Baseball, softball and boys’ volleyball players from La Cañada High School, Flintridge Prep and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy were recognized by the CIF Southern Section as it released the All-League lists last Friday.
Two members of the LCHS varsity baseball team were among those listed by CIF. Senior ace Ryan Graves, who will be playing at San Jose State in the fall, and standout Connor Buchanan, who committed to USC, made the All-CIF-SS Division 3 first-team.
Graves, the Rio Hondo League’s most valuable player, finished the season with an 8-3 record and an earned run average of 1.89. He struck out 64 hitters in 70 1/3 innings of work and was just as good in the batter’s box, hitting .424 and driving in 16 runs.
Buchanan was a leader on the mound and on offense. He posted an ERA of 0.76 and fanned 60 batters in 46 1/3 innings. He won three games and recorded five saves for the Spartans. Buchanan also hit .299, scored a team-high 33 runs, 24 RBI and belted eight home runs.
Both were essential to La Cañada’s historic season. The Spartans played in a CIF-SS championship game for the first time in the school’s 56-year history.
“I thank them for sure because they did such a phenomenal job and helped put this program on the map,” LCHS head coach Matt Whisenant said of his seniors after falling to Temecula Great Oak in the title game. “I also let them know that they have such an incredible future. … I can’t say enough about those kids. They’ve been phenomenal.”
Three Rebels earned All-CIF first-team honors in their respective sports.
A.J. Nicassio and Nathan Powell were named to the
All-CIF Division 4 first team in boys’ volleyball. Nicassio led Flintridge Prep with 496 kills, 69 aces and 306 digs. Powell was second on the squad in kills with 328. The duo helped the Rebels claim the Prep League championship and reach the CIF-SS Division 4 semifinals.
Prep baseball standout Ben Grable made the All-CIF Division 5 first team after leading his squad’s offense with an average of .475, 35 RBI, seven doubles and six home runs. He also posted an ERA of 2.30 on the mound, striking out 45 in 24 1/3 innings of work.
FSHA captured the Sunshine League softball championship for the first time in 31 years and senior Amanda Ramirez earned a spot on the All-CIF Division 5 first team. She concluded the season with a .606 average, 32 RBI, 36 runs, 15 doubles and five triples. In the pitcher’s circle, Ramirez posted an ERA of 2.83 and a record of 14-5 in 94 innings of work.
