De La Salle's 'Hammerin' Hank Tripaldi hits two home runs for late mom, the second a two-out grand slam to win NorCal D1 title
A six-run rally in the final inning to win the last game of the season and a championship is a remarkable story on its own.
But the crushing blow, a grand slam with two out by "Hammerin" Hank Tripaldi, took storytelling of De La Salle-Concord's improbable 11-8 Northern California Division 1 championship win at Valley Christian to another level. Some might say, a higher place.
Tripaldi, a junior third baseman for the Spartans who earlier in the game his his second homer of the year, hit both home runs for his late mother Robin, who died on April 25 of breast cancer.
De La Salle junior Hank Tripaldi reacts rounding first base after drilling his go-ahead grand slam in 11-8 win at Valley Christian. Photo: Noah Glosson/West Coast Preps.
The grand slam came with two outs, one strike and De La Salle trailing 8-7. The Spartans (27-5), the second seed, entered the seventh down 8-5.
It was the second straight year De La Salle fought back from a three-run last-inning deficit to win. Last season, the Spartans beat another West Catholic Athletic League rival, Saint Francis by a score of 7-6.
"As soon as I hit the first one, a finger goes in the air for her, right up to mom," Tripaldi told Jake Vanderbrook of Cal-Hi Sports after the game. "She's always on my mind. I love her. She was the most amazing thing that was ever in my life. I do everything for her now. Everything I do is for my mom or my friends — the most important people in my life."
As first told to Darren Sabedra of the San Jose Mercury News, Tripaldi said his teammates and the game of baseball have kept him going over the last five weeks. "These guys are going to be my friends forever," he told Sabedra.
On Saturday, he repaid them by going 3 for 5 with two runs and six RBI, helping the Spartans to extend their playoff win streak to 30 games since 2015. They've won six straight North Coast Section titles and two consecutive NorCal crowns.
De La Salle celebrates CIF NorCal Division 1 win over Valley Christian, the program's 30th straight playoff win since 2016. Photos: Noah Glosson/West Coast Preps.
Five straight runners reached — two scored — in the seventh to cut the deficit to 8-7. With the bases jammed, EBAL MVP Connor Harrison struck out, leaving it all up to Tripaldi. He crushed a 1-1 pitch over the high fence in left field.
The Spartans bench went berserk and piled around home plate, thrilled for the go-ahead homer. More so they were elated for their friend.
“We all love each other so much,” left fielder Kai Smith told Sabedra. "He’s like a family member to us. What a Spartan way. How beautiful is that for him.”
Valley Christian, winners of 19 straight before Saturday, was the No. 1 seed and finished 31-4. The Warriors fought back from a 3-0 deficit to take an 8-4 lead heading into the sixth.
It was an emotional plight for the Warriors as well, who lost the. WCAL Pitcher of the Year and third baseman Michael Castaneda in the second inning after he was hit in the face with a pitch while squaring to bunt.
Described as a "frightening and bloody scene," Casteneda was sent by ambulance to a local hospital. He didn't return.
The Warriors rallied behind WCAL MVP PJ Moutzouridis, who drilled a three-run double in the third to tie the game and Carmelo Rivera singled home a pair in the fourth to give Valley Christian to 5-3.
The Warriors scored three of the game's next four runs and appeared to have the game in check.
But De La Salle got one in the sixth before the avalanche in the seventh, capped by Tripaldi's slam heard around many corners. By nightfall, De La Salle was trending on Twitter. The 5-foot-9, 165-pounder's swing carried a powerful punch.
His personal path had reached the masses. De La Salle coach David Jeans thought it went far beyond the internet.
“The last home run he hit, she was there,” Jeans told Sabedra. "She really appreciated him as a ballplayer, as a son. We’ve just been supporting him.”
