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By Loren Kopff
John Glenn’s baseball team sent a statement to the rest of the Suburban League this past Wednesday, which basically says do not overlook Victor Sanchez. The junior left-hander took a perfect game into the sixth inning and settled for a no-hitter as the Eagles slammed host Norwalk 11-0 this past Wednesday on a windy and damp day that began with sunshine but ended with light rain.
Sanchez threw his fourth complete game of the season in as many starts, all wins, and threw his second shutout. He has allowed only three runs this season as Glenn improved to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in league.
“It’s big for Victor,” said John Glenn head coach Jack Brooks. “I really believe he’s one of the best players in this area that no one knows about or talks about. He’s a great student and works his tail off out here. He deserves everything he gets.”
Sanchez had thrown 48 pitches through five innings, striking out five and getting to a three-ball count once. But he led off the bottom of the sixth by walking senior left fielder Jonathan Sanchez, who would get thrown out at second moments later. The next batter, junior center fielder Bryan Villalobos, reached on an error. But Sanchez struck out senior first baseman Ruben Urtez and junior left fielder Gabe Anaya. Sanchez ended with seven strikeouts and threw 76 pitches.
“He threw three fastballs in a row [to Jonathan Sanchez], I believe,” Brooks said. “He just missed low and away. It’s a tough deal. They were definitely balls. It wasn’t like it was a tough call. He was one pitch away.”
Offensively, the Eagles pounded out 11 hits with Victor Sanchez helping his own cause with a three for four, two runs batted in performance. He had a two-run double in the top of the third that made the score 8-0 and was a home run away from hitting for the cycle. Junior shortstop Jacob Carr, making his return to Norwalk after transferring following the football season, went two for three and drove in two runs while junior third baseman Angel Chavez also went two for three. Carr is one of four former Norwalk players to have transferred to Glenn but Brooks insisted that had no affect on the game.
“The transfer stuff has nothing to do with anything,” Brooks said. “It’s just an emotional game every year and it’s the first league game. The first league game is huge. Now I know it was their third but it’s our first league game and the first league game of any sport is a big game. You always want to win your league opener. We were ready to go. The kids did a good job handling all of the outside talk.”
Glenn will host Norwalk (3-6, 0-3) today and Southlands Christian on Monday before visiting Artesia on Wednesday. The Lancers will host Bellflower on Wednesday.
In other baseball action, Artesia dropped to 3-9 overall and 1-2 in the Suburban League after a 9-2 home loss to La Mirada this past Wednesday. The Pioneers will visit La Mirada today and host Glenn on Wednesday. Cerritos was also a victim of a no-hitter this past Wednesday as Bellflower’s Mike Miranda performed the feat in a 5-0 win. The Dons (6-7, 1-2) will visit Bellflower today and travel to Mayfair on Wednesday.
Valley Christian lost its fourth straight game, all in the Olympic League, after a 7-2 setback to Whittier Christian this past Wednesday. The Crusaders (2-5, 0-4) will host Firebaugh today, a doubleheader with Rancho Alamitos on Saturday and Maranatha on Tuesday. Whitney remained winless at 0-8 overall and 0-3 in the Academy League after a 25-0 road loss to Crean Lutheran this past Tuesday. The two teams will meet today at Cerritos Park East before the Wildcats visit St. Margaret’s on Tuesday.
SOFTBALL
Artesia lost its third straight Suburban League contest when La Mirada blanked the Pioneers 14-0 this past Wednesday. Artesia (4-5 overall) will visit the Matadores today and host Glenn on Wednesday. Cerritos improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in league with a 19-0 win against Bellflower this past Wednesday. It’s the third straight shutout for the Lady Dons, who will visit the Buccaneers today and host a doubleheader against St. Joseph on Saturday before visiting Mayfair on Wednesday.
John Glenn was shutout by Norwalk 5-0 this past Wednesday in its league opener to drop to 5-7 overall. The Lady Eagles will host Norwalk today. With the win, Norwalk stopped a five-game losing streak and won for the second time in 12 games this season. The Lady Lancers (2-10, 1-2) will host Bellflower on Wednesday.
Valley Christian is also struggling and is on a 12-game losing streak after dropping its final two games of the Diamond Bar Tournament last Saturday. The Lady Crusaders visited Downey Calvary Chapel on Apr. 3 and will begin Olympic League play on Tuesday against Maranatha. V.C. then visits Village Christian on Thursday. Whitney has played three games thus far, winning once as the Lady Wildcats host Crean Lutheran on Tuesday in their Academy League opener.
