Once, in the fourth grade, Ryan Sifferlen scored nine goals in a hockey game.¬ 

Save for the fact that his team didn't win — the contest ended in a 10-10 tie — it was a special day.¬ 

"Unbelievable," he said of the performance, which foreshadowed his recent exploits. "Nine goals in anything is difficult."¬ 

A prolific youth career has given way to a prolific schoolboy career. Sifferlen, the recipient of the 2008-09 Max Bishop Award as the region's top three-sport athlete, consistently excelled in soccer, hockey and baseball at North Andover High.¬ 

"He's easily the most competitive athlete I've been around and probably the most intelligent," Scarlet Knights baseball coach Todd Dulin said. "He's a genius when it comes to athletic intelligence."¬ 

Sifferlen, who plans on playing baseball at UMass Amherst, finished fifth in the area in batting average (.463), second in runs (30) and was tied for 10th in RBIs (17) — all team highs — this spring.

The "athletic intelligence" Dulin talks about manifested itself on the base paths.¬  Even without an errant throw to buoy his mad dash, Sifferlen once scored from second on a bunt.

"The first baseman was not paying attention," Dulin said of the daring run, which happened against Newburyport. "The next thing you know (Ryan's) halfway down the (third base) line."

Sifferlen, an Eagle-Tribune All-Star in baseball and hockey, also stole home twice. The first time was during a 13-2 win over Whittier Tech.

"It's so much fun," said Sifferlen, who led off and played center field for the Knights. "All my teammates were laughing. It definitely lightened up the mood."

Sifferlen, a lanky 6-foot-2, knew what to do when he reached third.

"Any time the pitcher was going from the windup and the count was just right," said Dulin, who pointed out that Sifferlen averaged about a hit, a run and a stolen base per game during his three-plus year varsity career. "We just made eye contact and I gave the hitter the take sign."

Sifferlen could've slayed the Wildcats on his own that afternoon. He went 6 for 6, scored three runs and fell a home run short of the cycle.

"He's definitely one of the best I've played with," Eagle-Tribune All-Star pitcher Michael Weisman said. "His instincts are perfect."

Big man (literally) on campus

North Andover hockey coach Denis Barrette once called Sifferlen a "tower" on the ice. He isn't exactly Zdeno Chara, but Sifferlen is quite intimidating on skates.

"So many kids look up to him because he's so tall," said friend Jenn Pino, a fellow Max Bishop Award winner. "They look up to him as a college player. He looks like one. It surprises me that he's not going to college for hockey."

He won't be skating for UMass, which plays in the powerful Hockey East. Still, that doesn't take away from the season he had this winter.

The prolific All-Scholastic forward took home Cape Ann League MVP honors, was second in the area in goals (27) and third in scoring (50 points). He finished his career with 91 goals and 168 points and was Eagle-Tribune MVP as a junior.

While he wasn't quite as prolific in soccer, his presence was definitely felt on the field. Last fall, he scored six goals and made the CAL All-Star team.

"I enjoyed learning all three sports," said Sifferlen, whose father Brian was a standout basketball guard for the Knights from 1979-81. "It definitely helped me as a person."

Still, the John & Abigail Adams Scholarship winner's true love remains baseball.

"I've never seen him loaf at all," Dulin said. "In practice he goes 100 miles an hour."

During the season, Sifferlen regularly dominated North Andover's line drive elimination drill.

"You keep hitting as long as you keep hitting line drives," Dulin said. "He outlasts whoever he's up against."

Said Weisman: "You can't really strike him out. He's always making solid contact."

Good pitching brought out the best in him, too. Against Andover in the Lawrence Tournament, he went 1 for 3 against William & Mary-bound John Farrell.

"He almost took Farrell's head off with a line drive," Dulin said.

Sifferlen, fittingly, ended his career in style. He hit a scorching .613 (19 for 31) during the Scarlet Knights' historic run to the Division 2 North title. Going 2 for 3 in the sectional title game at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, he said, was special.

"Not a lot of people get to do that," said Sifferlen, whose younger brother led the basketball team in scoring this winter.

Now it's on to college. Dulin, for one, expects big things for Sifferlen, who will begin his career at UMass as a walk-on.

"If they just give him a chance," Dulin said, "he can play with anyone."

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Ryan Sifferlen's Senior year

Fall: Cape Ann League All-Star in soccer scored six goals.

Winter: All-Scholastic and Eagle-Tribune All-Star was the CAL hockey MVP. He tallied 27 goals and 23 assists.

Spring: Eagle-Tribune All-Star center fielder hit .463, scored 30 runs and drove in 17 more. Hit .613 (19 for 31) during the Scarlet Knights' run to the Division 2 North title.