Hall of Fame-caliber performance turned in by Alahambra’s Ramirez
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On the eve of Ralph Kiner Day in the city of Alhambra, senior right-hander Noe Ramirez showed off a hall of fame-caliber curveball Friday to lead the Moors to an 11-2 victory over Montebello Schurr in an Almont League game at Schurr.
Ramirez, who has signed with Cal State Fullerton, struck out 11, walked one and allowed five hits to improve his record to 7-0 and 17-0 over the last two years. Alhambra (19-2, 10-1), which had a 17-game win streak ended by Schurr on Tuesday, pounded out 16 hits, including three each by Ramirez and Robert Olivarez.
On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., Kiner, a 1940 Alhambra graduate who was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1975 after starring as an outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates, will attend a special dedication ceremony at Almansor Park, where a statue of him will be unveiled.
“We know he’s big time,” Ramirez said. Ramirez, 6 feet 2 and 170 pounds, has been a big-time player for Alhambra since his freshman season, when he threw five shutouts in league play. As a senior, he has 70 strikeouts and eight walks in 48 innings. He’s also batting .500 (34 for 68).
“I’m not going to miss him,” Schurr Coach Ken Marrero said. “I’m tired of seeing him.”
Ramirez figures to be an effective college pitcher next season for the Titans because he throws strikes, mixes up his pitches and has a sweeping curveball that can make batters look silly. On almost every strikeout Friday, Schurr hitters went down because they couldn’t handle the curve.
“I had my curveball on,” Ramirez said. “I try to get the most spin I can.”
Added Alhambra Coach Steve Gewecke: “It’s an out pitch at any level. When he gets that going, he’s tough to beat. He has great rotation on it.”
Noe is the third Ramirez brother to play for Gewecke, and for four seasons, despite being a marked player, he has handled the pressure and attention, staying humble and focused. “He’s been an outstanding citizen from Day 1,” Gewecke said.
Now, the major goal for Ramirez is helping Alhambra gain respect in Southern Section Division III, a tough baseball division with such teams as Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Encino Crespi and Covina Northview.
Gewecke said it’s his best team in 12 seasons, led by the pitching of Ramirez and Olivarez (7-1). The challenge will be performing well in big games. Alhambra must still defeat second-place Montebello next week to clinch the league championship.
But in Ramirez, the Moors have a player who’d make Kiner proud because of the way he plays the game.
-- Eric Sondheimer