Class of 2023

Devon Almarinez was selected to the varsity soccer team his sophomore year which enabled him to compete alongside his older brother Sports Legends Inductee, Niles Almarinez. The two of them were instrumental in helping Deer Valley High Schools win its first North Coast Section Division 1 Soccer Team Championship over perennial powerhouse De La Salle in the NCS Championship Game.

Following the championship season, Devon decided to compete in cross-country and track & field to improve his endurance for soccer. He won his first cross-country race at the Contra Loma Reservoir Meet which inspired him to continue to compete and train resulting in him being selected 1st Team All-Bay Valley Athletic League and Most Valuable Runner on the Deer Valley Cross Country Team.

Devon was a strong and fast runner who excelled in the 800 meters in track and field.  He was undefeated his senior year in the 800 meters and placed 2nd at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions with a time of 1:55.17 that qualified him for advancement to the California Interscholastic Federation Track & Field Championships. At the conclusion of the season, he was selected 1st Team North Coast Section 3A and 1st Team All-BVAL in Track & Field. 

As a senior, he was selected 1^st team All-BVAL in all three varsity sports in soccer, cross country and track & field. He was honored as the 2002 Deer Valley High School Male Athlete of the Year and a member of the prestigious Contra Costa County Times Top 50 Male Athletes.

Following high school graduation, Devon earned an athletic scholarship to play soccer at the University of San Francisco. After completing his first year of soccer at USF, he decided to transfer to Saint Mary’s College to join his brother Niles on the Saint Mary’s College Soccer Team.

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Through three decades, Michael Amorosa left his footprint on the trails around Antioch High School. He excelled as a cross country athlete at AHS graduating in 1988, and DVC where he went to the State Championships. Earning a full scholarship to the University of Hawaii, Hilo he qualified and ran in the snow at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Wisconsin.

Michael came back to Antioch and became an Assistant Cross-Country coach with Tom Torlakson in 1995. He was hired as the boys and girls head coach in 1996 and for the next thirteen years enjoyed some of the most successful seasons in AHS cross country history. During that time, Coach Amorosa’s runners never had a losing season and racked up a string of highlights, including a 3^rd place finish in Division II Girls Cross Country State Championships and his boys’ team beating De La Salle in 2001 to end their 10 year dual meet win streak at 99. His 1999 girls’ team was inducted into the Antioch Sports Hall of Fame in in 2019.

In 1999 and 2000 his girls’ team won the BVAL Cross Country Championship title. In 1998 his boys won the Division II NCS Championship and in 1999 his girls’ team won the Division II NCS Championship. During his tenure, he coached many outstanding runners including previous Antioch Sport Legends inductees Janie Nolan, Chris Hernandez and Christine Perez

Michael and his wife Amanda currently work in the medical field and live in Placerville, CA with their two children Ameliana and Vinnie who both run for their high school’s cross-country team.

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When Deer Valley reached the 2003 NCS championship game for the first time in school history, Coach Dennis Luquet chose junior southpaw Matt Baugh to start the game. Baugh did not disappoint, holding Clayton Valley to 1 run on 3 hits over 6 innings in the Wolverines’ 4-1 victory. His 10 wins that season tied the then school record, leading Deer Valley to a 23-8-1 record. Baugh was dominate that season with 96 strikeouts (3^rd in school history) with an ERA of 1.96. His accomplishments that season were recognized by Cal-Hi Sports when they named Baugh to their All-State Underclassman team. 

Baugh first opened the eyes of local baseball fans when he pitched a no-hitter against Ygancio Valley as a sophomore. His 5 victories that year were a key contribution to the NCS-bound Wolverine team. Unfortunately, arm injuries shut down Matt after only 9 innings as a senior.  When Baugh wasn’t pitching, he still played a big role for the Wolverines ending his career with a .319 batting average. His 15 wins are currently 5^th in school history despite a shortened senior season.

Matt’s accomplishments earned him a scholarship to the University of Arizona. In his two seasons at Arizona, Baugh had a 2-1 record and 1 save. In the 2005 Pac10 season, he had a 2.38 ERA and 1-1 record and led the Wildcats with 10 appearances. He transferred to USF for his final two years where he appeared in 27 games for the Dons, starting 22 times. He finished with a career mark of 8-5 with 98 strikeouts in 152 innings and was named USF’s top pitcher in 2008.  A highlight was a 10-inning complete game victory over Portland as a senior.

Baugh was a 26^th round selection of the Colorado Rockies, pitching in 19 minor league games over two-seasons.

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Joanne (Viera) Bilbo is a life long resident of Antioch and grew up attending Antioch schools.   She joined the Young Ladies Institute of the Holy Rosary Church chapter at the age of 16 and has held numerous offices including President. She recently was presented with a 75 year member award.

Joanne graduated from AHS in 1949 and was active in the Girls Athletic Association (GAA) where she earned the distinguished Emblem A four years in a row. During her senior year she was honored as the Queen of the Block A Carnival.

In 1960 she married Marshall Bilbo and they raised two children, Ken and Kathleen.  Joanne kept very busy with the activities of her children and was Clerk of the Course for the Pittsburg swim club for over 15 years where Ken and Kathleen swam.

Joanne and Marshall owned and operated Ernie’s Liquors for many years and were very active in Rotary and Antioch Chamber of Commerce activities.  She was also an active member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West and the Friends of the Arts.

Since the inception of Antioch Sports Legends Joanne has been an enormous force behind ASL serving on the Executive Board for over 10 years and coordinating the ticket sales and seating for every Induction Gala where she garnered the nickname of “The Ticket Lady”. She has served as a Board Member of the Antioch Historical Society for nearly 20 years and chaired many of their committees.

In 2014 Joanne was recognized by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce as a finalist for the Citizen of the Year-Lifetime Achievement Award.   She earned the prestigious Founder’s Award in 2011 from the Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame and was presented with a special Lifetime Achievement Award from Sports Legends in 2021.

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Strong, burly and quick, Clark Davidson was a star in numerous sports and excelled in football at Antioch High.  As a junior Clark was a member of the DVAL Championship football team as a defensive lineman.  That set the stage for a fabulous senior season where he was named 1^st team ALL-DVAL defensive lineman and was also named to the 1^st team All-East Bay squad.   He was selected and played in the Contra Costa-Alameda County All-Star Football Game.

Clark went on to play two years at Los Medanos College as a defensive lineman.   He garnered Camino Norte Conference Honorable Mention selections in both his freshman and sophomore season.   Davidson parlayed those achievements into a full ride scholarship to the University of Nevada at Reno.   While at Reno, Davidson was a two year letterman on the defensive line and was part of the Wolfpack’s 1983 NCAA Division 1-AA semifinalist team.

Clark also starred on the track and wrestling mat at Antioch High. He won a varsity letter his sophomore year in wrestling and enjoyed a stellar career in Track and Field in the weight events.  Davidson’s specialty was the shot put and during his senior season he won the DVAL championship and the North Coast Meet of Champions which qualified him for the California State Meet.  His mark of 58’8’’ ranks him third all-time on the AHS shot put record board. He was also a member of the 1979 DVAL Championship track & field team.

Clark continued his track career during his two years at LMC participating in the shot put, discus and javelin setting a then school record in the javelin.  Davidson continued in track at UNR, taking 6^th place in the Shot Put at the Big Sky Conference Championships his junior year and 6^th place in the javelin his senior season.

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After spending her freshman and sophomore years commuting from Antioch to Stockton to play for State Champion basketball powerhouse St. Mary’s High School, Erica made 2 decisions. She would verbally commit to play basketball for the University of Nevada Las Vegas and also return home to play her last two years as a Wolverine under the tutelage of coach Lindsey Lopez Wisely whose team had just won the North Coast Section Title in 2005. To say that decision was a good one would be an understatement. As a junior she would be named to the 2^nd Team All-State Underclass Team and 1^st Team All-League. As a senior she would average 27.6 points and 3.2 assists per game and was named Co-BVAL Most Valuable Basketball Player. She would set the DVHS single game scoring record with 38 points versus Liberty and would end her high school career with 1,052 points ranking her 5^th all-time at DVHS. Along the way she would also be named 2^nd team All-CC Times as a senior and one of the CC Times top 50 girl athletes both years.

At UNLV she would become only the 19^th player to score 1,000 career points. She led the Lady Rebel freshmen in scoring her first year and was one of only 3 UNLV players to average double-figures while leading the team in assists with as a sophomore. Her junior year she was named 3^rd Team All-Mountain West Conference and led the team in scoring with 412 points which ranked 10^th in the conference, scoring in double-figures 23-times. Her senior season started a little slowly as she gave birth to her daughter in late September, but she was back on the court one month later and finished the season as the team’s 3^rd leading scorer with 208 points.

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It is hard to remember when Mason Hibbard was not actively playing one sport or another. From an early age you would find him either in the pool, on the baseball diamond, the basketball court or the ski slopes. To say that being involved in sports was paramount to the Hibbard family would be an understatement. It was a way of life and what one was expected to do growing up.

While Mason is being inducted in the sport of baseball, he truly was a multi-sport athlete at Antioch High which recognized him as Antioch High School Senior Athlete of the Year for his exploits on the diamond as well as the hardwood.

In the era of single sport athletes Mason was the exception. As a junior he was 2^nd Team All-league in baseball and 1^st Team All-League and 1^st Team All-East Bay in baseball his senior year. He was also 1^st Team All-League in basketball both his junior and senior seasons and was Antioch High School’s Most Valuable player in both sports. In addition, the Oakland Tribune recognized him as one of Bay Area’s 1992 Spring Athletes of the Year in baseball.

When it was time to decide on where to go to college and what sport to play, Mason chose the Santa Clara University where he was a baseball walk-on his freshman year. He would go on to become a 3 year letterman for the Bronco’s. His hard work and performance on the field would earn him a baseball scholarship his senior year. Mason was truly a player who would “take one for the team”. That is exemplified in the Bronco baseball record book where he is still #8 all-time in being hit by a pitch which happened 28 times during his career and #3 all-time with 21 his senior season.

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Ashley Hodges success has been the product of hard work, dedication, and a drive to excel. From her triumphs in high school to becoming a standout athlete at Howard University, her journey serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence.

Throughout her high school career she showcased her exceptional talent by qualifying for the CIF State Track and Field Championships in the 800 meter run in both 2006 and 2007. Her accomplishments also included winning the North Coast Section Meet of Champions 800 meters in 2006 and the North Coast Section Tri-Valley 800 meter championship both as a junior and senior. In addition she had a 1600m personal best of 5:02.96, which ranked her second in the North Coast Section.

Ashley’s exceptional talent during high school was further recognized when she was offered a scholarship to prestigious Howard University in Washington, D.C., competing at the NCAA Division I level. During her college tenure she continued to excel, capturing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference individual championship in Women’s Cross Country in 2010, advancing her to the NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship. In addition, Ashley showcased her prowess in the indoor 5,000-meter run in 2011, further solidifying her status as an exceptional athlete. Her remarkable achievements were honored with the prestigious Howard University Most Valuable Player Award for the 2010-2011 track and field season.

After graduating from Howard University, this exceptional student/athlete pursued her passion for law, earning a juris doctor degree from the renowned Georgetown University Law Center. Leveraging her expertise, she embarked on a career as an international anti-corruption lawyer for a prominent New York law firm and is based in Paris, France. Her commitment to justice and integrity continue to drive her forward, making a positive impact on global efforts to combat corruption and promote ethical practices.

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“Lynn has always been involved in sports” said Lorraine Lohmeier, Lynn’s mother. Lynn earned 8 varsity letters at Antioch High School, three each in soccer and softball and two in volleyball. She received her first varsity soccer letter playing for Antioch High as a freshman while still a student at Park Junior High. Lynn was All-BVAL in soccer 3 times, and softball twice. An injury in Lynn’s junior year stopped her from being the first Antioch High student/athlete to earn 4 varsity letters in girls’ soccer. In Softball she was named the Queen of the Mountain Tournament’s top defensive player. She was athlete of the week for the Contra Costa Times, chosen AHS softball team MVP and was named to the All-East Bay Softball team.

To add to her accomplishments, she was named to the 1991 Contra Costa Times All-Star Team after breaking Antioch High School records for bunting and stealing. She also set AHS records that season batting .571 with 28 runs scored, 32 stolen bases with 30 in a row. Her 28 hits were all singles.

Lynn then took her softball talents to Merced Junior College starting at shortstop and second base becoming 1^st Team All-Camino Norte Conference. She had the talent of throwing right-hand and batting left-handed and used her speed on the bases to help lead Merced to the Northern California Regional Softball playoffs.

East County had a number of softball players in Division-1 at the college level in the 1990’s including Lynn at Sacramento State. In 1995 the Sac State softball team made it to the NCAA Collegiate Women’s Division I Softball championships. Additionally, Lynn received the Golden Key award from the National Honor Society in recognition of her outstanding scholastic achievement and excellence. She was also named to the Western Athletic Conference All-Academic team.

Eddie Loretto decided to focus on becoming a full-time kicker his junior year at Antioch High School.  After a year at the JV level, Loretto became an offensive weapon as a senior for the Panthers.  He had 4 field goals that season of 40 or more yards missing only one and was 31-33 on PAT’s. His 47 yarder set the Panther record for longest field goal, a record that stood for 15 seasons. As a senior his accomplishments were recognized by being named 2^nd Team All-League and 1^st Team All-East Bay. In addition, Loretto was named to the San Francisco Examiner’s All-Bay Area team.

Upon graduation, he took his powerful left leg to UC Davis to become a member of the Division 2 powerhouse Aggie football squad.  After redshirting his first year, he was named the starting kicker for the Aggies. In that 1985 season, Loretto hit 16-21 field goals setting a school record for most FG’s in a season.  He was also 37-40 on PAT’s and his 85 points set another school record.  As a sophomore, Loretto was 12-15 on his field goals, landing him a spot on the All-Conference 1^st team.  His senior year saw Loretto connect on all 26 of his PAT’s and 7-12 on FG’s, again earning him 1^st Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention on the Little All-American list.  He graduated as the Division 2 all-time career scoring leader, setting school records for most FG’s, PAT’s and scoring for both a season and career.  He still holds school records for most PAT’s (8) and FG (4) in a game and his 273 career points rank second among all Aggie kickers.

Loretto is currently a history professor at the College of Alameda.  He retired from coaching in 2022 after 12 seasons as special teams coach for Pittsburg High School.

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