For Sean Popp, patience wasn't just a virtue—it was a game plan. After spending his entire junior season cheering from the bench, with just four at-bats to his name while St. Laurence captured the Class 3A state championship, the senior infielder knew his moment would come. But even this season, starting wasn't guaranteed. Popp began the year outside the lineup, yet he never stopped grinding.
"I've been waiting a couple years now for my opportunity, but not playing didn't make me stop working hard," Popp said. "If anything, it made me work harder. As soon as I got the opportunity, I just let that hard work pay off. It's awesome."
When a teammate's injury finally opened the door, Popp burst through it. On Monday, he delivered a pair of hits and three RBIs to power host St. Laurence to an 11-4 victory over Brother Rice in Burbank, clinching the Catholic League Blue title. For a player who once watched from the sidelines, it was a defining moment.
"I live for that," Popp added.
The Vikings (29-1, 13-0) came out swinging, building a 6-0 lead in the second inning thanks to Popp's two-run single. After Brother Rice cut the deficit to 6-4, Popp struck again with an RBI single in the fifth, sparking a five-run rally that sealed the win. Louisville recruit Cory Les went 2-for-2 with a triple and three RBIs, then pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out five to earn the save. Kentucky commit Tristan Steger added a home run, and TCU recruit Jimmy Benson picked up the win after allowing four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.
This victory carried extra weight. Last season, St. Laurence found itself in the same position—needing just one win against Brother Rice to claim the Catholic League Blue crown—only to get swept. "Winning state was great, but we definitely had this circled for a whole year now," Les said. "It was 365 days of waiting. We wanted this one really bad."
The game also counted as part of the Do It Stevie's Way Tournament, with the Vikings clinching their pool to advance to next week's semifinals. For Brother Rice (21-9, 11-2), Northwestern recruit Nolan Ramoley went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Purdue Northwest commit Treylan Webster finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run.
But the story of the day belonged to Popp, a testament to perseverance in a sport where opportunity can be fleeting. From zero starts to championship hero, his journey is a reminder that hard work never goes unnoticed—especially when it pays off on the biggest stage.