Baseball 4 All players among six standout Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week winners
Two student-athletes with disabilities, along with four outstanding track and field, softball and baseball players, are being recognized as this week's Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week.
The two students, from Enterprise, competed in the inaugural Baseball 4 All game at Redding's Tiger Field. The event is designed to introduce baseball in a safe environment to students who are deaf, blind, or have other physical or developmental disabilities.
Baseball 4 All was started by U-Prep baseball coach Bradd Miller. He became inspired after watching his wife, U-Prep volleyball coach Tawni Kramer, create the Volleyball 4 All game event last year.
Baseball 4 All is part of a series of We Not Me events designed by Shasta Union High School District coaches, teachers and administrators to encourage students with disabilities to try new sports and promote exercise by making sports more inclusive.
It's now time to meet the two juniors, two seniors and two students from Shasta County's Special Day Class Intensive Programs who brought the action as the Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week. Their performances encompass May 1 through May 6.
Caleb Kennedy
School: Shasta
Sport: Baseball
Class: Senior
Team contributions: Kennedy shifted the momentum of Shasta's longstanding baseball rivalry against Foothill last Monday and Wednesday during the final three-game regular season series before the CIF Northern Section playoffs. Kennedy sprayed the ball across the field and finished 4-for-8 with four RBI during the week. Kennedy's contributions at the plate helped Shasta beat Foothill in game one, 2-1, on the road last Monday and 8-6 last Wednesday. Shasta's two wins gave the Wolves their first season series victory over Foothill since 2017. No. 5 seed Shasta (12-13) will play at No. 4 seed Foothill (11-13) on Tuesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. in the CIF Northern Section Division II Super Regional playoffs.
Chris Hall
School: Foothill
Sport: Track
Class: Junior
Team contributions: Hall's athleticism was on full display during the Eastern Athletic League Track and Field Championships at Pleasant Valley High School last Friday. Hall won both the long jump, triple jump and anchored Foothill to first in the 4 x 100 relay events. He jumped 41 feet and 10.75 in the triple jump — 10 inches longer than Enterprise senior Jacob Wagner, the 2022 event champion. Hall's long jump of 21 feet and 10 inches was 15 inches longer than second-place competitor senior Anthony Seiler of Pleasant Valley. Foothill's time of 43.74 in the 4 x 100 relay was .37 seconds faster than Pleasant Valley. Hall will compete in the CIF Northern Section Division I championships at Foothill High School this Friday.
Garrett Fitzgerald
School: Enterprise
Sport: Baseball
Team contributions: Fitzgerald brought energy and hustle to the bases during the debut Baseball 4 All game at Redding's Tiger Field. Fitzgerald stole bases, hit the ball hard and made new friends from U-Prep and Enterprise along the way.
Shelbie Rogers
School: West Valley
Sport: Track and Field
Class: Junior
Team contributions: Rogers displayed skills that went outside her prowess as a shotput and discus thrower. Rogers took first in the 100-meter hurdles at the Eastern Athletic League Championships in a new personal record 17.82 seconds. Rogers crossed the finish line .12 seconds ahead of Yreka junior Meadow Cummings. Rogers took first throwing the discus 111 feet and one inch. Rogers will compete in the CIF Northern Section Division II championships this Thursday in Orland.
Kalilah Wolfin-Teller
School: Burney
Sport: Softball
Class: Senior
Team contributions: Wolfin-Teller displayed outstanding power with her bat during the games against Portola last Friday and Redding Christian last Tuesday. Wolfin-Teller hit two home runs, including a grand slam and finished with seven RBI in a 22-5 victory over Portola. She added a double and RBI against Redding Christian. Burney has won seven of its last eight games and is likely to hold a top two seed when the CIF Northern Section Division V softball playoffs start in two weeks.
Morgan Romero
School: Enterprise
Sport: Baseball
Team contributions: Romero displayed an impressive throwing arm during the inaugural Baseball 4 All Game at Tiger Field. She caught the ball repeatedly and hit line drives, with coaching help from Enterprise sophomore outfielder Porter Fischer.
Each week, the Record Searchlight selects the girl and boy athletes who stand out based on merits from their performance in the prior week. Profiles highlight their accomplishments on the field or inside the gym and provide a glimpse into who they are as students. To make suggestions for R-S Athletes of the Week, email sports reporter Ethan Hanson at ethan.hanson@redding.com or go to bit.ly/3HuxlfW.
Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week salutes Baseball 4 All
