Minton brothers lead Serra to WCAL championship with no-hitter, 4-for-4 day

San Francisco Chronicle​

08-05-2025

Like many athletic programs, Serra baseball prides itself on family — and, boy, did the Minton brothers offer one heck of a championship performance on Tuesday.
Davis Minton, a senior pitcher and infielder, fired a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and one walk in a 13-0 victory at Riordan to clinch the West Catholic Athletic League outright regular-season title, setting off a double celebration.
Davis also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a couple of runs, only to be outdone offensively by his sophomore brother Aaron, who went bonkers, going 4-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs. Aaron, who struggled earlier in the year, is 7-for-7 in his last two games with two homers and 10 RBIs.
All of it added up to a joyous day for the Padres (21-5, 11-2) who won their second straight regular-season crown; they shared it last season with Valley Christian. It was the first time back-to-back titles had been won in the WCAL in 12 years.
Serra closed the regular season Thursday at home against Riordan before next week's WCAL tournament.
'It was a heck of a way to celebrate a championship,' said Serra second-year coach Mat Keplinger, whose previous experience was in college at San Jose State, USF and San Joaquin Memorial JC. 'It's definitely a competitive, tightly knit group who really care and love one another. They've learned to play together and found different ways to win.'
With 18 seniors graduated from last year's powerhouse team, including 10 now playing in college, the Padres have gone from a big-inning, long-ball team to emphasizing speed and execution — classic small-ball stuff.
Serra has stolen exactly 100 bases, led by Metro Player of the Year candidate Ian Josephson with 22. Combine that with his team-leading .500 batting average (41 of 82) with nine doubles, six home runs and 32 runs and Keplinger couldn't come up with enough superlatives for Josephson, a St. Mary's signee.
'Just a monster season,' he said of the team's starting shortstop who was a starter at first base last season. 'So many of these guys have had to adjust from their roles last year.'
That includes Davis Minton, the team's closer last season. He battled arm problems through the fall and winter and has slowly been transitioned into a starting spot on the mound. He's been more than solid at third base while hitting .350 with 28 hits and a team-best 21 RBIs to go along with three doubles and three home runs.
Senior Evan Bradshaw is second on the team with a .417 batting average and 35 hits and 20 RBIs.
The mainstay on the mound has been junior right-hander Riley Lim (5-0, 2.55 ERA), while Keplinger has mixed-and-matched the second starting spot most of the year with Aiden Watters (5-0, 1.25), Richie Calderon (4-0, 2.62) and Kelley Crawford (3-2, 2.42).
SFIAC event: The ninth annual San Francisco High School Awards are scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, with proceeds benefiting the Academic Athletic Association.
Among the many to be honored for being the best in their sports are Jarious Hogan (St. Ignatius, football), Jasir Rencher (Riordan, boys basketball), Tara Dacic (Riordan girls basketball), Carol Manu (St. Ignatius, girls volleyball), Archer Horn (St. Ignatius, baseball), Kate Kennedy (University) and Nes Emeneke (Riordan) as scholar athletes.
Top overall athletes to be honored will be Ellie McCuskey-Hay (St. Ignatius) and John Tofi Jr. (Riordan), with additional honorees including Joseph Smith (Balboa football), Naomi Mendez and Zoe Ivatt (Lowell girls soccer), Lincoln's Ceyan Lutt and University's Lucas Lau (boys basketball) and Patriceia Walsh (Lowell girls basketball).
For tickets, call 415-781-0166 or visit sfiacfoundation.org.
Aumua, a 5-foot-10 first baseman and Auburn signee, broke the NCS career home run record on April 30 with two homers against Dublin, giving her 43. She now has 46 with one more regular-season game remaining, along with the postseason. Granada is 13-9.
'It means a lot to break another record,' Aumua said. 'It's another reflection of the work I put in day in and day out.'
Briefly: Angelique Boccara has been named the new head girls basketball coach at St. Ignatius. … Some 40 to 50 college football coaches are expected Wednesday night at Serra's Brady Stadium for the Serra College Showcase. De La Salle-Concord (6-6:45 p.m.), Sacred Heart Cathedral (6:45-7:15) and Serra (7:15-8) will do drill work and then be able to mingle with coaches. 'We had a couple kids offered scholarships that day,' said Serra coach Patrick Walsh. 'It's a great event for the kids, coaches and community.' The public is invited to the free event.