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Spring training ends today in the Valley. Pitchers and catchers have been here since early-to-mid February with the rest of the team wrapping up a long month of practice games. One of those athletes, now based in Los Angeles, had good reason to visit St. Mary’s High School — his alma mater — along with a few other baseball notables while in town.

Check out the story I wrote for our Web site:

The number 14 will never show up on a St. Mary’s baseball roster again.

Andre Ethier, a St. Mary's High School alum, now plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

One of the last Knights to wear that number is now one of the five greatest hitters in the Major Leagues, according to baseball legend Tommy Lasorda.

St. Mary’s High School officials retired the number 14 jersey March 24 in honor of Andre Ethier. The ’00 St. Mary’s High School alumnus spent three years on varsity and is now an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The retirement came at the end of an hour-long, schoolwide assembly in which Lasorda and Rick Monday, a Dodger broadcaster, commended Ethier on his dedication to the sport and to his dream.

“This young man made it happen,” Lasorda told St. Mary’s students, who crowded around both Catholic stars later for photos and autographs. “Self-confidence is the first step to success.”

Ethier knew no one would hand him the key or tell him how to hit it big, but that he needed to work hard to get to the Major Leagues, Lasorda said.

Ethier, who also attended St. Gregory School, spent hours in the batting cage with his dad perfecting his game as a high schooler. He also bounced around between community fields for team practice.

Those experiences drove home a lesson no would could teach the left-handed silver slugger.

“It’s not the field. It’s not the equipment. It’s not the team. It’s what the person makes out of it,” the right fielder said. Ethier turned pro despite not being highly recruited after high school.

Pat Murphy, who once coached Ethier at Arizona State University and now works for the San Diego Padres, also commended the 2009 Clutch Performer of the Year.

Tommy Lasorda, left, and other baseball notables affirmed Andre Ethier's talent, character.

“He has garnered the respect of so many people in Major League Baseball,” Murphy said, who all-too-casually invited Ethier to play for Arizona State University.

That respect didn’t come solely from his talent — which, with 31 home runs last year, is formidable. The respect is also due to Ethier’s character, Murphy said. He was focused as an athlete and was a leader, especially when it came to helping young kids at baseball camp.

“He showed a genuine concern for young people,” Murphy said.

Ethier took a break from spring training in Glendale to motivate students at his alma mater. He told them the hard work must continue beyond high school and advised them to be kind to everyone they meet because they’ll end up running into those same people down the road.

Jim Sanford, St. Mary’s athletic director while Ethier was a Knight, presented Ethier’s retired jersey to the crowd. Ethier said the honor has not yet sunk in.

“This is the last thing I ever thought would happen,” he said.

That’s not the case for his former English literature teacher. Gabriel de Paul, knowing his student’s strengths, collected an autographed ball from Ethier long before graduation.

When Ethier complied, he added, “Hang on to this because some day I’m going to go pro.”

Two other St. Mary’s alumni currently play professional baseball.

The school has never retired a baseball jersey before, but earlier this year retired the St. Mary’s jersey that Phoenix Suns center Channing Frye wore as a Knight.