PREP BASEBALL : Freeway League Roundup : Sunny Hills Takes the Title in No-Hitter Against Troy

Nearly lost in the midst of celebrating only the second league baseball championship in Sunny Hills High School’s 29-year history Tuesday was a no-hitter tainted by eight walks and two hit-batsmen.

Starter Brian Veronda had the rare distinction of being replaced in the midst of pitching a no-hitter in the sixth inning after walking the bases loaded, but reliever Ryan Frace struck out four of the six batters he faced in host Sunny Hills’ 5-1 victory over Troy.

The victory gave Sunny Hills (18-7 overall, 12-2 in league) the Freeway League title, matching the school’s only other championship in 1985. Sunny Hills holds a two-game lead over Troy with one game left to play.

“It (no-hitter) didn’t even enter my mind,” said Doug Elliott, Sunny Hills coach. “We won the ballgame, and that’s all I care about. League titles have been pretty hard to come by around here.”

Veronda (5-1) walked seven and hit two batters but managed to avoid any trouble thanks to a couple of fine plays by Sunny Hills shortstop Benny Rodriguez and several key strikeouts.

But when Troy (15-7, 10-4) loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth inning and trailing, 5-0, Elliott never hesitated in motioning for Frace to enter the game.

“I didn’t even know he had a no-hitter,” Elliott said. “You mean they didn’t get any hits today? I didn’t know that.”

Troy avoided a shutout when Tho Nguyen scored while Frace induced Darby Carmichael to hit into a double play and then Frace struck out the side in the seventh to clinch the title.

Sunny Hills scored all of its runs in the third inning with two outs off losing pitcher Tom Wilson (8-1). Right fielder Jeff White hit a two-run single, and the Lancers benefited from some sloppy play by Troy’s outfielders who committed three errors in the inning.

“That inning took the life out of us,” said Dan Robinson, Troy coach. “They’re good, that’s why they’re No. 1 in the league. Veronda is right up there with the best pitchers we’ve faced this year, although he was a little wild today.”

The game was delayed for 15 minutes in the sixth inning when plate umpire Scott Daniels was hit in the face by a wild pitch and had to be treated by local paramedics. Daniels suffered a deep facial cut but continued to umpire the game following treatment.

La Habra 4, Fullerton 3--The Highlanders (12-8, 8-6) scored three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Rob Szente had a two-run double and David Stevens followed with an RBI single in the inning. Tom Juarez (3-3) scattered eight hits for the victory. Chris Rubal had two hits for Fullerton (11-10-1, 8-6).

Sonora 8, Buena Park 7--The Raiders (7-16, 3-11) scored two runs in the top of the seventh for the victory. Jack Hay tied the score, 7-7, with an RBI single and Kevin Cook then walked to force home the go-ahead run. Stuart Cochran of Sonora had four hits.