UPDATE: The Dons have opened the 2012 season with a hard-fought victory against Hilltop with a final score of 2-1. After giving up an unearned run in the third inning, the Dons were able to tie the game in the 5th before getting the eventual game-winning run in the 6th inning. Junior Stephen Gonsalves got the start on the mound for the Dons, but it was junior Michael Martin who was awarded the win. The Dons begin their first tournament, the Hilltop-Lolitas tournament, tomorrow, March 8th, against Rancho Buena Vista at Rancho Buena Vista High School.

Opening day for the Dons baseball team has been transformed into Gar Millay Day, as our nationally ranked Dons baseball team begins their season at home on Tuesday against Hilltop High School at 3 pm.  The Dons baseball is currently ranked 22nd in the nation according to PerfectGame.org and they hope to be ranked in the top 10 by the end of the year.

This is definitely a possibility as the Dons pitching rotation is anchored by junior Stephen Gonsalves, a hard throwing lefty who has already committed to USD for baseball.  Junior Mike Martin, another hard thrower, is a right-handed starter for the Dons who is currently being recruited by a number of colleges because of his athletic ability.  Finally, sophomore Brady Aiken, another hard throwing lefty who is a highly ranked prospect, rounds out the rotation for the Dons.  These three pitchers, in the same rotation, are expected to make an impact at the next level as the Dons begin their season.  A few other goals the team has for this season are to repeat as division 3 CIF champions and be ranked number one in both the county and the state for Division 3 by the end of the year.  These goals don’t seem too lofty for this very talented Dons baseball team.

As our Dons baseball team embarks on a journey that involves a great many challenges and obstacles, they could not think of a better way to begin their season than with Gar Millay Day.  The team is commemorating the former University of San Diego High School (USDHS) baseball superstar’s life on Tuesday.  As a four-year starter in the infield under Coach Dick Serrano, Millay, “The Rock, led Uni to section titles in both 1980 and 1981.

He went on to play his college ball at the University of Arizona, where he led his team to the College World Series.  Furthermore, in 1985, Millay made the All-Pac-10 team after finishing a fantastic season.  After completing his college career, the 5’11’’ 175 pound Millay played professionally in the Mets and Rangers organizations.

Coach Gary Remiker, the current Dons baseball coach, remembers coming into USDHS just a few years after Millay had graduated.  He recalls Millay coming back to USDHS to practice with the Uni team at that time.  When Coach Remiker was asked about Millay, he said Millay was possibly “the greatest Dons baseball player ever.”  That is high praise, considering that Carlos Quentin an MLB all-star and currently an outfielder for the San Diego Padres, also graduated from USDHS. Gar Millay was diagnosed with a brain tumor in August of 2010 and tragically passed away on July 2, 2011 at the age of 46.  He is survived by his wife, Victoria, and his three daughters, Olivia, Sophia, and Carly.

The team hopes to see a big crowd at the baseball field on Tuesday to help them start the season off on the right foot against Hilltop.  More importantly, they hope to see a big crowd to help Cathedral commemorate Gar Millay—a legend that will forever be known as one of the greatest baseball players this school has ever seen.