The George Washington High School Patriots Varsity Baseball team clinched the 5A Denver Prep League top seed with a win against the South High Rebels.Sophomore Gabe Neslin, continued his hot hitting streak with a grand slam that sealed the game. The Patriots have a 7-2 league record, and will play in the first round of the state playoffs on Saturday against Mullen.

This team has more to celebrate than just their winning season: The Patriots are a smart group of players with an average GPA of 4.03.Most of the team attend the rigorous International Baccalaureate Program at George Washington High School.This Patriots Baseball team exemplifies the perfect combination of academics and athletics.These young men are truly remarkable scholars and athletes.

Another distinguishing feature of this team is their age:More than half of the starting line-up is sophomores:This is a young team, with only one senior ( Will Scott who will attend college in Oregon in the fall).Their youth will bode well for them next year.Young and smart, the squad has won five of their last six games (the only loss coming at the hands of the number one team in 4A, Thomas Jefferson) and have developed over the season into a consistent team swinging hot bats and playing good defense.The team is led by junior shortstop and pitcher Abe Bobb and basketball and baseball stand-out Nick Sather.

The winning combination of academics and athletics is a formula for success that has worked well this season and bodes well for the coming years as the players mature, the program develops and the Denver Prep League is again recognized for both stellar athletic performances and outstanding academic achievement.