When you earn a championship, accolades start to roll your way and Rio Hondo Prep certainly deserves theirs.
After defeating St. Genevieve, Sultana, Carpinteria, St. Anthony and Costa Mesa in that order, and by a combined margin of 42-14, Rio Hondo Prep earned their school its first CIF-SS baseball championship.
Rio Hondo Prep catcher Jake Lang earned Player of the Year honors and his teammates Evan Foor and Jack Van Cleve were both first-team selections.
Rio Hondo Prep coach JT Parker earned Coach of the Year honors after an 18-7 season, which ended as CIF D-6 champs on May 18, when the Kares rallied from an early four-run deficit to defeat Costa Mesa, 9-7, at UC Riverside.
Here are the stats in the postseason, game by game for Lang, Foor and Van Cleve:
Title game: Rio Hondo Prep 9, Costa Mesa 7:
Lang: 1 for 1, three runs scored, double.
Foor: 2 for 4, run, three RBIs, double; 5 innings pitched, 9 hits, six earned runs, two strikeouts to earn win.
Van Cleve: 2 for 3, 2 RBIs, double; One inning pitched, no runs, two strikeouts to earn save.
Semifinal round: Rio Hondo Prep 8, St. Anthony 5:
Lang: 2 for 4, 2 runs scored, double
Foor: 2 for 2, walk, 2 runs, four RBIs, HR; 2 innings pitched to earn the save. One unearned run, two strikeouts.
Van Cleve: 2 for 4, RBI double; 5 innings, three earned runs, seven hits, three walks, three strikeouts. He earned the victory.
Quarterfinal: Rio Hondo Prep 5, Carpinteria 0:
Lang: 1 for 3, run scored, RBI.
Foor: 1 for 4, double, run, RBI; Seven innings pitched, no runs, three hits, two strikeouts.
Van Cleve: 0 for 3.
Second Round: Rio Hondo Prep 6, Sultana 0:
Lang: 2 for 4, double, run scored.
Foor: 1 for 3, walk, double, three RBIs.
Van Cleve: 1 for 3, run, RBI; complete-game victory, three hits, no runs, three strikeouts.
First Round: Rio Hondo Prep 14, St. Genevieve 3:
Lang: 5 for 6, three runs scored, triple, two RBIs.
Foor: 5 for 5, 2 runs scored, four RBIs; 6 innings pitched, two runs, six hits, seven strikeouts.
Van Cleve: 2 for 3, 2 runs, 2 walks, double, 2 RBI; One inning pitched, unearned run, one hit, one strikeout.
All-CIF-Southern Section, Division 6:
Player of the Year: Jake Lang, Rio Hondo Prep
Coach of the Year: JT Parker, Rio Hondo Prep
All-CIF First Team:
Lee Atkinson, Adelanto
Robert Valdivia, Adelanto
Brandon Baker, Calvary Murrieta
Ben Sweeton, Calvary Murrieta
Cameron Chapman, Costa Mesa
Miguel Rodriguez, Costa Mesa
Troy Collins, Desert Christian Academy
Jordan Goodloe, Eisenhower
Harrison Nancarrow, Excelsior Charter
Christian Fernandez, Excelsior
Elias Delgadillo, Los Amigos
Jonathon Long, Orange
Evan Foor, Rio Hondo Prep
Jack Van Cleve, Rio Hondo Prep
Andrew Donini,St Anthony
Robbie Treto, St Genevieve
Eric Evans, The Webb Schools
Eddie Moreira, The Webb Schools
Andrew Pfeiffer, Trinity Classical Academy
Tanner Golden, Western Christian