Benicia no-hit by Clayton Valley
Left-handed Oakley allows just three baserunners in complete-game win
Clayton Valley Charter High has one of the quirkiest and most original nicknames in all of Northern California — the Ugly Eagles.
There certainly was something unique about Clayton Valley lefty Mason Oakley on Tuesday against host Benicia.
The St. Mary’s College commit fired a no-hitter over seven innings and the visiting Ugly Eagles cruised 7-0 in the Diablo Athletic League baseball matchup. Oakley allowed just three baserunners — two walks and an error. He retired 14 of 15 to start the game.
“(Oakley) was definitely on. There’s no doubt about it,” said Benicia head coach Alex Soto. “He didn’t break a sweat. He knew exactly how he wanted to throw every single pitch.”
Clayton Valley head coach Casey Coakley said Oakley threw a no-hitter as a sophomore two years ago against Tokay.
“He was just locating and getting ahead with the fastball,”
“That was amazing. I’ve been playing since I was 5 or 6 years old and I don’t think I’ve seen a catch like that. I’ve maybe seen over the fence or diving but not like that ... maybe on Sports Center. That was fabulous. And that batter? He’s one of the best ones we’re going to see. He blasted that.”
— Alex Soto,
Benicia head coach.
Coakley said about Tuesday. “He has two pitches, he works extremely hard. He’s the real deal.”
The Panthers (1-2, 0-1) made very little hard contact against Oakley. The best-hit ball of the day might have been first baseman Gabe Martinez’s lineout to right field in the first inning.
Oakley struck out seven, including the final two batters of the game. After the final out was recorded, he put his head down and walked toward the dugout but his teammates gave him a few shoves and forced him into their celebration.
The Ugly Eagles (2-2, 1-0) took control with a fourrun third against Benicia starting pitcher Ciaran O’Connell.
Jordan Bolden walked to lead off the inning, stole second and scored on Ryder Helfrick’s chopper. Benicia third baseman Devin Mason threw home but the throw was a tad late and Bolden slid in safely. Helfrick stole second and third and then scored when Leighton Helfrick slapped a single to center. With two outs, Oakley’s two-run single to left knocked in two more.
Even though there technically wasn’t an error in the inning, Benicia did not help itself defensively.
“Our coaches were just telling our guys that if we make mistakes like that in this type of game, it’s going to be compounded,” Soto said. “We made a couple of little mistakes and then when we don’t hit, it makes it worse. (Clayton) is a very strong team.”
The Ugly Eagles added one more in the fourth inning and threatened for more but Benicia left fielder Riley Edwards robbed Jacob Kreig of extra bases and two potential runs when he leaped and caught Kreig’s line drive, crashing into the wall.
Soto said it was one of the top catches he’s seen.
“That was amazing,” Soto said. “I’ve been playing since I was 5 or 6 years old and I don’t think I’ve seen a catch like that. I’ve maybe seen over the fence or diving but not like that .. maybe on Sports Center. That was fabulous. And that batter? He’s one of the best ones we’re going to see. He blasted that.”
Unfortunately for Benicia, that was the final highlight of the game. The Ugly Eagles added single runs in the fifth and sixth to put the game out of reach (if it wasn’t already).
Two seasons ago, the Panthers won a North Coast Section crown but finished in fourth place in the DAL. Soto expects plenty of difficult opponents again.
“Without a doubt, I think Clayton Valley is the favorite. I’ve heard from several other people that they feel they’re the best,” Soto said. “But I expect every team to be tough. I think our kids should want to play the best teams every day. I think our schedule will show that even some of the teams in the lower division (of the DAL) are still strong teams.”