The562’s baseball coverage in 2025 is sponsored by the Millikan, Long Beach Poly, and Lakewood baseball boosters.
The562’s coverage of St. Anthony athletics is sponsored by Jane & B.I. Mais, Class of 1949.
Plastered on the back of the St. Anthony baseball dugout is a sign that reads:
“BREATHE. SLOW THE GAME DOWN = PLAYING AT YOUR BEST.”
St. Anthony was down three runs through as many innings during its CIF-SS Division 5 semifinal matchup against Northwood when the team did just that. The Saints slowed the game down, found their rhythm while trailing, and scattered six runs over the next three innings to come back and defeat the Timberwolves 6–5.
St. Anthony will move on to the CIF-SS Division 5 championship against Elsinore on either Friday or Saturday.
“The team stayed together,” said St. Anthony coach Kris Jondle. “They competed, which is really all we’re asking them to do. Just compete and don’t give into anything and make the other team beat you. It’s been working so far.”
Northwood struck fast on St. Anthony with a three-run first inning that saw a Carter Liu two-RBI single and another run scored by Colin Carlson on a fielder’s choice.
“I told them to just slow down and breathe,” Jondle said of the early deficit. “I tell them to be ready and regroup for the next pitch because the most important pitch of the game is the next one. There’s always going to be things to overcome and they’ve done an awesome job of doing that.”
St. Anthony’s response came in pairs, as the Saints scored two runs in each of the final three innings. That response began in the fourth frame, when senior John Arnold smacked a two-run home run to left field and cut the lead to one.
“John Arnold’s home run was massive,” Jondle said. “The momentum shift, you could field it right there. Their pitcher was cruising pretty good, he’s a good left, but [Arnold] tattooed that one and that was the momentum deal right there.”
Austin Cassidy and Benny Lane each singled in the fifth inning before sophomore Aidann Ruiz drove them both in with a two-RBI single. Cassidy went 3-for-4 at the plate. Ruiz went 2-for-3 at the plate with those two RBIs, which gave St. Anthony a lead it would hold onto.
“I’ve been around this game for a while, 13-14 years, so it’s just the experience,” Ruiz said of his big at-bat. “I just put my trust in God and my trust in myself.”
After a Jason Glenn walk in the sixth inning, the Saints found another pair of runs thanks to another two-run home run from Lane.
Lane also came in to pitch the final three innings of the game—and it’s become a staple for him to leave his mark both at the plate and on the mound. His home run was his fourth of the postseason, and he’s now up to 15 innings pitched.
“The moment is bigger than anything,” Lane said. “It’s just another day with these guys. If I don’t do my job then I feel likeI’m wasting my opportunity to spend another precious moment with these guys. It’s a hell of a team and a hell of a season of us putting St. Anthony on the map. So, for me, it was just a matter of how bad I want it for my boys.”
Lane battled a late rally from Northwood when Kai Tsuneshige and Paul Grossman each hit RBI singles. Lane relied on his defense with a fly-out for the final out of the game.
After the game, Lane took the spotlight off of himself and gave all of his credit to teammate Jaylen Butler, who made the start on the bump and pitched the first four innings.
“He came in and pitched another four phenomenal innings,” Lane said of Butler. “You can’t ask anything more out of that kid. And to come through with the stick today, I mean he was getting clutch hit after clutch hit and moving guys over. He just had a hell of a game today.”
After giving up three runs in the first inning, Butler kept his composure and followed that inning up with three scoreless frames. Butler also went 2-for-4 at the plate and had a pair of key hits.
“I won’t lie, after the first inning I was a little shook giving up three runs but I went back out there and started spotting stuff and saw that it was possible to get through this lineup,” said Butler, who kept a smile on his face even through the rough start. “I feel like the happier you are the more relaxed you are. At the end of the day when you relax you perform at your best.”
St. Anthony will move on to the CIF-SS Division 5 championship against Elsinore on either Friday or Saturday.
“It feels better than ever but the job is not finished,” Lane said. “That’s all I gotta say.”
