PREP FLASHBACK : THIS WEEK IN COUNTY PREP SPORTS HISTORY

10 YEARS AGO

Perfect Start: In the early season, coaches will often say the pitchers are ahead of the batters, or that the batters are ahead of the pitchers.

At Pacifica, the pitchers were definitely ahead of the opposing batters.

Pacifica improved to 2-0 when junior left-hander Jeff Osterode pitched a perfect game to defeat Santiago, 6-0.

Osterode struck out 11 of the 21 batters he faced. He also had two hits, including a home run, two runs batted in and two stolen bases.

Dave Cohen and Andy Rife each had a diving catch to preserve the perfect game. Osterode pitched out of a three-ball, no-strike count in the third inning before striking out the batter, and Osterode went from an 0-2 count to a full count before ending the game with his 11th strikeout.

5 YEARS AGO

Outpatient Services: John Hefler had surgery on his separated left shoulder in December and had a blood clot in his right shoulder. But just 3 1/2 months later, Hefler was instrumental in leading Santa Ana to a 5-4 victory over Santa Ana Valley in the championship game of the Newport-Mesa baseball tournament.

Hefler hit a two-out, two-run triple in the fifth inning to give Santa Ana a 4-1 lead. But the Saints’ pitching staff couldn’t protect it, allowing three runs on one hit and five walks in the sixth inning. So Hefler came in from center field to pitch and shut down the rally. That set the stage for Hector Olivares, who hit a home run to lead off the seventh, Santa Ana’s winning run.

“(Doctors) told me I’m not supposed to be doing anything,” Hefler said. “But it’s not hurting me and this is my life. The first doctor told me not to do anything strenuous, and I got a second opinion who said I should take it easy. But I feel great.”

Santa Ana Coach Bill Ross said, “Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. He wanted to be a switch-hitter last year and now he’s had to be. The other (doctor) seemed to think (the clot) was nothing unless it starts putting pressure on and makes his arm fall asleep like it did in the summer. I don’t want him to throw him too much to find out if it’s a problem, but so far it hasn’t bothered him.”

The victory was Hefler’s second of the season for Santa Ana, which was 3-0 after the victory.

1 YEAR AGO

Up In Arms: In a week of great pitching, three Orange County pitchers had no-hitters.

Brian Faddoul pitched a perfect game as Kennedy beat Bolsa Grande, 3-0; Servite’s Chad Rollish pitched a no-hitter and struck out 18 in the Friars’ 4-0 victory over Bishop Montgomery, and San Clemente’s Ken Dolan pitched a no-hitter and struck out 10 in a 4-2 victory over Capistrano Valley.

Was it luck? Coincidence?

Kennedy Coach Chris Pascal wasn’t going to take anything away from his ace, but he admitted, “You have to be a little lucky to pitch a no-hitter, much less a perfect game.”