Deep senior class leads Serra into CCS

But in a single-elimination tourney, any game could be the Padres’ last. And the possibility of Tuesday’s practice being their last was very real to senior center fielder Tyler Villaroman.

“This could have been our last practice today,” Villaroman said. “So it really hit me things are coming to an end. So, we are looking to finish by doing something special; and I think we can do that.”

Entering the CCS Open Division as the No. 4 seed, Serra hosts No. 13 San Lorenzo Valley at 4 p.m. And even though seeding is incidental after the first round — the final three rounds are to be played at neutral sites — the Padres are rallying around the notion they are being underrated as the No. 4 seed.

“Obviously the group is upset about that,” Serra senior Hunter Bishop said. “We don’t feel we’re the 4 seed. And we’re not being shy about that. We know we’re the best team.”

Whether Serra proves a championship team or not, the future is bright for the majority senior squad. As of Tuesday, seven of the Padres’ seniors had committed to four-year college programs, including five who are slated to play at the Division-I level.

Bishop — who earlier this week was named the co-WCAL Player of the Year — is the cream of the crop. Committed to Arizona State, the 6-4, left-handed hitting outfielder could well be tempted to forgo college come MLB draft day. He is currently ranked the No. 65 amateur prospect in the nation by MLB.com.

Not bad for a kid who originally verbally committed to the University of Washington as a football wide receiver. The fit made sense, as his older brother Braden Bishop — the 2012 WCAL Baseball Player of the Year out of St. Francis — played baseball for the Huskies.

Ultimately, however, Bishop chose to sign at former Serra great Barry Bonds’ alma mater Arizona State to play baseball. After verbally committing with the Sun Devils in February, he signed his National Letter of Intent in April.

“I just realized baseball is in my future and has more possibilities down the road,” Bishop said.

Bishop declined to comment regarding the MLB draft beginning June 9. Bishop did offer a tip of the cap to Bonds though, and said if and when he does play at Arizona State, that perhaps he could honor his uniform number as well.

“Maybe plan to get No. 24 and try to carry on the tradition,” Bishop said.

Bishop — who at Serra wears No. 11 — said he ultimately would like to play center field. This season, however, Villaroman has patrolled center, where he started every game.

Committed to play at University of San Francisco next season, Villaroman is a flat-out athletic speedster who utilizes his wheels both sides of the ball. He played right field last year with now-graduated Chris Papapietro — one of three 2015 Serra grads to advance to the Division-I baseball ranks — in center. But with Bishop playing his first full season in the outfield this year, it was never a question Villaroman would slide over to center.

“Can’t get better,” Bishop said of Villaroman’s defense. “He’s made some unreal plays.”

Boy has he. The highlight of Villaroman’s season came in last Thursday’s WCAL tournament championship game at Santa Clara University. With St. Francis leading 2-0 in the fourth, Villaroman covered the cavernous left-center field alley of Schott Stadium to make an outstanding diving catch, robbing Cole Sperling of a leadoff extra-base hit. The Padres went on to rally for five runs in the bottom of the inning and win the game 6-2.

“We’ve got the fastest outfield in the league,” Villaroman said. “And a lot more room to roam. It gives our pitchers a chance to lay the ball out there and get some outs.”

Serra’s other Division-I commits are third baseman Angelo Bortolin — who does where Bonds’ No. 24 for the Padres — to Loyola Marymount University; left-handed pitcher Vinnie Venturi to St. Mary’s-Moraga; and right-handed pitcher Chris Apecechea to University of Hawaii.

Committed to the Division-II program at Chico State is right-handed pitcher Nick Von Tobel. Committed to the Division-III program at Chapman University is right-handed pitcher Ryan Callagy.

Apecechea is certainly the overachiever of the group. At 5-8, he doesn’t own the prototypical Division-I physique. With this, however, he just may be a perfect fit for Hawaii.

“It’s been tough but I’ve been patient,” Apecechea said. “A lot of it was having my numbers speak for themselves. And the success we’ve had here only helps.”