BY MATT JOCKS
CORRESPONDENT [email protected]
HEMET — Things went almost flawlessly for Hemet High’s baseball team Friday. Once the game began, at least.
The Bulldogs’ playoff run began ominously when starting third baseman Nathan Bagby injured his hamstring in pre-game warmups. From there, however, problems were hard to find as Hemet rode a dominant pitching performance by Augie Gallardo to an 8-0 victory over El Monte Mountain View in a Division 5 first-round game.
Gallardo, locating his fastball and curve to near perfection, retired the first 11 batters and left after six innings, having allowed just two hits and a walk.
Having not pitched since facing Hemet Tahquitz eight days earlier, Gallardo said, “You get really, really eager. I just wanted to pitch.”
Gallardo sailed through the first three innings on 31 pitches, not allowing a ball to be hit out of the infield and facing only one three-ball count. He was an out away from a fourth perfect inning when Josh Martinez’s grounder scooted under second baseman Chad Dotinga’s backhanded attempt.
In mastering Mountain View’s bats, Gallardo was aided by a quick start at the plate from the Bulldogs (15-12) and some assistance from Mountain View (15-8-1). Cody White’s run-scoring single turned into a three-run first inning when Mountain View right fielder Nathanial Leyva overran it. Hemet added two runs in the second, both on wild pitches.
Down early, Mountain View got a little less disciplined at the plate.
“Yeah, I felt like they were going after some things out of the zone,” Gallardo said. “I was still trying to find my zone at that time.”
Hemet added to the lead on Tim Olvaney’s run-scoring single in the third and Anthony Necochea’s booming, two run triple in the fifth.
“The guys are clicking right now,” Hemet coach Mike Arnold said. “In the playoffs, it’s huge when you can jump on a visiting team like that … It gives the defense some leeway and gives the pitcher some leeway.”
The Bulldogs coped well with the loss of Bagby, whose status for Tuesday’s second round is uncertain. Chris Wolford moved into the lineup at first base and White moved from first to third, where he played last season.
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