Roundup : Navarro (8-0) Tosses a No-Hitter for Helix, 1-0

Jerry Schniepp was an assistant coach for the Helix High School baseball team when Rick Navarro made his pitching debut as a freshman. It was a moment that Schniepp, now the head coach, and Navarro, one of the county’s top pitchers this season, would both just as soon forget.

Navarro faced five batters in a game against Madison that had been lost long before he got to the mound. Navarro made the afternoon longer by allowing three home runs, hitting a batter and walking one.

“I felt so bad for him,” Schniepp said. “I thought he’d walk off the field crying. I felt like crying.”

No need to shed tears for Navarro now.

Navarro, a senior who started the season with a career 4-10 record, improved his season record to 8-0 Tuesday as he threw a no-hitter, defeating visiting Grossmont, 1-0, in a battle of undefeated Grossmont League teams. Third-ranked Helix (6-0, 13-2) managed to sneak in a run before Grossmont turned a triple play to end the only scoring of the game.

There was only one play that nearly spoiled Navarro’s no-hitter. And, as he has done since Little League, Navarro depended on his catcher, Rick Page, to come through.

With one out in the sixth inning, Tom Liles tried a surprise bunt.

“I ran out and I still had my mask on,” Page said. “I looked up and I couldn’t see the first baseman. I kind of reached out when I threw it. It didn’t have much steam on it.”

It had enough to catch Liles just before he stepped on the bag.

Navarro had control of the Grossmont lineup the entire game. He struck out 13, and every batter in the lineup went down on strikes at least once. After the bunt attempt, Navarro struck out the next four batters, including Grossmont’s third, fourth and fifth batters in the seventh.

“I was trying to confuse them,” Navarro said. “Rick called a great game. We’ve been catching and pitching together since Little League. I know what he’s going to call. I rarely shake him off.”

Considering the years they have played baseball together, it seemed fitting that Page would score the run that would give Navarro the victory.

Page opened the fourth inning with a walk and moved to third when Grossmont pitcher Mark Gapski’s pickoff throw sailed over the first baseman’s head. Rich Haar then singled in Page, and Dan Tiumalu singled to put runners at first and third with no outs.

Grossmont (4-1, 9-6), however, got out of the inning with a triple play. On a hit-and-run play, Jason Ledford hit a hard line drive that Gapski caught above the knees. Gapski threw to third to get Haar and Kent Smith threw to first to get Tiumalu.