Historic Win for Coach Hunt and the Baseball Team

Before every game, the Knights had a ritual: a team huddle where Senior Tom Rudolph shared encouraging words, Coach Pat Hunt ’88 led the team in a Hail Mary, and they all finished by calling upon the intercession of Our Lady of Victory. Tom Rudolph said of this tradition, “I loved that Coach Hunt prayed with us just before every game because it always helped get the team into the right mindset. Playing with Our Lady in mind made a difference, which… I will never forget.”

This spring, that difference meant the Northridge varsity baseball team clinched the Regional Title for the first time in school history! Led by Coach Pat Hunt, the Knights launched an amazing drive to take control of the game in the last inning, with Sophomore Joseph Morales’ towering 350-foot three-run homer.

The historic win was a family affair. Coach Hunt, both his sons – Assistant Coach Pat, Jr. ’16 and Senior starter Ben Hunt – along with his nephew, Senior starter Thomas Hunt, were all on the field for the momentous win. And, to make the day even more meaningful, almost the entire Hunt family, including his brother (the father of Senior Thomas) was there to witness and celebrate.

Reflecting on Coach Hunt’s contribution to Northridge athletics and the team’s success this year, Athletic Director Will Rey said, “It is no surprise. Coach Hunt is as dependable as the day is long. He has weathered the storm and remains a pillar of consistency.”

Coach Hunt attributed the exceptional season to a focus on character development over wins, and an unshakable team cohesion. He explained that a unified team does not come to exist by accident. It developed over the past few seasons with strong senior leadership. “It is cultivated at monthly social outings even during the off-season, a Leadership Road Trip, an annual team trip to Florida, and mentoring at the team and individual levels.” Additionally, team harmony can be traced to the work of student team leaders who led off-season workouts, worked on skill-development with younger players, and intentionally encouraged genuine friendship among teammates.