For the last 12 years, a member of the Giffin family has not only attended Santaluces, but played on the varsity baseball team. Family members who have worn Chief white and red are: Ryan, class of 2007, Kiernan, class of 2009, Braden, class of 2012, and graduating senior McKay Giffin. During this year’s senior night, the whole family gathered on the mound for one last picture with a Giffin in a Chief uniform.
Baseball is nothing new in the Giffin family.
“I started when I was seven, Kiernan started at the age of two,” said Ryan Giffin, who is a Santaluces graduate and former baseball player for the Chiefs. “And Braden started when he was seven. McKay started around the same time. I think he started playing during tee-ball.”
The family started their baseball legacy when Ryan grew interested in the Yankees and in the sport of baseball.
“Well, me being the oldest, I watched the Yankees and became a Yankees fan, my neighbor was a Yankees fan and got me into the sport,” he said. “We would play baseball in the neighborhood growing up and eventually I came to Santaluces.”
For the Giffins, family has always been an vital key to success in the sport.
“Our parents have always been there for us, for all the games we either played or sat in, they were always there,” said Kiernan.”For the past 20-some years, our parents have come out to each game to support us, they took care of everything. For all of us, our parents have made a great impact on us.”
For coach Franco, he enjoyed the Giffins too. “Well it’s pretty to have four brothers that all played baseball, went to Santaluces, and that all played for the same head coach. Said Franco.
“It was great, Ryan has come back to even be the JV head coach,” said Franco. “We’re very close and McKay is the last Giffin to come play at Santaluces for me, and maybe one day I’ll coach Ryan Giffin’s newborn son who was born in January.”
McKay is the final Giffin to play for the Chiefs, and he credits all his successes throughout his four years to his brother Ryan, who also coaches Junior Varsity baseball here at Santaluces.
Giffin chimed in on his career at Santaluces.
“My brother Ryan just made me into the type of ball player that I am now,” said McKay. “I don’t think I’ve been able to do as much as I’ve done without his help.”
