La Salle

La Salle was named Monday as the Big Five baseball team of the year. The Explorers' Pat Christensen was pitcher and student-athlete of the year, while Mike Lake received coaching honors for the third time in the last four years. Penn outfielder Ryan Deitrich (Hill School), who led the Big Five and Ivy League in hitting at .382, was named Big Five player of the year. Teammate Mike Vilardo, a second baseman, was rookie of the year. Joining them on the Big Five team was Quakers starting pitcher Dan Gautieri.

ZAIRE FRANKLIN was trying to think of something cool that happened on his recent treks to Syracuse University. However, even though he's a football player, he was striking out. "I lost four times in Madden," he finally said with a laugh, referring to the video game. "That was depressing. They were spanking me pretty good. " Among the spankers was Eric White, the recruiting coordinator for new coach Scott Shafer. Franklin and White go way back. Well, at least to March.

Garnet Valley coach Frank Urso had a sense, even before the opening faceoff against La Salle in Saturday's PIAA boys' lacrosse quarterfinals, that his players were running on fumes after an emotional week. "You could just tell," he said after his Jaguars were pounded by the Explorers, 13-4, at West Chester Henderson. "All of our coaches noticed it. We were like, 'Oh my gosh, we're in trouble here.' " The Garnet Valley community has been reeling since Tuesday. That's when one of its own, Kip Taviano, 17, was killed after losing control of his car and swerving into traffic in Concord Township.

The Inquirer TOP 10 BASEBALL Team   Rec. Last week's rankings in parentheses. 1. La Salle (1)   21-4 2. Coatesville (9)   20-6 3. Pennridge (10)   19-7 4. C.B. East (2)   16-4 5. Malvern Prep (4)   27-9 6. Haverford School (NR)   24-10 7. Neshaminy (5)   15-5 8. C.R. North (NR)   15-8 9. North Penn (NR)   13-10 10. Strath Haven (1)   20-1 Under consideration (listed alphabetically)

La Salle entered Thursday afternoon's baseball game against Frankford with a target on its back, having won its last eight games, and senior Tom Cockill ensured that streak would be extended. Cockill mowed through Frankford's lineup as he tossed a complete-game gem to blank the Pioneers, 8-0, in the PIAA District 12 Class AAAA championship game at Ashburn Field. The lefthander scattered six hits, allowed no walks, and struck out one to record the shutout. Senior Joe Picard went 2 for 3, including a double, and drove in two runs.

TOM COCKILL long has maintained a presence on the city high school sports scene. Please refrain, however, from asking him to list his coolest memories because everything tends to run together. Cockill is now a senior at La Salle High, but many of his early moments were enjoyed as a spectator at Chestnut Hill Academy, which now goes by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. His dad, Tom, is a gym teacher there. His uncle, Ed Aversa, is the equipment manager. Ah, so that's why young Tom always had a special seat - in a folding chair, beyond the baseline closest to CHA's bench - for basketball home games.

Another strong pitching effort from Dom Cuoci; solid defense; and two big innings, mixed in with some luck, led to La Salle's first Catholic League baseball championship since 2005. Saturday afternoon's 10-0, five-inning triumph over archrival St. Joseph's Prep at Widener also served as redemption. Last year, before making their run to the PIAA Class AAAA state crown, the Explorers bowed to Neumann-Goretti in eight innings in the league final. "As awesome as it was for us to win a state title last year, not winning the Catholic League left a bad taste in our mouths," senior first baseman Chris Melillo said.

Baseball CATHOLIC LEAGUE SEMIFINALS St. Joseph's Prep 10, Archbishop Ryan 3 Softball DISTRICT 1 CLASS A QUARTERFINAL Delco Christian 7, Morrisville 1 PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Franklin Towne Charter 10, Girls High 7 Boys' Volleyball PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Washington 3, Masterman 0 Catholic League Semifinals Archbishop Ryan 012 000 0 - 3 5 St. Joseph's Prep 080 101 x - 10 7 WP: Cunningham....

Johns Hopkins senior defenseman Tucker Durkin , from Huntingdon Valley and La Salle College High, was named a first-team all-American on Thursday. Durkin earned second-team honors as a sophomore and first-team honors last season. He led a Johns Hopkins lacrosse team that ranked third nationally in scoring defense (7.79). Drexel's Robert Church and Ben McIntosh were named honorable-mention all-Americans. Church led the Colonial Athletic Association with 3.8 points per game.

THE PRESIDENT of La Salle University said yesterday that he will step down in May 2014 after 15 years, to allow the school to transition into a new era of leadership. Michael McGinniss, 65, known as "Brother Mike," grew up in Olney and graduated from La Salle in 1970. He has a Ph.D. from Notre Dame and has headed La Salle since 1999. Under his three terms, the Logan-based Catholic institution nearly doubled its endowment, increased its enrollment and expanded its footprint in the northern part of the city.