Don Larsen is renowned for pitching the only perfect game in the World Series. That came on Oct. 8, 1956, as the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the Fall Classic.
Chula Vista High School junior Antonio Garcia made some history of his own Tuesday afternoon by pitching a perfect game in a 1-0 win over the visiting Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders in a San Diego Section Division III play-in game.
While no-hitters are not that uncommon in high school or youth baseball, perfect games are another story.
The San Diego Section record book lists 12 perfect games dating back to 1963.
La Costa Canyon’s Trent Swart recorded the most recent perfect game listed in the record book on April 13, 2011, against Oceanside. El Capitan’s Ken Walling recorded the first on April 19, 1963 in a 4-0 win over Granite Hills.
Three players on the list had thrown perfect games in May, the month when the section playoffs traditionally start.
Madison’s Patrick Evertsen, who would later pitch for William Penn University, recorded his name in the annals of prep history when the Warhawks defeated Clairemont, 10-0, on May 21, 1998.
“I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a perfect game thrown on this field,” CVHS head coach Jim Westlund said after the Spartans scratched across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to eke out the 1-0 win and make history.
“I’m not even sure if anyone has ever pitched a perfect game in the CIF playoffs.”
If Evertsen didn’t accomplish that feat, then Garcia certainly did.
The Spartan hurler would also make the celebrated CIF list as the first Metro Conference pitcher to toss a perfect game.
“It feels amazing, an unbelievable experience,” noted Garcia when he finally was able to put words to his emotions going through his body. “It’s a chance to cherish something for the rest of my life.”
Through most of the game, however, Garcia admitted he didn’t know he was on course to make history.
“It never came to my mind that I would do something like this,” he said. “I just wanted to do my best for my team each inning and that’s what it added up to in the end.”
Garcia faced the minimum number of 21 players, struck out 10 and threw a total of 82 pitches.
His teammates made 11 put-outs behind him.
The game took one hour and 25 minutes to complete.
“I didn’t think about it until the (other) coaches told me about it,” Westlund said. “I was wondering if we’d be able to scratch out a run for him. They (the Crusaders) had been playing good defense. Their pitcher (Ryan Flores) was lights out, too.”
The Spartans continue to honor the late Bob Kennedy with a graphic in their dugout. The manner in which the hosts won the game could be interpreted by some as being heaven sent.
With the score still knotted 0-0, CV’s Jorge Lucero led off the bottom of the seventh inning by being hit by a pitch — the first offering of the frame.
Danny Gonzalez promptly laid down a sacrifice bunt along the first base line that moved Lucero to second base.
Albert Munoz then sent a line single into right field — just one of three hits in the game by the hosts — to score Lucero for the game-winning run.
“I was just trying to get on base any way I could, be a team player,” Lucero said.
Garcia said he knew he had good stuff before taking the mound.
“My change-up and slider were working since I threw the first pitch in the bullpen (prior to the game),” he said. “I had the idea that I could come out and dominate. I wanted to use my best stuff.”
Garcia said he came close to tossing a no-hitter last year but lost it in the sixth inning. He was confident he could come through this time around, confident his team would give him that one run he needed to make it happen.
“I knew they would come through for me because I had come through for them,” the CV pitcher said.
The fifth-seeded Spartans, who improved to 15-14 on the season after finishing 6-6 in Mesa League play, advance to the double-elimination portion of the playoff bracket.
Mater Dei Catholic, which defeated newly crowned South Bay League champion Olympian, 10-6, in another play-in game on Monday to earn the No. 12 seed, ends its season 15-19 after finishing 5-5 in South Bay League play.
Chula Vista won last year’s Division IV championship but moves up a playoff division this season. The Spartans open double-elimination play Wednesday at fourth-seeded University City. Second round play is scheduled for Friday.
“This is what the goal was at the beginning of the year,” Westlund said. “Anyone in the double-elimination bracket can win it. Obviously, the teams that are seeded there are there for a reason. But it’s a great way to start the playoffs, not only with a no-hitter, but a perfect game.
“This game was historic for a number of reasons.”
CIF notepad
Eastlake (25-3-1, 11-1 in Mesa League) received the No. 1 seed in the Open Division bracket while Torrey Pines (25-6) was seeded second. Rancho Bernardo (24-6) is seeded third while Helix (21-8) is seeded fourth.
Granite Hills (15-11) received the No. 1 seed in the Division I bracket, followed by No. 2 Grossmont (16-11-1), No. 3 Westview (18-11) and No. 4. Madison (16-12). Bonita Vista (13-14) is seeded eighth in the division.
Mission Hills (24-7) received the No. 1 seed in the Division II bracket, followed by Francis Parker (19-10) at No. 2, Santa Fe Christian (19-7) at No. 3 and Otay Ranch (18-9, 7-5 in Mesa League) at No. 4.
Imperial (23-4) received the No. 1 seed in the Division III bracket, with San Ysidro (17-14, 3-9 in Mesa League) seeded third in the division after No. 2 Coronado (21-9). Chula Vista was seeded fifth while Hilltop (10-18) received the No. 10 seed in the division.
Holtville (21-5-1) received the No. 1 seed in the Division IV bracket, followed by No. 2 Foothills Christian (19-10), No. 3 San Pasqual (18-10) and No. 4 Mar Vista (19-10). Castle Park (15-13) is seeded eighth in the division.
Southwest (17-12) is seeded first in the Division V bracket, followed by No. 2 Mountain Empire (17-4), No. 3 Calvary Christian Academy (15-3) and No. 4 Lincoln (20-8). High Tech High Chula Vista (12-10) received the No. 7 seed in the division.
Barons, Trojans pick up play-in wins on Tuesday
Two Metro Conference teams opened the 2018 San Diego Section playoffs with play-in victories on Tuesday.
Bonita Vista, seeded eighth in the Division I bracket, defeated ninth-seeded Christian, 3-1, in a game played on the Barons’ home field. Nate Nankil scored the first run for the hosts in the first inning on a base hit by teammate Rumble Reyes.
The visiting Patriots tied the game, 1-1, on a home run by Trent Nielsen in the third inning.
Bonita Vista tacked on two runs in the fourth inning to provide the team’s winning margin. Eric Nakano and Daniel McElveny each scored runs while Omar Vega and Alec Bruce each collected one RBI.
Vega, who pitched six-and-two-thirds innings allowing six hits and striking out five batters, picked up the win.
Both teams finished with six hits in the game. Brad Jeremiah took the loss for Christian, which saw its season end with a final 12-17 record.
The Barons, who evened their record at 14-14, advanced to the double-elimination round with a game scheduled Wednesday at top-seeded Granite Hills (16-11).
In other play-in games on Tuesday:
Division III
(7) Rancho Buena Vista 2, (10) Hilltop 1
Hilltop ends its season 10-19.
Division IV
(8) Castle Park 11, (9) High Tech High San Diego 4
Notes: Diego Martinez went 3-for-4 at the plate and picked up the save to earn player of the game honors while Emilio Luna (3-for-4), Derek Diaz (2-for-3) and Jeffrie Villegas (2-for-4) each drove in two runs. The Trojans (16-13) pounded out 17 hits to grab the win.
Division V
Vincent Memorial 10, High Tech High Chula Vista 3
HTH Chula Vista ends its season 12-11.
Twelve South County teams qualify for San Diego Section baseball playoffs
A total of 12 South County high school baseball teams earned admission to this year’s San Diego Section playoff tournament.
Championships in five divisions will be contested June 1-2 at UC San Diego and the University of San Diego.
Prior to that, teams began their playoff odyssey in a series of play-in games to the double-elimination bracket on Monday and Tuesday.
Eastlake (25-3-1, 11-1 in Mesa League) received the No. 1 seed in the Open Division bracket while Torrey Pines (25-6) was seeded second. Rancho Bernardo (24-6) is seeded third while Helix (21-8) is seeded fourth.
Granite Hills (15-11) received the No. 1 seed in the Division I bracket, followed by No. 2 Grossmont (16-11-1), No. 3 Westview (18-11) and No. 4. Madison (16-12). Bonita Vista (13-14) is seeded eighth in the division.
Mission Hills (24-7) received the No. 1 seed in the Division II bracket, followed by Francis Parker (19-10) at No. 2, Santa Fe Christian (19-7) at No. 3 and Otay Ranch (18-9, 7-5 in Mesa League) at No. 4.
Imperial (23-4) received the No. 1 seed in the Division III bracket, with San Ysidro (17-14, 3-9 in Mesa League) seeded third in the division after No. 2 Coronado (21-9). Chula Vista was seeded fifth while Hilltop (10-18) received the No. 10 seed in the division.
Holtville (21-5-1) received the No. 1 seed in the Division IV bracket, followed by No. 2 Foothills Christian (19-10), No. 3 San Pasqual (18-10) and No. 4 Mar Vista (19-10). Castle Park (15-13) is seeded eighth in the division.
Southwest (17-12) is seeded first in the Division V bracket, followed by No. 2 Mountain Empire (17-4), No. 3 Calvary Christian Academy (15-3) and No. 4 Lincoln (20-8). High Tech High Chula Vista (12-10) received the No. 7 seed in the division.
HIGH SCHOOL 2018 BASEBALL STANDINGS
(Through May 22)
Mesa League
League/Overall
Eastlake 1-1, 25-3-1
Otay Ranch 7-5, 18-9
Chula Vista 6-6, 15-14
Bonita Vista 6-6, 13-14
Hilltop 5-7, 10-19
Montgomery 4-8, 9-18
San Ysidro 3-9, 17-14
South Bay League
League/Overall
Olympian 7-3, 11-16
Southwest 6-4, 17-12
Mar Vista 5-5, 19-10
Mater Dei Catholic 5-5, 15-18
Castle Park 4-6, 16-13
Sweetwater 3-7, 6-18
Summit League
League/Overall
High Tech High San Diego 6-0, 16-13
High Tech HighChula Vista 4-2, 12-11
Liberty Charter 2-4, 9-12
Chula Vista LCC 0-2, 4-5
Citrus League
League/Overall
Calvary Christian Academy 5-1, 15-3
Mountain Empire 5-1, 17-4
Ocean View Christian Academy 1-5, 8-9
Victory Christian 1-5, 4-12
