Last Thursday, March 12th, the Fighting Scots Varsity Baseball team traveled to Angel Stadium in Anaheim to participate in the Halo Classic. The Halo Classic is an opportunity for high school baseball teams across Southern California to play at Angel Stadium with all the lights, glitter and most of all, to play on a professional ball field! In addition, it is billed as a fundraiser for the team, as any audience entrance fees that would have gone to the venue would be donated to Rim’s baseball team.
This year marks the third time that the Fighting Scots have had the opportunity to participate in this Classic. This year Rim was the home team, and they played against Paraclete High School from Landcaster. That team has been their League champions in 2012-2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021, which gives rise to the question of how these teams are chosen to play each other. From the outset, it appeared to be quite a mismatch!
The pregame included all the fanfare seen at a Pro game: the visiting players lined up between second base and first base, and the home team lined up between second base and third base. Each player and their coaches were announced from the roster; then caps came off for a rousing rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner led by the Rim Band. Finally, the Homeplate umpire called out, “Playball!”
The first inning Paraclete came out strong, scoring 3 runs on a series of errors and the pitching not up to par. After the third out it was The Fighting Scots time to make some runs. Unfortunately a quick three outs had Rim taking to the field at the top of the second inning. The second inning both teams went scoreless and at the top of the third inning the score was still Paraclete High School, 3, Rim of the World 0. The top of the third inning is where the bottom dropped out for Rim;, Paraclete High School scored 12 runs, finishing out the top of the third inning with a score of Paraclete High School15, and The Fighting Scots, 0. The final score at the end of the game was Paraclete High School, 19, The Fighting Scots, 0.
Out of all the schools that sign up to play in the Halo Classic at Angel Stadium, who at Rim High School makes the decision to play a team that is completely out of our league? There is no logical way that Rim of the World High School should have gone against Paraclete High School, which is several divisions higher than Rim! Hopefully next year there will be a more equitable pairing of teams.
Regardless, we are proud of our Fighting Scots Varsity Baseball Team; the team played with respect and honor. Go Rim!