The Mayer/Maile Magic Carpet Ride

April 25, 2018

AJ Mayer and his Covington Catholic teammates hoisted the Sweet 16 championship trophy in Rupp Arena.

BY MIKE FIELDS (April 25, 2018)

Amy Mayer is one happy sports mom/aunt these days, and she almost feels guilty about it.

Her and husband Andy’s sons AJ and Michael were integral players on Covington Catholic’s state championship football and basketball teams.

Her nephew Luke Maile (son of her brother Rich and wife Laurie) is playing some terrific baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays.

And her nephew Jack (Luke’s brother), a football and baseball standout at CovCath, led the Colonels to victory over arch-rival Highlands at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati over the weekend.

“It is all kind of unbelievable,” Amy said. “It’s kind of like, ‘Is this real? Somebody pinch me because I feel like I’m dreaming.’ It’s like we’re overwhelmed with goodness and blessings. It’s almost like a Disney movie.”

It began with CovCath’s Class 5A football title last fall. AJ starred at quarterback; Michael at defensive end/tight end, and Jack as a two-way lineman as the Colonels rolled through an undefeated championship season.

It continued with CovCath’s run to the state basketball title, with AJ and Michael playing key roles in the Colonels’ run to the Sweet 16 championship in Rupp Arena last month.

Luke Maile

When the calendar flipped to April, Luke Maile, a former standout catcher at CovCath (he was Kentucky’s Mr. Baseball in 2009) and at UK, made headlines and highlights with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Taking full advantage of limited playing action as a backup, Maile is hitting .414 (12-for-29), including a walk-off hit against the Kansas City Royals. He has 9 RBI and 7 runs.

“Is that not phenomenal?” Amy said. “It’s so exciting for him. Luke is such a great role model for his cousins. We’re just in awe.”

AJ has enjoyed watching Luke blossom this spring.

“He’s been all over twitter and all over Cincinnati web sites,” Mayer said. “He’s done such a great job. It’s really cool to see.”

Then last Sunday, with the Cincinnati Reds on the road, high school teams got to play in GABP, and Jack Maile starred on the big stage. The senior left-hander threw a two-hit shutout and drove in two runs as CovCath routed Highlands 11-0.

While Jack Maile will attend UK on an academic scholarship, AJ Mayer has signed to play football at Miami of Ohio. Michael Mayer, a sophomore, already has football offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and just about every other national power.

Dick Maile was a basketball star at LSU in the 1960s

The Mayers and Mailes have good sports genes.

Granddad Dick Maile was a CovCath star who went on to become an All-American and two-time All-SEC basketball player at LSU.

Rich Maile was a three-sport athlete at Highlands who went on to play football at Dayton and UK. (Rich and Laurie’s oldest son Ben played football and baseball at CovCath.)

Andy Mayer was a Cincinnati high school standout and played college baseball at Ohio University.

“We were kind of born into athletics,” AJ said. “And all that’s happened with the family feels amazing.”

Amy Mayer said it’s almost an embarrassment of riches.

“We all know real life is hard, and people have hardships, while we’re over here winning championships and getting scholarships and everybody’s healthy,” she said. “It’s humbling and you have to stay grounded. It’s awesome, but it’s still a small part of the big life we all have. Believe me, we don’t take it for granted.”

The Mayer/Maile Magic Carpet Ride

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