In The Spotlight: Landon Baty DB, St. Francis-Mountain View
Landon Baty was at a track meet last April when news broke that head football coach Nick Navarro was leaving St. Francis High. The Lancers football team was coming off its first Central Coast Section championship in 10 years — an eternity for the Mountain View school. It’s true the title came in Division II — the Lancers did not qualify to play in the top-level Open Division — but it signaled something tangible for a program seeking a return to glory. Baty and the three other football captains — all track athletes — gathered quickly. The first reaction was denial, but the second was more productive. They gathered their thoughts, planned a team meeting and came to a consensus. “We wanted someone who’s been in our shoes,” said Baty, a MaxPreps All-Northern California first-team free safety. “We wanted a role model as a head coach. We wanted someone to believe in, who knows how to win here and knows how to bring back that winning mentality.” They took their ideas to athletic director Michael Pilawski. While they don’t know if they influenced the decision, they were happy with the choice: Greg Calcagno. The school’s junior varsity coach and alumni director, Calcagno was from rich St. Francis stock. The campus stadium was named after his father, Ron, who compiled a 233-59-3 record as head coach from 1972-
24
SportStars™
August 22, 2013
Score Digital Content: Scan SSM With LAYAR
95, and won 11 CCS and 12 West Catholic Athletic League championships. Greg went 24-2 in two seasons as the starting quarterback, leading the Lancers to their first perfect season — 14-0 — and a CCS Div. I title in 1982. He became Santa Clara University’s all-time passing leader and caught on with the New York Jets, though he did not play in a regular season game. Both father and son are in the St. Francis Hall of Fame. Baty comes from rich bloodlines himself. His father, Greg Baty, was an NFL tight end for eight seasons, mostly with Miami. And older brother Turner quarterbacked MenloAtherton to the 2008 CCS Large School title and is at City College of San Francisco after a season at Kansas. Baty is willing to become a cornerstone. In 2012, he had 104 tackles, five interceptions, 12 passes deflected, and two fumbles recovered. He intercepted three passes in a stunning 24-0 road victory at Serra that launched the Friars’ postseason run, finishing with three shutouts in four games and outscoring opponents, 124-7. “We came out, hit ‘em in the mouth, and took it to them,” Baty said. “We just rolled with it. We said, ‘You know what? Who’s going to beat us?’” This year, the speedy Baty will assume a greater role as the offense switches from a spread to a power attack. Baty will play running back, slotback, and return kicks, anything to help the Lancers add to their 15 CCS championships. “This is St. Francis,” Baty said. “You come here to win games. It’s preached everywhere. We’re excited about bringing it back to how it used to be.” — David Kiefer
Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com