Barry FaulknerRecent Sage Hill School graduate Zach...

Barry Faulkner

Recent Sage Hill School graduate Zach Friedrichs, a three-sport

standout, is the Lightning’s Boys Athlete of the Year, as chosen by

the school.

A first-team All-Academy League football quarterback, Friedrichs

was a second-team all-league performer in soccer. He then finished

his final prep campaign by earning first-team all-league and

All-Newport-Mesa laurels as a shortstop and pitcher on the baseball

team.

Last fall, Friedrichs threw for 1,475 yards, completing 94 of 215

with 10 touchdown passes, despite having to operate behind an

undersized and inexperienced offensive line.

Also a safety, his leadership helped guide Coach Tom Monarch’s

squad through its first varsity season, finishing with a 3-7 record.

He played varsity basketball as a junior, but shifted to soccer as

a senior. Playing midfield and forward, he was a catalyst for the

team, which finished second in league and advanced to the CIF

Southern Section Division VI playoffs.

The Lightning lost in the first round to St. Bernard and finished

8-6-5.

On the baseball diamond this spring, Friedrichs was the leading

hitter and pitcher for first-year coach Bert Emerson, as the

Lightning advanced to the CIF playoffs for the first time in the

program’s history.

Friedrichs, a second-team all-league honoree as a junior, hit .443

as a senior with one home run, 33 RBIs and 29 runs. He was also 12

for 12 in stolen-base attempts. On the mound, the Daily Pilot Dream

Team selection’s 2.24 ERA in 50 innings belied his 2-4 record.

With Friedrichs leading the way, the Lightning finished third in

the Academy League, then defeated La Verne Lutheran, 4-2, in a CIF

Division V wild-card game. Sage went on to lose to Vasquez in the

first round to finish 14-9.

Friedrichs plans to play football and baseball at Whittier

College.