Wrapping up the season with a bittersweet ending, Poly’s baseball team lost to the Monrovia Wildcats in the first round of the CIF Division V playoffs. In front of a supportive home crowd, the Panthers faced challenges as the Wildcats overpowered them inning after inning.
Pitching duties for the Panthers were split between junior Connor Poon and senior Elliot Rowley. Poon and Rowley, who have been Poly’s one-two punch all season, are both known for their strategic approach on the mound and tried their best to stop the Wildcats’ offense, totaling five strikeouts combined. Senior team-leaders Sean Asperger and Henry McDonald racked up three and five putouts, respectively.
Moreover, sophomore Alejandro Kohn Rabassa and freshman Caiden Kennedy also made significant contributions, with two putouts each, a testament to the depth and teamwork of Poly’s defensive lineup. However, with only two hits coming from Kennedy and Asperger, the Panthers struggled on offense. Serving as a highlight in an otherwise unfavorable game, was Kennedy’s first home run in his high school career. Despite the limited offensive output, these moments of excellence reflect the individual talent and promise for the future of the team. Moreover, this disappointing loss should not overshadow the Panthers’ incredible season. They finished with an impressive 17-7 record, winning the Prep League for the first time since 2019.
Functioning as the team’s backbone, the seniors played a key role in the team’s success, their leadership proving vital in guiding the Panthers to a 9-3 league record. As the season ends, the Panthers are saying goodbye to seven seniors: Sean Asperger, Henry McDonald, Beckett Hutchens, Chase Engstrom, Luke Kim, Elliot Rowley and Jesse Benitez. “We’re losing some awesome players, but the program as a whole has grown,” said head coach Wayne Lovett. “These are exciting times. We’re probably going to look a lot different offensively with the loss of our seniors, but we’re going to be balanced and play more situational baseball.” The experiences and successes of this season will undoubtedly serve as a foundation for future achievements. The Panthers are ready to build on their success and continue their dominance in the Prep League.
