Cougars quartet combines for no-hitter
- Updated: April 30, 2019
2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
East County Sports staff report
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (4-30-2019) – Seven years ago, pitchers from the Seattle Mariners fired a no-hitter, nipping the Los Angeles Dodgers, 1-0. Unlike most no-hit games, a record-tying five relief pitchers were utilized in support of starter Kevin Millwood.
On Monday (Apr. 29), Steele Canyon High’s game plan was to utilize several arms in a rain makeup contest, matching the results of the Mariners with a victory by a no-hitter.
Buoyed by two innings each from J.J. Burns, Ben Serrano and Dylan Carr, followed by a closing inning by Klay Daley, the Cougars gained a share of first place in the Grossmont Valley League by blanking visiting El Cajon Valley, 21-0. The quartet collected 12 strikeouts and walked just one.
Steele Canyon’s pitchers retired the first 15 batters they faced, but after an especially long inning in the bottom of the 5th inning — nine runs from 14 batters — the Braves’ leadoff batter in the sixth walked.
However, the Cougars’ defense turned an inning-ending double play. The only other ECVHS baserunner came on an error to open the seventh, as Steele Canyon faced just one batter over the minimum.
The offense saw reserve Gabe Vidana drive in four runs, while Cade Stein had three RBI. Both players collected three hits, while Stein and Sebastian Granados each hit sacrifice flies.
Steele Canyon (16-7 overall, 7-1 GVL), which has won 13 of 14 against CIF San Diego Section schools, is now tied for first with Valhalla. The teams close the season meeting in a home-and-home series.
ECVHS (2-16-1,0-8 GVL), which saw Hejar Hussein walk, has now lost 63 straight league games dating back to a 2-1 win over Monte Vista in 2015.
MADISON 3, CHRISTIAN 0: At Mitchell Field, Warhawks pitchers Dylan Rains and Christian Becerra combined on a 5-hit shutout of the host Patriots in Monday’s (Apr. 29) Western League contest. The win lifted Madison into second place, passing Cathedral Catholic and to within a game of front-running Scripps Ranch.
Rains struck out two over his 5.2 innings, then Rains retired all five batters he faced to garner the save.
Connor Ball batted 3-for-3 with a double for Madison (16-9 overall, 7-2 league), which gained a pair of unearned runs in the 1st inning.
For Christian (9-16, 0-9 league), catcher Matt Souza and right fielder Clay Wehsener each collected two hits.
