Prep Talk: Midnight Madness At South Hills High Was Big Success

There was existent Midnight Madness astatine South Hills High successful West Covina connected Monday morning.

South Hills, trying to hit nan rainfall and besides wanting to put nan spotlight connected its caller lights, played Covina successful a precocious schoolhouse shot crippled that began astatine 12:50 a.m. and ended astatine 3:34 a.m. pinch South Hills winning 5-1.

To opportunity it was a awesome occurrence mightiness beryllium an understatement.

Despite small informing because of nan last-minute determination because of upwind reports, nan 2 schools drew betwixt 800 and 1,000 fans, according to South Hills coach Darren Murphy. South Hills’ principal, Terry Abernathy, supported nan idea, showing up astatine nan crippled contempt driving successful from different schoolhouse activity astatine Sea World. And nan players surely showed they mightiness 1 time beryllium capable to play for Nevada Las Vegas aliases a squad successful New Orleans by performing good precocious astatine night.

“I’ve ne'er done that earlier for baseball,” said South Hills pitcher Carson Baker, who struck retired 4 successful 3 innings.

South Hills players took nan crippled seriously. They took naps connected Sunday to make judge they didn’t doze off. And they filled up connected power drinks, truthful nan players surely would invited NIL deals from immoderate portion institution seeking to beryllium they supply energy.

“We had to hole for it mentally,” Baker said.

Said Murphy: “They were jittery and excited. How bully it is to beryllium young.”

Parents supplied power lamps successful nan dugout to woody pinch nan somesthesia successful nan 50s.

The truth Covina agreed to play nan crippled past midnight connected short announcement was a tribute to nan narration Murphy has pinch Covina coach Tim O’Leary, who was erstwhile nan pitching coach astatine South Hills.

After nan crippled ended, immoderate of nan players wanted to enactment together and spell eat astatine 3:30 a.m. Murphy made it clear that was not a bully idea.

Baker said he went home, sewage to slumber astir 5 a.m. and didn’t aftermath up until noon. Monday was a schoolhouse holiday. And he intended to spell to slumber again astatine 8 p.m. Monday night.

Things went truthful good that Murphy said nan thought of a Midnight Madness mightiness proceed adjacent season.

This is simply a regular look astatine nan affirmative happenings successful precocious schoolhouse sports. To taxable immoderate news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.