Rivas’ perfect outing
MHS Chloe Rivas is perfect in 27-0 rout of PHS
Perfect games are beautifully rare.
No matter the score, the opponent or sometimes even the meaning of the game — a perfect game is unforgettable. No hits, no walks, no runners allowed on base. They’re a testament not only to a pitcher’s skills, but also a talented offense behind them.
Perfect games are beautifully rare.
No matter the score, the opponent or sometimes even the meaning of the game — a perfect game is unforgettable. No hits, no walks, no runners allowed on base. They’re a testament not only to a pitcher’s skills, but also a talented offense behind them.
Every inning, every at-bat — as soon as one becomes aware of the possibility — makes the heart race and creates goosebumps, as people silently whisper to themselves, “Can they do it?”
Because that’s one of baseball’s oldest unwritten rules — never verbally comment that a pitcher’s about to throw a nohitter or pitch a perfect game.
“I knew but I don’t speak out loud about it because a lot of people do,” Monache High School’s Chloe Rivas said after pitching a perfect game Friday. “It’s been jinxed many time this year so I just kind of stay quiet and team stays quiet. I think everybody knows that it’s been jinxed a few times this year.”
One of the best moments from the game was when junior centerfielder, Pricilla Vargas, made a diving catch to get the first out of the final inning and protect Rivas’ perfect game.
“Chloe was dialed,” MHS head coach Dave Koontz said. “She was pitching the pitches. We were working on pitches for the playoffs. We pitched outside, we pitched change ups — we were prepping for the playoffs today. We had a live umpire, we had live batters.”
The reigning CIF Central Section Division II champions are headed to the playoffs once again, this time in Div. I after being moved up after last season. Seeding for the playoffs will be announced today and Koontz expects his team to be seeded somewhere around the No. 6 seed which would give the team a home game to start the playoffs.
Monache (25-3, 10-0 EYL) came out swinging to finish as EYL champions for the fourth year in a row. Senior lefthanded slugger Jessenia Castillo went 6-for-6 with three doubles, a triple, seven RBIS and five runs scored. Rivas was another top hitter after going 3-for-3 with a three-run home run, a double, six RBIS, three runs scored and three walks. Almost half Monache’s team is batting .400 or over this season with Castillo (.597) and Rivas (.571) leading the way.
“We weren’t trying to run it up in any shape or form, I hope that’s how it came off,” Koontz said. “Mainly what we were telling the girls today was, ‘Dial in for the playoffs. Work to the playoffs. Work on certain things.’ And when Chloe’s throwing the ball like that, it’s pretty hard to work on things because she was just dominant. That’s the only word I can use.”
Between starting pitcher Desiree Medrano and reliever Isabelle Alvarez, the Panthers gave up 16 hits and 13 walks but struckout one batter. Monache scored three runs in the first inning and then scored 11, five and seven over the final four innings of the game, respectively.
“They (Porterville) were a little overmatched today,” Koontz said. “They were game though, they never quit. You heard the dugout, [PHS head coach Jennifer Schoonover’s] got them working. They didn’t give up.”
Porterville’s players cheered all inning, every inning; whether it was from the dugout or on the field, they played their hearts out for their Senior Night game. The loss left the Panthers just under .500 on the season and out of playoffs.
Schoonover said the
team made her first season easy as players were really inclined to listen and absorb what she taught them. She added that her seniors were true leaders who showed their fellow teammates what that word meant.
“I tried to make them the best softball players that I could,” Schoonover said. “And I think I truly got that out of them. But for my first year, I loved it. I enjoyed it. It’s a lot different on the other side of the line but it’s okay. It’s just my first year. A lot of my former coaches told me the first year is the hardest but if anything, it was amazing and wonderful because of the girls that I had.”
But while Porterville wraps up their season, Monache prepares for the postseason. This season the Marauders are 4-1 against Div. I teams and they’re ready for the playoffs to begin.
“That team right there — that pitcher, that starting 10 — they can play any team in the Valley,” Koontz said. “I’m confident.”