Baseball: Popham, Covey lead the way for Maranatha
CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION V CHAMPIONSHIP AT A GLANCE
MARANATHA (22-5) vs. WOODCREST CHRISTIAN (23-5)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Blair Field, Long Beach (4700 Deukmejian Dr.)
Tickets: 9 adults, $5 students and children 5-13.
How they got there: Maranatha defeated Citrus Hill, 5-3; def. Mary Star of the Sea, 9-1; def. Campbell Hall, 4-0; def. Tahquitz, 10-4. Woodcrest Christian defeated Montclair Prep, 5-0; def. Aquinas, 7-3; def. Beaumont, 8-1; def. San Jacinto, 7-3.
Outlook: The pain of losing is something Maranatha doesn't want to endure again, and now that they're back in the finals I just don't see them faltering. Not with Dylan Covey's steady progress over the course of the season and a mean 94 MPH fastball in his arsenal. He'll need every bit of it to overpower Woodcrest Christian's Matt Chabot who is coming into tonight's game with a sick .421. Covey's on a week's rest and feeling good. Should the Minutemen need Cory Popham he'll be ready to go, too. He's on three day's rest. Maranatha's yet to use its entire pitching lineup, an added depth the Minutemen lacked last season before losing in eight innings to San Jacinto. Never mind which team makes less errors. Maranatha made three errors to Tahquitz's one in the semifinals so that theory went out the window this week. It's going to come down to which team can execute small ball and whose hunger for a title is stronger. In my books, it's Maranatha.
The pick: Maranatha, 6-3
OTHER VIEWS
Woodcrest Christian baseball team has winning combination (Riverside Press-Enterprise)
Miguel Melendez: Belittling Maranatha's success is just sad (Star-News)
Minutemen hope their best comes in D5 championship (Star-News)
Tonight's Division V lineups (Riverside Press-Enterprise)
RELATED LINKS
La Salle, Maranatha vie for CIF titles (Star-News)
Maranatha headed back to finals after 10-4 victory (Star-News)
Woodcrest Christian knocks off top-seeded San Jacinto (Riverside Press-Enterprise)
Balanced Woodcrest Christian in semis (Riverside Press-Enterprise)
Maranatha takes on Tahquitz (Star-News)
By Miguel A. Melendez
Staff Writer
PASADENA -- There's no need to meticulously dissect the Maranatha High School baseball team to find the epitome of great leadership.
Senior Cory Popham embodies such a quality, his shame in batting ninth on the junior varsity team his freshman year fueling his burning desire to give another dimension to his team's dynamic.
Same goes for junior Dylan Covey, who continually takes the mound - cool as can be - amid a mountain of pressure among whispers he'll be a top prospect in Major League Baseball's amateur draft after next season.
It's that kind of work ethic from Popham and mental strength from Covey that's catapulted the Minutemen from the abyss of the Delphic League and into a true power in the West San Gabriel Valley.
If Popham helped lay the blueprint, expect Covey to follow it and build upon it, but together they'll try to carve a piece of history with a win tonight.
Never forgetting the bitter taste from last year's loss in the finals, Maranatha will try to make amends when it takes on Woodcrest Christian at 7:30 tonight in the CIF-Southern Section Division V championship game at Blair Field in Long Beach.
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All season long Maranatha's motivating factor was watching last year's title slip away at the hands of San Jacinto.
"It was really disappointing because we had it," Covey recalled.
"It was in our hands and we watched it fall through."
The roller coaster of emotions was too much for Popham to handle, but the the experience proved beneficial this season.
"It was tough, because there were a couple plays where you thought you had it won," Popham said.
"Watching another team dog pile was really tough, but it helped this season and served as a reminder to work harder and not let it happen again."
For Popham and his senior teammates, Jordan Calloway and Josh Forrester, there will be no other chances. It's now or never, and Covey is aware of the game's magnitude.
"We bare in mind that this could be it for them," he said.
"We want to win this for them because as much as we want it; we'll have a chance to do it again next year. Them, not so much."
That's not all Covey is conscious of. He notices the momentum of his career building with every pitch. His 94 mph fastball commands attention, and along with it comes the hype.
Covey verbally committed to the University of San Diego, and though it's likely he'll be drafted in the amateur draft next season, it's something he doesn't contemplate just yet. That's not to say there's no pressure.
"I get frustrated with myself when I don't perform well," Covey said.
"Lately, I push it aside and let my defense take over. That's helped me a lot instead of relying so much on myself."
There's no argument Covey is the team's ace. He's 10-2 this season with 114 strikeouts and a 1.37 ERA.
But the perception that Popham (11-1, 111 strikeouts, 1.26 ERA) has been in Covey's shadow is nothing but, well, a perception, depending on whom you ask.
"If you have a kid who is a junior throwing 94 mph, there's going to be hype," Popham said.
"I didn't do much until last year, so for him to have all that hype is kind of expected."
"I don't know why I'm getting all the hype," Covey said. "We're both two very top pitchers, but he has better numbers than me. He has fewer walks, a lower ERA and he's a senior and the leader of this team. I don't see a shadow."
Watching Covey start in four of last year's five playoff games set off an alarm in Popham's head that for him to lead, he must act.
"After last year, watching Dylan start in four of the five (playoff) games, I thought we needed someone to step up and fill that role," Popham said.
"I remember people thinking I wasn't going to do much, but I was motivated in helping my team.
"I tried to get bigger, worked out with our manager, Kiko Garcia. I remember when Jay Cordero was transferring from La Salle we would work a lot and find bullpens all over the San Gabriel Valley to throw, and getting familiar with him was good and honed my mechanics."
Popham, who also developed a mean change-up, stepped into the role of leader. The team was receptive and followed him.
"I was going to keep them accountable, and in return they said they were going to hold me accountable in my role," Popham said.
"I saw the guys respected me and wanted me to lead, so I took that role.
"I respect these guys because they could have not followed me and taken another direction, and for Dylan to humble himself for us was pretty cool. He says he'll lead next season when he's a senior, but already he's proven to be a leader."
Popham will move on to Occidental College next season. NAIA and Division II schools came calling, but ultimately he wanted to be close to home where his parents could see him play, as well as having the chance to watch Covey & Co. carry on the tradition he helped build.
When reflecting on Covey's talent, Popham can't imagine the pressure he goes through.
When describing Popham's style, Covey knows him all too well, and the style is reflected in Popham's mind-set in the final game of his high school career.
"In 10 days or so people won't care or remember the pressure we put ourselves through," Popham said.
"So I want to have fun with the guys who don't put that kind of pressure on themselves; it won't be hard to follow their example."
miguel.melendez@sgvn.com
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
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Mr. Beckwith, back at ya with the well wishes.
I hope it doesn't rain today, but a Maranatha win would help ease the pain.
I'll always remember that trip to Bishop last season seeing a wave of Maranatha supporters.
Sure parents will always travel to watch their kids, but that was one hike and the crowd was surprisingly close to evenly split considering the long distance.
Here's to a bunch of classy kids. Good luck!!!
Scott,
Thanks for your well wishes and comments. We enjoyed getting to know you last year and appreciated your coverage. We continue to wish you the best with your New Mexico gig. Thanks also for coming on here and staying in touch.
Miguel,
Great job in the paper today. Love the articles!
Let's go get it done boys rain or shine!!
Best of luck to Maranatha in its quest to bring home a title.
You had a great showing last year, but now you have another chance to bring it home.
To Brain DeHaan, one of the good people in the business, way to do your school proud again. And no, I didn't forget Kiko Garcia.
Tom S, great to see you all over this board as usual. Feels like old times.
I did see your post about Brian. Just so you know, Brian was co-coach of the year last year because he wanted Kiko there as well.
Same team, one (group) coach. And they do a great job.