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Finally a full-time starter, Sean Popp helps St. Laurence clinch Catholic League Blue title. ‘Live for that.’
TL;DR
Sean Popp, a senior infielder for St. Laurence, helped his team clinch the Catholic League Blue title with a standout performance, including two hits and three RBIs in an 11-4 victory over Brother Rice. Popp's journey from limited playing time to full-time starter highlights his dedication and hard work.
Key points
- Sean Popp had limited playing time in his junior season.
- He became a full-time starter after a teammate's injury.
- Popp contributed two hits and three RBIs in a key game.
- St. Laurence clinched the Catholic League Blue title with the win.
- Popp is an Oakton recruit.
Mentioned in this story
Oakton
Sean PoppSt. LaurenceBrother RiceCatholic League Blue
Sean Popp got just four at-bats his entire junior season, spending most of last spring cheering from the bench as St. Laurence won the Class 3A state championship.
Playing time this year was far from a guarantee, either. Popp, a senior infielder, was not a starter at the beginning of the season. But he never gave up.
“I’ve been waiting a couple years now for my opportunity but not playing didn’t make me stop working hard,” Popp said. “If anything, it made me work harder. As soon as I got the opportunity, I just let that hard work pay off. It’s awesome.”
And when a teammate’s injury opened the door for Popp, he took full advantage.
The Oakton recruit continued his strong play Monday, producing a pair of hits and three RBIs to lead the host Vikings to an 11-4 win over Brother Rice in Burbank that clinched the Catholic League Blue title.
Louisville recruit Cory Les went 2-for-2 with a triple and three RBIs for St. Laurence (29-1, 13-0). He also pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, striking out five and not allowing a run to record the save.
Kentucky commit Tristan Steger homered and TCU recruit Jimmy Benson earned the win, allowing four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Last season, St. Laurence was in the same situation, needing just one win in its final Catholic League Blue games against Brother Rice to win the title but got swept by the Crusaders.
“Winning state was great, but we definitely had this circled for a whole year now,” Les said. “It was 365 days of waiting. We wanted this one really bad.”
It was also a Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament game as the Vikings clinched their pool to advance to next week’s semifinals.
Northwestern recruit Nolan Ramoley went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for Brother Rice (21-9, 11-2), while Purdue Northwest commit Treylan Webster finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run.
Popp, meanwhile, came through with a two-run single during a five-run second inning that gave St. Laurence a 6-0 lead. He added an RBI single in the fifth as the Vikings responded with five more runs after the Crusaders pulled within 6-4.
Q&A
Who is Sean Popp and what role did he play in the Catholic League Blue title?
Sean Popp is a senior infielder for St. Laurence who played a crucial role in clinching the Catholic League Blue title by contributing two hits and three RBIs in a recent game.
What were Sean Popp's challenges before becoming a full-time starter?
Before becoming a full-time starter, Sean Popp had limited playing time, with only four at-bats during his junior season, and was not initially a starter at the beginning of this season.
How did Sean Popp's hard work contribute to his success this season?
Sean Popp's dedication and hard work during his limited playing time allowed him to seize the opportunity when a teammate was injured, leading to his successful performance this season.
What was the outcome of the game against Brother Rice?
St. Laurence won the game against Brother Rice 11-4, which secured them the Catholic League Blue title.