December 22, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

HONORING MATER DEI: Seniors on baseball team a ‘class act on and off the field’ coach says

Mater Dei seniors gathered for a picture before the season. Back row, left to right Garrett Riley (Grambling State University), Grady Birmingham (University of Dallas), Trevor Hedges, Tommy O’Malley, Evan Manzo, Brandon Dompke and Brennan Carroll; front row Brett Nelson, Mike Garcia, Troy Smith and Andrew Chorbagian. (Photo courtesy Mater Dei baseball)

Mater Dei baseball coach Richard Mercado said he was proud of the effort of his team this season. The Monarchs had a 3-6 overall record when the season ended.

“Mater Dei baseball’s 2020 seniors were a class act on and off the field,” Mercado said in an Email Thursday to OC Sports Zone. “Through all the adversity and the good times they were phenomenal teammates to each other and represented the program with the utmost pride.

“Mater Dei basebalI is a better program because of each one of these young men. Our success in the future is because of the culture and foundation these guys built.”

If you took pictures before the season, we would like to share team pictures of spring teams with our readers. These can be pictures of seniors or the entire team and we will run these throughout the coming months to salute the dedicated athletes of Orange County who have had their seasons cut short. Please email pictures, names of the players and some highlights to timburt@ocsportszone.com so we can share with our readers. Horizontal pictures similar in size to the one above work best. Please do not take pictures now for us.