No. 1: The reason for Ian

1. Ian Josephson

Senior, shortstop, Serra

Ian Josephson is a firm believer in the power of a vision board. He subscribes to the theory that an aspiration is merely a dream until it is written – and put into existence – for all to see.

And once written and in constant view, the objectives are transformed into goals. The vision board, thus, becomes a powerful tool for manifestation.

But nowhere on the dry-erase board in Josephson's bedroom in San Carlos was there a mention about breaking Serra's single-season hit record.

"I never even thought about something like that," said the St. Mary's College-bound shortstop.

It stands to reason. Serra's baseball tradition – littered with names like Bonds, Brady, Fregosi and Jefferies – is storied and its record book might be considered the high school baseball version of the Holy Grail, at least on the Peninsula.

And yet, after the final pitch had been thrown, after De La Salle broke the hearts of Padre Nation with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to walk off Serra for the Northern California crown last month, Josephson, who admits he was "surprisingly unemotional because we had left everything we had on the field," stood at the top of Serra's single-season hit list with 55.

"I had no idea I was even close to that," he said after breaking the previous mark of 54 hits set in 2002 by Brandon Ramsey. He had no inkling he was in the vicinity of Ramsey's record, saying that information was kept from him to keep its significance from weighing him down. "Our team manager, Tamer Muhawieh, told me after I broke it."

Now it's his mark until someone breaks it but let it be known that it won't be an easy standard to surpass. Collecting 55 hits in 35 games – including a share of the Peninsula's home run lead with seven – requires steadiness and consistency along with a ton of good fortune. There were just six games this season where Josephson went hitless.

"His high level of consistency was remarkable and will go down as one of the best seasons in Serra baseball history," said Padres coach Mat Keplinger.

It also requires the will to fight through the tough times – the high school season, a three-month marathon, is rife with adversity. Josephson strung together his remarkable season as he battled a strained hamstring for the entire second half of the season. The injury came in early April as he ran to first following a single in a 9-6 victory over St. Ignatius Prep.

"I felt it grab, and I limped around for a bit," he said. He was replaced by a pinch-runner as he went to the clubhouse, relaxed a bit and took some Advil. When the Padres were retired and went back on defense, he was back on the field. That was his attitude throughout.

"There was never a game in my senior year that I wanted to miss," he said.

So, he toughed it out and he didn't miss a game.

"He was a superstar from start to finish this year," Keplinger said. "He played a gold glove level of shortstop, hit for power, average and stole bases."

Playing with the injury required that Josephson pick his spots on the bases. The stolen base opportunities that were no-doubters early in the season, came to depend on the situation. And despite the balky hammy, he never stopped hitting.

It didn't go unnoticed by his contemporaries.

“He rakes," said Mitty shortstop Waylon Walsh, who will be playing at Santa Clara University in the fall and will again line up against Josephson. "He’s got a pretty swing,”

Amazingly, Josephson said he went into this season with some uncertainty.

"I had never played shortstop at the varsity level and wasn't sure if I could," he said, quickly ending any doubt.

Josephson was solid on defense. He was the best glove in the WCAL. In a NorCal semifinal victory over Los Gatos, Josephson made three inning-ending plays with runners on base to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard.

"I've always wanted the ball in that situation," Josephson said after the 3-0 victory. "I'm excited when the ball's in my hands. To watch someone else stresses me out but getting the ball makes me feel at home."

It's fitting that game – his final on Dan Frisella Field – ended with he and teammate Evan Bradshaw turning a 4-6-3 double play.

"That was a great way to end it," said Bradshaw, the No. 4 player on the Postseason Prime 31. "I love playing in the middle infield with that guy."

He was instrumental in the Padres securing the WCAL regular-season title and had a big role in a 3-2 victory over Valley Christian in the CCS-Division I championship game – their first CCS title since 2009 – at San Jose's Energy Park by being a constant in the field.

"That game was about as storybook as could be," he said. "You can't draw it up any better. It was one of those games where we made sure we left it all out there."

Season Highlight: Late in the game on Senior Day, a 12-0 victory over Riordan on May 9, the Padres warmed up for the seventh inning. Before the first pitch was thrown, Nate Hui came out of the dugout and ran to shortstop, replacing Josephson, who left the field to a loud ovation from the Serra crowd. "That really felt good," he said. "I'll always remember that."

"In our clubhouse, we have jerseys of all the guys who made the majors. To be around that kind of talent and suddenly be in the conversation is humbling."

The Numbers Tell the Story: Besides the school-record 55 hits, Josephson had 20 walks and an on-base percentage of .582. He had a .761 slugging percentage and 1.343 OPS. Defensively, he had a .971 fielding percentage.

Eye-Popping Stat: Josephson had a .394 career batting with 93 hits, 72 runs scored and 63 RBI. He leaves Serra with a career on-base percentage of .503.

What Others Say: To get to watch him all year was amazing. Ian works hard every day, and it showed in the way he played in our games." – Evan Bradshaw, senior second baseman, Serra.