels lost.
"That's hard to come back from," Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh credited Bishop Amat for tiring out Teaney. The Lancers got six hits off him and four more off Keily while the Rebels could only muster six hits for the entire game.
"They just fouled off so many pitches," Kavanagh said. "(Teaney's) pitch count went up."
Teaney's counterpart, Garcia, wasn't bad himself. He gave up five hits in five innings before giving way to a pair of relievers to finish the job for him.
With a man on and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Van Dorp was one of the last hopes for Quartz Hill as he took his turn at the plate. Waiting on deck was Teaney.
But Teaney didn't get another chance, as Van Dorp flied out to left. Then the two walked off the field for the last time.
For some, there was more baseball and high school awaiting beyond this year. For others, it was time to walk, right across to the football field.
No reason to frown. Sometimes a conclusion is a reason to celebrate.
"I have to try to enjoy it," said Teaney, who will pitch in college at the University of San Diego. "The next time I'll graduate is in college.
"I'll just try to make the best of it right now."
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor
QUARTZ HILL — As he walked off the mound in the sixth inning on Friday, Jonathan Teaney had no way of knowing that would be the last time he'd be on the field for the Quartz Hill baseball team.
On a day which already had conclusion written all over it, perhaps Teaney wasn't interested in the thought.
"It was fun while it lasted, I guess," Teaney said smiling afterward.
The Rebel senior had every reason to feel accomplished even as his team fell 5-2 in the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals to Bishop Amat. He, along with a handful of teammates, were immediately due at the football field for their graduation.
Everything comes to an end, including the Rebels' remarkable season and Teaney's superb high school career.
"Where we started at the beginning of the year to where we finished, I couldn't ask for more," Rebels coach Aaron Kavanagh said.
An inning prior to Teaney's final appearance in a Quartz Hill uniform, it looked as if the end would wait for another day.
A scoreless pitching duel between Teaney and Bishop Amat's Alex Garcia in the bottom of the fifth, senior Josh Van Dorp finally broke through for the Rebels, smacking a ball deep to center field for a two-out, two-run double.
It was the only extra base hit of the afternoon for Quartz Hill (21-10). Not that the Rebels thought they'd need any more.
"I thought that would be enough," Kavanagh said.
The Lancers (19-11) came back in the top of the sixth and got to the Rebels ace. After allowing only three hits and striking out 10 through the first five frames, Teaney gave up a leadoff single and a double before getting the first out.
After Teaney loaded the bases by issuing his third walk of the day, Bishop Amat No. 9 hitter Nicholas Valdez drove a ball deep to center field, one that dropped in the vicinity of Gaston Bastanchury and tied the game at 2-2.
Unbeknownst to everyone, that would be the last time Teaney, who was relieved by Jake Keily, would take the field for Quartz Hill. But he wasn't about to dwell on the pitching switch.
"I have confidence in all my teammates," Teaney said. "I know they can get the job done."
In an unfortunate turn for the Rebels, Keily's first pitch was ripped to deep center field again, this time by leadoff hitter Christian Moya, but this one would go beyond the wall for a three-run homer.
Just like that, a pitching duel had turned into a shootout, one the Rebels lost.
"That's hard to come back from," Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh credited Bishop Amat for tiring out Teaney. The Lancers got six hits off him and four more off Keily while the Rebels could only muster six hits for the entire game.
"They just fouled off so many pitches," Kavanagh said. "(Teaney's) pitch count went up."
Teaney's counterpart, Garcia, wasn't bad himself. He gave up five hits in five innings before giving way to a pair of relievers to finish the job for him.
With a man on and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Van Dorp was one of the last hopes for Quartz Hill as he took his turn at the plate. Waiting on deck was Teaney.
But Teaney didn't get another chance, as Van Dorp flied out to left. Then the two walked off the field for the last time.
For some, there was more baseball and high school awaiting beyond this year. For others, it was time to walk, right across to the football field.
No reason to frown. Sometimes a conclusion is a reason to celebrate.
"I have to try to enjoy it," said Teaney, who will pitch in college at the University of San Diego. "The next time I'll graduate is in college.
"I'll just try to make the best of it right now."