By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

Former La Salle pitcher Jeff Daley holds himself to academic standards that are almost unattainable for most student-athletes.

The 2018 La Salle graduate has always wanted, since he was a boy, to attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

In 2018, as a senior, Daley took AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus and Honors English.

He kept his grades consistently above the 4.0 mark and yet he was put on a waiting list at Vandy.

Frustrated but not defeated, Daley flew out to Dallas and attended Texas Christian University.

He continued to excel in the classroom.

Fast forward some 365 days or so, however, and Daley got word that his pedigree and resume was just too good for Vanderbilt to ignore.

It might have been a year later than anyone hoped or thought it should be, but Daley is elated to persevere and reach his lifelong goal of being a Commodore.

And no, I’m not talking about Daley singing backup for Lionel Richie.

Daley has always put grades and his studies above anything, and that almost meant not playing his senior year.

Thankfully, he did, and the Lancers benefited from it.

The stars that year were Ethan Patrick, Zane Lindeman, Brennen Mace and Landon Smith, all of whom continued their careers at the collegiate level.

But without Daley’s clutch moments on the mound, which mostly came in relief, La Salle would not have made that historic run to the CIF-SS Division 3 title game back in 2018.

The highlight of his career, aside from playing with his younger brother, and current Lancers’ center fielder, Mark Daley, was the D-3 semifinals against Long Beach Wilson.

Daley entered the game in the fourth inning, trailing 2-0 with two outs, and Wilson having a pair of runners on base.

Daley got that final out of the inning and went three more scoreless and hitless innings, while striking out two batters.

Still trailing by a pair of runs, and with runners at first and second base and two outs in the bottom of the fifth, something happened that is likely to never be seen again.

Ethan Patrick lined a single sharply to right for what looked to load the bases and no one was likely to score because it was hit so hard.

But when the Wilson right fielder misplayed the ball and it rolled all the way to the right-field fence at Arcadia County Park, it allowed Johnathan Wong and pinch-runner Blake Hardy to tie the game.

The La Salle players and crowd went crazy, so much so that it took a few seconds to realize that Patrick was about to round third base.

EP, who had never broken stride, was waved home by first-year (at the time) Lancers’ coach Eddie McKiernan.

Patrick beat the throw home by a fraction of a second to give La Salle the 3-2 lead.

That would be all Daley would need and it secured the Lancers’ program their first trip to the baseball title game in 15 years.

While his playing days are long over and as many of his buddies continue to play to this day, Daley is preparing himself for the best life possible by earning a prestigious degree at Vanderbilt.

As well and as effective as he pitched in both 2017 and 2018, Daley is the third best athlete in his own home, behind younger brothers, Tyler and Mark, so school has always been his answer to a rewarding life.

And when your parents (Gayle & Todd) are both successful lawyers, Daley knew early on that he had to reach for the stars in academia.

Thanks to his life’s passion and prioritizing what matters most in a productive life, Daley can actually see those stars off in the distance.

In three years or so, he’ll be able to touch them and that’s exactly what he’s intended to achieve from day one.

Below is the link to the dramatic three-run base hit in the semifinal round vs Long Beach Wilson.

I apologize for not having the greatest view through the fence, but you can still pick up the dramatic play at home plate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lanUHXjsNs&feature=youtu.be
Quotable:

Former La Salle pitcher & 2018 grad, Jeff Daley: “To me, Vandy has always been my version of Harvard, because it’s the only top-15 school that I find has a sense of community and supportive collaboration. Nashville kicks ass and it’s known as the Harvard of the south, and it’s been my dream since I’ve started my college search. I’m very excited to have this chance to excel at a school I admire so much and it makes me happy in general that my hard work has paid off.”