Serra baseball coach Craig Gianinno calls Angelo Bortolin a "throwback."

How so? Well, let's start with the fact the kid doesn't have a cell phone -- almost of unheard of for a teen on the San Francisco Peninsula in 2014.

"I play phone tag with people a lot," said Bortolin of the difficulty people have in reaching him. "I don't have a reason (for not having a phone). I don't think I'd really use it that much."

Maybe he doesn't need one because Bortolin -- the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Sophomore of the Year -- is so often playing baseball or just outside in general. You know all those grizzled coaches and athletic directors who complain today's kids are always on the Internet or playing video games? Well, that's not Bortolin.

"I don't like to be inside," the rising Serra junior said. "I get irritated really quick being inside."

Playing on four or five summer teams keeps Bortolin (pronounced Borto-leen) active. Right now he's competing for San Bruno American Legion, the Bay Valley Bombers, TCB and Bases Loaded. Serra also plays in a few events each summer, such as this weekend's tournament hosted by Mitty and Bellarmine, and he'll participate in that.

The constant activity suits the teen, said his mom, Terasa Bortolin.

"Angelo is a basic, simple guy," she said. "He's not good at technology and he doesn't like video games. He doesn't even like to go to movies. He can't sit in one place for that long. He needs to be constantly moving."

Said Gianinno: "Angelo doesn't follow Twitter or anything like that. He's old school, and sort of an old soul. I think it's kind of refreshing."

Dude can also rake. He hit .365 as a sophomore for Serra while playing against one of the most difficult schedules in the Bay Area. The slugging third baseman hit six home runs, one triple and nine doubles and drove in 29 runs.

Gianinno had him in the No. 3 or clean-up spot in the line-up all season and all he did was deliver, managing a .455 on-base percentage and .705 slugging percentage.

It was an impressive first season on varsity for a kid who played JV baseball as a freshman and also was the starting quarterback on the JV football team.

"For a young kid to have his kind of presence at the plate and calmness was exceptional," Giannino said. "He's a hard worker and a real cage rat; he just loves to hit. He's (strong) and has good hand speed. He's teachable and takes feedback well. He's just a great kid."

Gianinno said areas of improvement will be to get the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Bortolin in the weight room and rock him up and to develop his defensive skills at third base.

Already, though, Cal and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo have shown interest in the Padre masher.

Terasa, who didn't play organized sports while growing up in the East Bay, has found the process interesting.

"I'm learning a lot," she said. "I'm just glad he has found something he likes to do. It's nice for him to have a good extra-curricular activity."

Bortolin, a left-handed hitter, said his biggest thrill was hitting his first varsity home run, against San Ramon Valley at home.

"Hitting is my favorite thing to do," he said. "I just like the feeling of hitting the ball. It's like all your hard work has paid off."

For rival St. Francis High, Bortolin could be "the one that got away." Bortolin's father, Stefano, graduated from St. Francis but the Serra slugger -- who lives in San Mateo -- chose Serra after looking into both schools.

"My husband (Stefano) said 'Oh no and I said 'Oh, yes,'" Terasa said with a laugh.

Stefano Bortolin, a second-generation Italian-American, played baseball in the Air Force.

Another decision awaited Serra's rising junior. After quarterbacking the Padres during a winless JV football season in 2013, he has elected not to keep playing football -- that despite a long history at Serra of fostering multi-sport athletes that includes Jim Fregosi, Lynn Swann, Barry Bonds, Gregg Jefferies, Tom Brady and, most recently, Sean Watkins.

The Bortolins said it's an academic decision.

"I'm going to focus on baseball," Bortolin said. Football is a big commitment and I need to get my school work done."

Said Terasa: "He needs to make sure his grades come first. It's tough to play football and baseball when you have subjects like chemistry."

Also considered: Sid Iyer, Bellarmine; Bobby Wood, Homestead; Carter Aldrete, Monterey; Robert Zamora, Lincoln; Arman Sabouri, Branham; Jack Palmer, Scotts Valley.

NOTE: We would like to thank our readers for all of the nominations you sent in for the season-ending CCS baseball awards. It is a daunting task to narrow down our selections to just the top few as we recognize there are lots of great players who make contributions on the diamond that are not necessarily well-documented but mean a great deal to the success of their teams. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of CCS baseball.