28
Youth
Sept. 5 - Sept. 18, 2015
www.SanTanSun.com
Youth golf star scores under par BY TIM J. RANDALL
Fairways and greens: That was the mindset of 11-year-old BASIS Chandler student Mahanth Chirravuri as he tied for second place at the recent IMG Junior World Golf Championship at Sycuan Golf Resort, outside of San Diego. Competing in the 11- to 12-year-old bracket, Mahanth opened the three-day tournament with a sluggish 4-over par performance, but roared back over the final two days with rounds of 2- and 3-under par, respectively. “He just played such great golf over those last two days,” said the sixthgrader’s father, Bobby. Mahanth’s final-day effort put him in a tie for first place, forcing a four-way playoff to determine the winner. “When I hit my tee shot in the playoff, I thought I had a good chance to win,” said Mahanth. “My second shot to the green, I pulled left into some trees, but I hit a great chip shot to a foot and saved par.” Unfortunately for Mahanth, the winner made birdie on the first playoff hole to secure the victory. Finishing high at the IMG Championship is significant. According to event staff, it is the largest international event in the world with 1,200 participants representing 56 countries and 42 states. In Mahanth’s 11- to 12-year-old cluster, he competed against 132 players to earn the spot in the playoff. “We are so proud of the way he played,” Bobby said. “His performance was a great accomplishment.” So how does a young golf star, who
Chandler National Little Leaguers may not have made it to the World Series, but they’ll see the world. They’re headed to Taiwan for exhibition games later this month. The team is looking for sponsors. Email dougbcnll@aol.com for information. Submitted photo
Mahanth Chirravuri tied for second place at the recent IMG Junior World Golf Championship at Sycuan Golf Resort, outside of San Diego. Submitted photo
has been swinging a golf club since he was 2 1/2 years old, celebrate such an effort? More golf; he and his teammates from Lone Tree Golf Club played in Flagstaff in August. “Our team played really well and we won our match,” Mahanth said. “I love competing and playing golf.” Mahanth’s mom, dad and siblings enjoy watching him play and often follow him along on the course. “It’s great to have them support me while I play,” Mahanth said. Tim J. Randall is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at news@santansun.com.
…The common denominator between young children and the love of reading.
Little Leaguers almost make World Series; Ready for Taiwan BY TIM J. RANDALL
Baseball is often a game of mere inches; the called third strike on the outer half of the plate, or the potential game-winning hit signaled just foul down the third base line. For the 12 year olds of the Chandler National North team, their quest to reach the Little League World Series in late August, fell just inches short. The cusp of a Little League World Series berth for Chandler National North was the Western Regional played in San Bernardino, California, in early August. “The West Region is typically the toughest in the nation to advance a team through to the Little League World Series,” said Doug Brewster, Chandler National North league president. In reaching the regionals, Chandler National North recorded a perfect record, including winning Chandler North’s third consecutive Arizona Little League Championship. “It is really quite an accomplishment to win any one year, but three years in a row is amazing,” Brewster said. In the San Bernardino Regionals, Chandler National North faced a tough Northern California squad and defeated the team in a pitchers’ duel 1-0. “Our team had two outstanding lefthanded pitchers, Brock Selvidge and Carter Wilson, who combined threw a great game,” said Paul Grako, Chandler National North manager. Game two did not fare as well for Chandler, as a Utah team had a great performance in an 11-1 victory. “Our bats were not as lively as they were in the Arizona State Championship,” Brewster said. In a must-win game three in the doubleelimination format, the Chandler players gave it their all, but came up a bit short, losing 12-9 against a formidable Hawaii team.
“Our kids played really hard, but we just did not have enough to pull the game out in extra innings,” said Grako. Despite the loss, Grako called the year an incredible success. “This is a great group of ballplayers, the roster was deep from top to bottom. We pitched, batted, fielded and ran well all year, and I am very proud of their play,” he said. The team may have lost, but baseball is getting exciting for some of the players on the Chandler National North team. Fifteen Chandler all stars from Chandler National North and South will travel to Taiwan Tuesday, Sept. 29, through Friday, Oct. 9, to compete in an international goodwill baseball exhibition. The team is looking for sponsors for the trip. Those interested should contact Brewster at dougbcnll@aol.com. “Our talented Chandler players will be going up against the best 11- to 12-year-old squads from Korea, Japan, Philippines and Taiwan,” Brewster said. “There will be great baseball, but also the kids will experience another culture. The boys are very excited.” For Brewster and Grako, both are looking forward to making a run to the Little League World Series next year. “We will be back and ready to compete for a fourth straight Arizona Little League Championship,” Brewster said. The Chandler National North team is comprised of Aiden Phan, Brock Selvidge, Brok Liu, Carter Wilson, Chacho Trejo, Christian Reynard, Connor Roland, Ethan Linn, Hayden Grako, Jimmy Martin, Kai Taylor, Michael Martinez and PJ Johnson. Besides Grako and Brewer, other officials are coaches Cisco Martinez and Andy Summers and “team mom” Jeni Linn. Tim J. Randall is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at news@santansun.com.
St. Mary Basha Catholic School students place high at Seton Catholic St. Mary Basha Catholic Church’s graduating students have enrolled at Seton Catholic Preparatory as freshman. The students have had one of the highest percentages of placements in honors classes, specifically in honors algebra. Also, the number of students from SMB that tested into honors algebra at SCP have increased from previous years. St. Mary Basha Catholic School strives for educational excellence and would like
to recognize SMB teachers for a job well done. St. Mary Basha Catholic School has been providing educational excellence for the community for more than 70 years. SMB Catholic School has 450 students enrolled for the 2015-2016 school year and will continue to provide these students with exceptional academic and faith-based learning.