A lasting prep memory for 2020? Jesuit beats national No. 1 De La Salle in baseball
Jesuit High School baseball took the field on Thursday afternoon against nationally ranked No. 1 De La Salle with uncertainty, but no shortage of adrenaline.
Jesuit, for now, is one of the few schools in Northern California still able to participate in athletics with coronavirus concerns gripping the country. As a private school without a school district, the Marauders are able to at least practice as the high school season for all California sports could come to an end.
The 10 section commissioners in the state will meet with California Interscholastic Federation Executive Director Ron Nocetti on Tuesday to talk about the status of the spring season – to hold off, play on or cancel the schedule entirely.
The Marauders on their home field have at least left a mark on this season of uncertainty with an emphatic statement. The Bee’s No. 2-ranked team beat the Spartans of Concord 4-1 to halt that program’s 31-game winning streak in moving to 3-0. They did it behind two-run doubles by Daniel Susac and Devon Walcykowski. Tonko Susac pitched six innings and struck out nine. Luke Williams recorded the save.
“That is the best team we are going to face all year,” Tonko Susac said. “Adrenaline was high today. We were waiting for this game because they beat us 17-0 last year.”
Jesuit bounded into this season with championship hopes after falling to Vacaville in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I finals last season. Will there even be a shot at a rematch? Will there even be a postseason?
Even though Jesuit got to play, Susac has compassion for those who did not.
“I was talking to a lot of my friends today who might have their season cut short,” Susac said. “I feel for those guys. The people making the decisions know more than I do. I really hope this isn’t our last game because we have worked so hard to get to this point. We want to keep rolling.”
Jesuit outfielder Mitchell Parker also reflected on how his friends are feeling.
“I feel for all of the seniors like myself because this could be it,” he said. “Baseball is year-round and to think it could stop in the middle of the season is heartbreaking. I do understand (the coronavirus) is a big deal. It’s hard for us as kids to understand what is going on. All we can do is control what we can control. I know this group will stay close, no matter what.”
Longtime Jesuit coach Joe Potulny understands the big picture.
“Our mindset today was to go all in because we don’t know what’s going to happen next,” he said. “We did have thoughts on how this might be our last game of the year. I do feel for our team because you get to be a senior once, but if this the worst thing that happens in their lives, count our blessings. We all understand how serious this is.”
It’s unclear whether schools will be able to play in April or beyond as most districts across the state have suspended all school activities. Jesuit is in the Delta League that is heavy with Elk Grove Unified School District programs. The district has canceled sporting events for the time being. Jesuit’s next baseball game is scheduled to be against Cosumnes Oaks on Monday. But that game will not happen, nor any in the Delta League, with the EGUSD and sports programs on hold.
“Whatever is going to happen is going to happen,” Potulny said. “It will be interesting to see where they take it from here. We will just have to wait and see.”
Jesuit in a statement on Friday alerted faculty, students and families that school will remain open, though students will not report to class. Students will continue through online courses. The statement also read that all after-school student activities will continue as planned, including sports, following “the governor’s mandate of maximum capacity of 250 and social distancing.”
As of March 16, Jesuit High School suspended all athletic events indefinitely.
This story was originally published March 14, 2020 at 3:10 PM.