De La Salle suspends baseball team for five games over violations: ‘Consequences are necessary'

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

De La Salle dogpiles after its 5-4 win over Serra. (Tod Fierner)


Northern California's top high school baseball program has been suspended for the first five games of the season for breaking school policies, team rules and code of conduct.

De La Salle High School athletic director Leo Lopoz announced the decision in a news release, noting that those five games could all result in a forfeit - a home contest Wednesday with St. Ignatius, two games in San Diego at St. Augustine and Cathedral Catholic, and games at St. Mary's-Stockton and Jesuit-Carmichael.

In addition to missing games, the team will participate in "reflective and restorative activities designed to reinforce the school's expectations and strengthen leadership within the program," according to Lopoz.

"De La Salle High School holds its students and student-athletes to the highest standards of conduct," the school said in a statement. "Participation in athletics is a privilege that carries significant responsibilities to teammates, coaches, opponents and the border school community. When those standards are not met, appropriate and meaningful consequences are necessary."

De La Salle is coming off a 29-4 season and a third Northern California Division 1 championship in four years and returns many of its top players including pitcher Graham Schlicht (11-0 last season, 0.67 ERA) and shortstop Tyler Spangler (.430 batting average, 10 home runs), the Chronicle's 2025 Player of the Year. Both players are Stanford signees.

Since coach David Jeans took over the program in 2012, the Spartans have won 334 games against 74 defeats with nine North Coast Section titles.

Reached by text, Jeans said he couldn't elaborate on what the violations were, when they occurred or how widespread the misconduct was among the team. He did write: "We are teachers and educators first. We will do what's right - what's most important to our kids and parents. … Kids make mistakes."

Jeans confirmed that the team is "practicing and getting ready for our season."

If the schedule on its school site stands, the Spartans' first game back would be March 14th at Sacramento City College against Elk Grove.

The San Jose Mercury News first reported De La Salle's suspension Tuesday afternoon.

This article originally published at De La Salle suspends baseball team for five games over violations: ‘Consequences are necessary'.

Continue reading...