Coach Mike Mahon’s Senior-laden Boys Volleyball team jumped into action this week with two weekday matches and a challenging weekend tournament. The season opener took the Saints down to McClintock on Tuesday to meet a Charger team who shut them out at NDP last year. Behind the big hitting of Joey Versen and the setting of Mike Clarin the Saints returned the favor and beat McClintock in straight games 3-0. On Wednesday the Saints traveled to Higley where they took the first game convincingly. The Knights took the next two and the teams were locked in a tight battle in the fourth when setter Clarin rolled his ankle stepping on a teammate’s foot. Mike was out for the rest of the match and the Saints fell 3-1.
The weekend brought on the Chandler Wolf Howl Invitational Tournament where the Saints have historically taken their lumps while going against some of the best teams in the Valley. The results this year were different as Notre Dame, the smallest school participating in the event, took out Class 5A schools Red Mountain and Marcos de Niza and pushed perennial powerhouse Centennial to the limit on their way to a 4-4 record for the tournament. Seniors hitters Versen, Wil Barton, and Joe Decker led the way backed with strong performances by backline stalwarts Ryan Harvey and Tanner Leyva and setters Will Groves and Ian Waugaman filling in admirably for the injured Clarin. Angelo Fratantoni, Zach Skinner and JV call-ups Kyle Kaschl and Kirk Iserman also contributed to the Saints’ successful tournament.
Angelo Fratantoni and Joe Versen on the block Barton with the kill while Decker & Morrow watch
The Saints travel down to the Marana Mountain View Tournament this weekend for two days of matches against the best teams in the state. The Saints will be back at full strength with Mike Clarin returning and Sean “Crash” Morrow continuing to round into shape coming back from his football-season ending knee surgery.
The JV Boys started the 2010 season this past week fielding 8 freshmen on their 12 man squad. The inexperience showed. The season got under way on Tuesday with a match at McClintock. The boys lost in two games. They held a 20-16 lead in game two but just could not close it out as McClintock went to their starters and came back to win 25 - 23.
Wednesday JV was back on the road playing at Higley. Again losing in two games. Will Groves was a standout at setter. Kyle Kaschl and Kirk Iserman and Nick Duckworth paced the hitters and blockers. Although talented this group has a lot of work to do with all the fresh faces. They return to the court after Spring Break to take on Brophy at Brophy on 03/18.
Track and Field
2010 NDP Track & Field Team Starts the Season Off With A Bang!!!
The 2010 NDP Track & Field team got off to a great start on Wednesday, as they went up against Maricopa and Seton Catholic at Maricopa. The boys finished with a first place score of 76, beating out runner up Maricopa by 20 points! A great 4 x 800 run by seniors Alex Maguire and Jack Griffen, and juniors Ian Schaeffer and Garrett Budnik, helped the team off to an early lead. Dashes, hurdles, pole vaults and high jumps added to the high score, finishing out the win with a great performance in both the discus and the shot put.
The girls also finished with a first place score of 61! All of the Lady Saints had performances that made for a splendid start to the season.
Several team members also competed in the Gatorade Invitation held on Saturday at Copper Canyon High School. Results will be forthcoming in next week’s edition of the newsletter. Way to go!
Girls Tennis
The girls' tennis team has started off another season with strong victories. Both JV and Varsity defeated Seton, Tempe, and Williams Field High Schools 9-0 making them 3-0 in regular season. The Varsity also played very well in the Kiwanis Invitational Tournament last weekend. Working hard at practices and morning conditioning twice a week, the girls are already improving and looking forward to another outstanding season.
Boys Tennis
The Boys Tennis Team started out the season this week in full swing. Our first match was Tuesday against Seton Catholic. They turned out to be a formidable team. Although our players battled hard, including Ryan Hogan who hung in with a 3 hour singles match, we had a disappointing loss. Shane Lubold and Douglas Wong played hard and won their doubles match. Wednesday, the Notre Dame Boys played the Tempe team, winning each match, doubles and singles. On Thursday, the boys were up against Williams Field. They were a strong team, and the boys played hard, winning the match. Without Wesley Green, Ben Bass, our #1 JV player stepped up to play Varsity and he came through and won his match as well as Bo Oelkers, Douglas Wong, and Shane Lubold. That gave us 4 points right away needing only 1 doubles win to clinch the match. Bo and Ryan did that followed by Shane and Douglas. That gave us the 6-3 win. Shane fought back from a 4-0 deficit to win his match. It was tenuous for a bit and exciting as well. Overall, great start to the season, and we are training hard for our Doubles Tournament during Spring Break.
Lubold serves in win versus Tempe Bass serves against Williams Field
Ryan Hogan handles the net while Bo Oelkers prepares to serve
Baseball
VARSITY BASEBALL WORKS THROUGH UP AND DOWN WEEK
On Friday NDP suffered their toughest loss of the year to Mountain Ridge losing 13-1. Jonathan Cohn started for the Saints and by the end of the 2nd inning NDP found themselves down by 2 runs. The Saints showed some spark in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Joey Luvisi and Joe Greco both led off with singles. Greco was caught in what looked like an intentional run down between 1st and 2nd allowing Luvisi to easily score from 3rd base narrowing the score to 2-1. Mountain Ridge then added 5 more runs over the next 3 innings making the score 7-1. Cohn was relieved by Schaefer Whiteaker in the 6th inning. Mountain Ridge continued to silence NDP’s bats allowing a total of 6 hits for the game. Austin Edwards entered the game to pitch the 7th inning, but uncharacteristically had difficulty finding the strike zone and gave up a grand slam home run. Edwards was pulled after 2/3 of an inning and adding 5 more runs to the Mountain Ridge score. Pitcher Robert Mahon finished the game allowing one more run to Mountain Ridge’s win. Final score 13-1.
On Saturday it was NDP’s turn to rough up the opposing team, Cienega, in the final game of the Cleats Tournament. NDP pitchers, Chris Watson and Aaron Slegers, combined for a total of 6 strike outs and 7 innings of hitless ball. The Saints bats also came alive scattering at least 12 hits, including a triple deep in the gap by Taylor Scott in the 3rd and doubles by Casey Scott (3 for 5) and Steven Berry (2 for 4). Chris Watson looked very sharp with 4 strike outs keeping Cienega’s batters off balance all day. Aaron Slegers came into the game in the 6th inning and faced 6 batters striking out 2 to continue the no hitter. Let’s hope NDP will keep up the pace when they face Saguaro High School Tuesday with a 12:00 pm start time.
Varsity in action during win over Tempe on March 1
JV B ROLLS IN OPENER
The JV B baseball squad’s opening day was Monday against region foe, the Tempe Buffaloes. The Saints offense was consistent throughout the lineup. Joe Coleman led the way with 3 hits and one of five Saints extra-base hits; Dan Ziemann, Dugan Dwyer, Mo White, and Caleb Badder ripped the others. The Saints pitching staff (Kelvan Pilot, Badder and Patrick Denny) also dominated, giving up just 3 hits, while striking out 12 Buffs. The Saints only needed 6 innings to rout Tempe 11-1.
This week the JV B play at home on Wednesday and Friday.
Girls Lacrosse
Tuesday found the girl’s lacrosse team traveling to Desert Vista. The girls fought a tough game, down several girls. Alexa Cancilla, Jessica Duckworth, Bailey Katz and Kennedy Lafferty were able to put scores on the board for Notre Dame. Katie Dougherty and Emily O’Neil worked hard to keep Desert Vista out of our goal, but unfortunately the final score was Notre Dame 8, Desert Vista 12.
Fired up and ready to play, the girls traveled to Phoenix Christian Day School on Thursday. The Saints came out strong, with Jessica Duckworth, Vanessa Fernandez, Bailey Katz, Kennedy Lafferty all scoring giving the Saints a 10-4 lead at halftime! The energy was contagious as the Notre Dame fans shook their cowbells for all to hear! The second half was filled with tough defense from Michelle Towers, Emily O’Neil, and Allie Whitney. The team fought hard, suffering some large bumps and bruises, but once again Vanessa, Jessica, Lafferty, and Ally Yost found the goal. The lacrosse team added another win and is moving on with a 3 win 3 loss record! Go Saints!
Softball
Varsity Softball.
March 2, 2010 Sunrise Mountain 12 Notre Dame 0
The Saints vs. last year’s 5A2 state Champion Sunrise Mountain. The Saints were matched against one of the state's leading pitchers and batting lineups, falling 12 -0.
March 4, 2010 Seton Catholic 4 Notre Dame 0
The Saints vs. last year’s 4A1 state champion. Tess McPherson allowed one earned run in a gutty pitching performance but it wasn’t enough. Defensive standouts were Dara Francis, Kourtney Jones, Nicole Bailey and Laine Shuba.
JV Softball
After a slow start last Wednesday, the Saints JV Softball Team was victorious over the girls from Seton Catholic High School 15 -9. Brittany Franco led the team with four runs, while Dani Akin and Alex Freericks, and Abby Spragins had three runs each. Erica Jorgenson and freshman Jenny Green rounded out the score with one run each. Pitcher Dani Akin had a great game with a total of nine defensive strike outs and Darian Cook-Rondeau was instrumental to the defensive team with her efforts in the outfield.
Freshman Softball
Freshman – NDP @ Sunrise Mountain 3/2/10
The girls had a great team effort in their first game of the season. They came from behind on two occasions to close the gap to two runs before finally falling 19-9. Allison Collins pitched a strong game striking out four. She also fielded her position well assisting in two double plays and completing one unassisted double play. Allison Collins and Alessia Cariati each reached base 3 times in 4 at bats. Alessia scored all 3 times she was on. Jordan Smith reached base twice in 3 at bats. Jordan and Allison each scored twice.
Freshman – NDP @ Horizon 3/4/10
The girls faced a very tough 5A team in the Horizon Huskies, falling 14-1. The Saints played up to the competition in the field playing solid defense. Hitting in this game was difficult to come by. Darian Cook-Rondeau was 2 for 2. Rebecca Weber, running for Darian, scored the game’s only run for the Saints.
Allison Collins pitched another solid game, again striking out 4. Alessia Cariatti, Kayla Berns, and Jordan Smith played well as a team in the outfield. Alessia made a beautiful hustle play on a hard hit ball down the left field line holding the Huskie’s hitter to a single on what looked like a sure double.
The next game for the Saints freshmen is Friday, March 19th against Bourgade Catholic. This will be the first home game for the freshmen and the girls are looking forward to playing on friendly turf in front of the hometown fans. Come on out and give them your support!
