By Ian Christopher Beck ’12
THE ROUNDUP
Spring has arrived and with it comes Spring Training baseball.
The football gridiron is long gone and so too are the hardwood basketball courts fading from our minds. Moving into the fore are the clean-cut and carefully swept diamonds where baseball players thrive.
By Ian Christopher Beck ’12 & Erik T. Masingill ’12
THE ROUNDUP
Eleven returning lettermen lead the Brophy baseball team into the upcoming season.
David Graybill ’12, outfielder Chris Beall ’12, catcher John Rapisarda ’12, shortstop Connor Moore ’12 and second baseman Emilio Torrez ’12 have all been starting for the varsity team since their sophomore seasons.
By Tyler J. Scott ’12
THE ROUNDUP
When Connor Moore ’12 was three-years-old he would go to his brother’s t-ball games with his dad.
“I would play catch with my dad on the sidelines,” Moore said. “I loved anything to do with throwing a ball, and baseball was the best fit for me.”
By Justin Janssen ’11
THE ROUNDUP
What started as a promising postseason for No. 9 Brophy (21-10) ended abruptly with two mercy losses to No. 4 Hamilton (25-6) and No. 1 Mesquite (29-4).
On May 12, the Broncos knew they had a tall task going against Mesquite ace Zach Davies (11-0, 1.82 ERA).
For more than three decades Mr. Tom Succow has been Brophy’s varsity baseball head coach, a position he regards with honor.
“In my 34 years as a head coach here … I’ve never thought that this has been a right of mine to wear a Brophy uniform; it’s a privilege for me and still to this very day it’s still a privilege to me to represent the school and wear the uniform,” Mr. Succow said.
Brophy first baseman Dan Winkler ’11 belongs to a pool of very talented baseball players in Arizona.
“He’s turned in some big runs, he’s been a reason why we are off to a 13-5 start this season,” said head coach Mr. Tom Succow.
Winkler has three homeruns with 16 runs scored and 11 runs batted in as of April 13.
By Justin Janssen ’11
THE ROUNDUP
Entering the seventh inning May 3 knotted up at two runs apiece, the No. 9 Brophy Broncos (21-8) needed a clutch hit or two against No. 1 Mesquite (27-4).
Catcher Jon Rapisarda ’12 delivered the go-ahead RBI single with two outs in the seventh inning scoring Chris Beall ’12, and the Brophy faithful could almost breathe after a nail-biting second round playoff game.
By Justin Janssen ’11
THE ROUNDUP
If the Broncos are going to make a run in the playoffs, they can point to the 18-2 shellacking of Alhambra April 30 as the game that jump-started them.
No. 9 Brophy (20-8) pounded out 10 extra-base hits, including four home runs, to rout the No. 8 Lions in a mercy-shortened game first round of the 5A-I postseason.
By Erik T. Masingill ’12
THE ROUNDUP
Shut-out pitching and 10 runs scored across six innings gave the Brophy baseball team (17-6 overall) their third mercy-rule win of the season 10-0 over the Chandler Wolves (3-11 season) April 15.
Bronco starting pitcher, Dave Graybill ’12 pitched five innings allowing no runs, two hits and no walks while striking out four Wolves on 73 pitches.
Dan Winkler ’11 saw action in only four games a season ago playing catcher.
Winkler knew he wouldn’t get more playing time this year behind the plate, and with the graduation of a couple senior infielders, switched positions to first base.
The position change paid off for Brophy (15-6) and Winkler in a 10-5 Brophy victory over Mesa (11-13) April 8 at Opus Field.