Flores throws no- hitter in semis
He avoids quick hook to lead Birmingham into Open Division championship game.
The f irst two batters Lake Balboa Birmingham pitcher Daniel Flores faced Wednesday in the City Section Open Division semifinals against Palisades ended up getting hit by a pitch and walking on four pitches.
“We were ready to get him,” said Birmingham coach Matt Mowry, who has been known to have a quick hook in the playoffs.
Kaden Taque was sent to the bullpen at USC to warm up. The message was coming through loud and clear to Flores.
“I did not want to go out. I did everything I could to stay in,” he said.
Flores saved a quick exit by picking off the runner at second, getting a ground out and f ly out. He proceeded to throw a no- hitter on 106 pitches and send Birmingham ( 22- 8) into Saturday’s 1 p. m. championship game at Dodger Stadium riding a 13game win streak after a 5- 1 win over Palisades.
No- hitters are nothing new for Palisades. The Dolphins also got no- hit by Bret Saberhagen of Reseda Cleveland in the 1982 championship game.
The Patriots have been to the final five times since 2017, and their experience came through in eliminating No. 2seeded Palisades ( 26- 3). Birmingham was able to get eight hits and four runs in four innings off Palisades ace Mason Edwards, who came in with an 8- 0 record and a 1.12 ERA. Trevor Sostman had an RBI single when there was an opening on the right side vacated by the second baseman because Birmingham sent its runner early. There was a two- run triple by JB Dalumpines, who f inished four for four.
Most of all, there was Flores persevering despite walking f ive and hitting two batters. He struck out f ive and never really came close to giving up a hit. The scorekeeper originally ruled a bunt by Palisades in the fifth a hit, but it was correctly changed to f ielder’s choice because first baseman Sostman threw late to third and could have thrown to first for the out.
Catcher Edgar Leon came through defensively for Birmingham, throwing out a runner stealing, catching a pop f ly and making blocks in the dirt.
He was a key contributor after Birmingham lost one of its best players, catcher Gavin Taylor, for the rest of the playoffs because he was found to have participated in a workout with a professional team last weekend in violation of CIF rules.
Mowry will be trying to win a fifth City title.
In the other semifinal, Carson upset No. 1- seeded Granada Hills 3- 2. Highlander pitchers walked seven. Carson will play Birmingham for the Open Division title Saturday.
Carson took a 3- 2 lead in the sixth on a squeeze bunt from Ryan Camacho and a bases loaded walk to Aiden Brasher. Carson, the Marine League champion, got two scoreless innings of relief from Aiden Brasher.
Easton Hawk had three hits for Granada Hills.