Menlo College senior starter Daniel Chavez put his pitching hand at risk in the ninth inning of a blowout. He had good reason.
Chavez pitched his first collegiate no-hitter, and the second in Oaks history, as Menlo beat visiting Simpson, 7-0, in the first game of a Cascade Collegiate Conference doubleheader Friday.
“When he snared the ball barehanded I thought that was the one that made me know he was going to get it,” Menlo coach Jake McKinley said. “It’s just a tribute to his hard work and him getting to the point where he can command the baseball with three different pitches. He was exceptional today and he’s been exceptional all season.”
The Oaks completed the sweep with a 12-2 drubbing of Simpson in the nightcap, behind a 7-inning complete-game from Kyer Vega.
Chavez opened the top of the ninth by spearing, with his bare hand, a hard one-hopper back to the mound.
Oaks shortstop James Threw followed with even a better play. He raced behind second base to track down a slow grounder and was able to nail the runner by a whisker. A routine fly out to right fielder Alex Boucher completed the no-hitter.
Mickey Phelps, who had three hits in the contest, gave Menlo a 1-0 lead in the first inning with his third home run of the year.
Boucher drove in a pair of runs and collected three hits, Nate Harris was 4 for 4 with an RBI, and Daniel Comstock, Threw and Nick Quejado also drove in runs.
Menlo’s offense remained hot in the second game with Sam Shapiro delivering a double, home run, three RBI and three runs scored.
The Oaks (7-11, 20-21) complete their four-game series with Simpson with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Men’s soccer
Menlo’s recruiting class got a little better Friday with the signing of local standout Salvador Herrera-Farias.
Herrera-Farias currently starts at centerback for Santa Clara Sporting 95B, ranked first among U18 boy’s soccer teams in the United States by GotSoccer.
“Salvador is a champion, and we are extremely happy to have him in our program,” Menlo coach Eric Bucchere said. “It’s a good day for our program when local players as good as Sal are choosing to play at Menlo because of our academic standards, and our style of soccer. Salvador is going to be a staple of our team for the next four years.”
Softball
Menlo College had its Cal Pac Conference game with visiting Embry-Riddle postponed due to rain Friday.
The Lady Oaks (0-0, 8-11), who have not played since March 14, are scheduled to meet the Lady Eagles (1-2, 9-22) in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Menlo Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Menlo Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Menlo Athletics