Sophomore Zoe Marrott from Campolindo of Moraga had the strange line of 0-for-0 with two runs and two RBI in recent game. Kevin Padlo from Murrieta Valley of Murrieta, meanwhile, is having an all-state type of season. Photos: Harold Abend.
Pitching phenoms Theron Kay and Brynne Fitzpatrick putting Valley Christian teams in good shape looking ahead to the postseason. With the bat, Tino Luigi of Sacramento McClatchy, Efrain Del Rio of Dos Palos and Dani Romero from Patrick Henry of San Diego all crush three homers in one game.
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As has been customary for many years, we collect the state stat stars in support of the Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book & Almanac. The book has been published seven times (the most recent, though, was 2009) and is as official as a state record book can be since no other exists. To report a State Stat Star of the Week of your own, please email details to markjtennis@gmail.com.
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(Mostly for games played April 21-April 25 but including some from this week; thanks to CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett for continued contributions to this feature and to the state record book.)
BASEBALL
Joseph Merrill (Buena, Ventura)
Not only did he strike out 11 and not allow a run but he also didn’t allow a hit as he pitched a no-hitter during the Bulldogs’ 8-0 win over Buhach Colony of Atwater at the Righetti tourney.
Efrain Del Rio (Dos Palos)
He didn’t hold anything back when at the plate against Mendota as he set a new school record by hitting three home runs while driving in five runs during a 12-2 win.
Tino Luigi (McClatchy, Sacramento)
While it won’t earn a spot in our Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book the feat he turned in last week is still an impressive one. Luigi homered in three straight at bats during a win over Florin. According to Joe Davidson from the Sacramento Bee, those three home runs also were the first home runs he hit in his entire life. We have a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section record of four straight homers set in 1993 over two games by Pete Gascon from Amador of Sutter Creek.
Joey Pledger (Terra Nova, Pacifica)
Doing something that most players will not ever do, this sophomore standout hit for the cycle and drove in four runs against El Camino of South San Francisco.
Tristan Beck (Corona)
It was a week full of no-hitters last week and he was one of them to do it. Beck tossed his no-hitter and struck out six during a 1-0 win over Santiago of Corona in Big VIII League play.
Jacob Evangelho (Sierra Pacific, Hanford)
Going 3 for 4 with two doubles, two stolen bases and three runs batted in wasn’t even the story for him during a 12-0 win over Strathmore. Evangelho also was on the mound striking out 12 while pitching a no-hitter.
Theron Kay (Valley Christian, San Jose)
No stranger to a spot in our weekly state stat stars, he pitched a no-hitter during a 9-0 win over San Benito of Hollister. It was Kay’s second no-hitter of the season. His first was against Archbishop Mitty. San Benito and Mitty aren’t exactly chump teams to no-hit, either.
Erick Ascencion (Kaiser, Fontana)
As the offense was putting up runs in bunches, he wasn’t allowing the Colton offense to get anything going as he struck out five and didn’t allow a hit during a 12-0 win.
Jack Flaherty (Harvard-Westlake)
A potential first round draft pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, he remained undefeated this season as he allowed just two hits while striking out 15 during a 5-0 win over Capistrano Valley Christian.
Nick Lavin (La Jolla Country Day, La Jolla)
Making just his third start of the season, he walked five while striking out seven as he no-hit Bishop’s during a 9-0 win.
Ben Mora & Kevin Padlo (Murrieta Valley, Murrieta)
Murrieta Mesa has to be hoping they don’t have to face Mora anymore after he pitched a no-hitter during a 9-0 win. Padlo had two hits and drove in two runs. The Area Code Games standout from last summer also leads the Nighthawks on the season with 15 runs batted in. Two weeks ago, Padlo went 3-for-3 with a homer in a win over Great Oak.
Daniel Morales & Caleb Bush (Calvary Chapel, Santa Ana)
The two combined to pitch a no-hitter during a 17-0 win over Saddleback. Morales also had a nice day at the plate as he had three hits, scored three runs and drove in two runs.
Griffin Canning (Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita)
Matching zeroes with Notre Dame-bound Charlie Vorsheck, this UCLA-bound standout struck out 13 during a 1-0 win over Mater Dei of Santa Ana in eight innings of Trinity League play.
Hudson Hughes (Foothill, Santa Ana)
Hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning, he finally ended a 13- inning contest with his second home run of the game in a 3-1 walk-off win over El Dorado of Placentia.
Jackson Simsgaard (Thousand Oaks)
He pitched nine shutout innings during the Lancers’ 1-0 win over Newbury Park in 11 innings.
Daniel Rocha (Narbonne, Harbor City)
Picking up his sixth win of the season on the mound, he struck out 10 during six innings of a 7-0 win over Oak Park at the St. Paul tourney.
Rory McDaid (Capuchino, San Bruno)
In addition to pitching a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in a 11-0 win over Woodside, McDaid also collected three hits at the plate and had three RBI.
Kale Morton (Glendora)
Continuing to make his senior season one to remember, he moved to 7-0 on the mound and allowed just one hit while striking out 10 during a 1-0 win over Rancho Cucamonga in Baseline League play.
Felix Rubi (Kennedy, Granada Hills)
Doing his best impersonation of Seattle Mariners’ pitcher Felix Hernandez, he had 10 strikeouts in five innings during a 13-0 win over Reseda.
Alfredo Llort (Rancho Alamitos, Garden Grove)
Extending his scoreless innings streak to 28 innings, this sophomore sensation pitched his third straight complete game shutout during a 6-0 win over Los Amigos of Fountain Valley.
Brennan Carey (Aragon, San Mateo)
Not only did he get the win on the mound during a 7-4 win over Hillsdale of San Mateo, but he drove in five runs and hit a three-run walk-off home run.
Scott Shultz (Fountain Valley)
Moving to 9-0 on the season, he pitched a two-hit shutout during a big 6-0 win over Huntington Beach in Sunset League play. He also picked up a save in the Barons’ other game against the Oilers.
Matt Sakowski (Garces, Bakersfield)
He went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate and scored three runs during a wild 16-15 win over Highland of Bakersfield.
Kaylee Carlson from Pacifica of Garden Grove has been a top pitcher in Southern California for three seasons. Courtesy photo.
SOFTBALL
Dani Romero (Patrick Henry, San Diego)
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, this sophomore became the 13th player in section history to hit three home runs in a game when she went 3 for 3 with the three home runs while driving in five during a 20-1 win over Morse of San Diego.
Brynne Fitzpatrick (Valley Christian, San Jose)
Following an 18-strikeout performance against Mt. Pleasant, this Cal-bound junior struck out 16 as the Warriors handed Archbishop Mitty of San Jose its first loss of the season with a 3-1 win. Earlier this week, she had 16 strikeouts against Sacred Heart Cathedral and has now struck out 286 batters in 133 innings.
Zoe Marrott (Campolindo, Moraga)
The team has struggled, but this UCLA-bound standout and our state freshman of the year last season had a strange performance last week when she was 0 for 0 with five walks and two RBI while also getting the win in the circle during a 10-7 win over Las Lomas of Walnut Creek. Marrott is still swinging a strong bat with a .444 average but obviously is seeing nothing to hit.
Caitlyn Emberson (Taft)
It was a long five innings for Bakersfield Christian as this junior led the offensive attack with five hits, two homers and eight RBI in a 36-0 win for the Wildcats. Teammate Haylee Tracy had just two hits but drove in six runs in the victory.
Karynne Johnston (Paloma Valley, Menifee)
Pitching a perfect game, she struck out nine for the Wildcats during their 14-0 win in five innings over Perris.
Trinadad Lee (Ridgeview, Bakersfield)
Going a perfect 3 for 3, she hit two home runs and drove in six during a 7-0 win for the Wolf Pack over Golden Valley of Bakersfield.
Kaylee Carlson (Pacifica, Garden Grove)
The Mariners moved to 6-1 in Empire League play with a 2-0 win over Kennedy of La Palma and this North Carolina-bound pitcher was the reason for that. She allowed just two hits while striking out 13.
Kaycee Olson (Frontier, Bakersfield)
While her name is almost like the one listed before her, Kaycee she did her damage at the plate and not in the circle as she had a double and a home run while driving in a career high six runs during a 11-1 win over Bakersfield.
Hailey Hilburn (Canyon, Anaheim)
Getting the start in the circle against Esperanza of Anaheim and its ace Hayley Copeland, it was this junior who has committed to Utah that picked up the win. She allowed just three hits and struck out 12 during the 4-0 win for the Comanches.
Micaela Vierra (Huntington Beach)
It was no surprise that the Oilers’ game against Marina of Huntington Beach ended with a 1-0 final score as this Santa Clara-bound senior outpitched Michigan-bound Tera Blanco. Vierra allowed just three hits while striking out eight.
Emily Orosco (Camarillo)
In a 6-0 triumph over Rio Mesa of Oxnard, Orosco had seven strikeouts and pitched a no-hitter.
Brook Miko (San Juan Hills, San Juan Capistrano)
The Stallions improved to 10-10 on the season with a 13-2 win over Laguna Hills behind Miko, who went a perfect 3 for 3 with two home runs and five runs batted in.
Reyna Carranco (Oxnard)
Named the Softball Athlete of the Week by the Ventura County Star, this sophomore went 8 for 9 with two doubles, two triples and a homer while driving in six runs during three games at the Thousand Oaks tournament. In a 15-3 win over Pacifica of Oxnard in five innings, she was 4 for 4 with two doubles and two triples while driving in four runs.
Karissa Frazier (Chaparral, Temecula)
Striking out 12, she allowed just one hit during a 7-0 win over Temecula Valley. Her effort also helped the Pumas improve their record to 17-7 on the year and 3-0 in Southwestern League play.
Jacey Phipps (Carlmont, Belmont)
Just a sophomore, she showed off her speed during a 7-3 win over Woodside as she went 4 for 4 with two triples.
Alexandria Melendez (Valley View, Moreno Valley)
Not only did Melendez pitch all 10 innings in the circle to get the win but she also drove in the game-winning run during a 4-3 win over Canyon Springs of Moreno Valley.
Paul Muyskens is the Stockton office assistant editor for Cal-Hi Sports and can be seen around town also working for the Stockton Ports and University of the Pacific. Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Paul and Mark on Twitter: @CalHiSports
