HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Wichmann Struggles to No-Hitter, 6-0

Cary Wichmann’s coach at Notre Dame High admits that it was “one of those days,” that Wichmann didn’t have his best stuff but that every hard-hit ball seemed to find its way into a leather glove.

But aesthetics don’t show up in a baseball linescore.

Wichmann, a senior right-hander, tossed the first no-hitter at Notre Dame in seven years as the Knights defeated Bishop Montgomery, 6-0, in a Mission League game at Notre Dame on Saturday.

“It wasn’t the prettiest thing I’ve seen,” Coach Bob Mandeville said. “But a no-hitter is a no-hitter.”

Wichmann (2-0) labored at times and needed 130 pitches to complete the seven-inning game. He struck out six, walked six and faced 25 batters.

“I was tempted to take him out a couple of times,” Mandeville said. “But we had to let him finish it up.”

Wichmann’s no-hitter is the first at Notre Dame since Jack McDowell--a former collegiate All-American at Stanford who now pitches for the Chicago White Sox--turned the trick against Crespi in 1984.

It marked the 21st career victory for Wichmann, who was 12-2 as a sophomore and 7-3 last year.

Notre Dame is 7-0, 2-0 in league play. Bishop Montgomery is 1-5, 0-2.

In other baseball games:

Simi Valley 4, Phoenix Shadow Mountain 2--Tyler Nelson’s two-run single in the third was Simi Valley’s lone hit off right-hander Mark Kroon, but it gave the Pioneers a 3-0 lead in the first round of pool play in the Arizona Spring Classic at Phoenix.

Kroon, who struck out 20 in a 10-inning game Monday and was clocked at 91 m.p.h. against Simi Valley, walked nine and struck out three.

Senior right-hander Derek Rushton (3-0) and reliever James Manzi combined on a one-hitter for the Pioneers.

Manzi earned his second save.

Simi Valley 8, Phoenix Brophy Prep 1--Aaron Fischer’s three-run homer in the fifth gave the Pioneers a 7-0 lead in the second round of pool play in the Arizona Spring Classic at Phoenix.

Kevin Nykoluk was three for three for Simi Valley (9-1), which does not play again until Monday.

Brian Vasey (3-0) did not allow an earned run and struck out five.

Crescenta Valley 3, St. Francis 2--The visiting Falcons (6-2) scored three runs in the first inning of the first-round game of the Babe Herman tournament.

In the inning, Brendon Cowsill doubled in two runs and Ernie Diaz (two hits) singled in Cowsill. Josh Canale (1-1) went the distance and struck out six.

Rio Mesa 12, St. Francis JV 0--Angel Lopez pitched a one-hitter and Dmitri Young hit his sixth home run to lead Rio Mesa in a first-round game of the Babe Herman tournament that was halted after five innings because of the 10-run rule.

Young, who hit five home runs last season, now has 24 home runs in his four-year career, moving him into a three-way tie for fourth on the Southern Section career list. Record-holder Scott Sharts of Simi Valley hit 32 homers from 1986-88.

Mike Mitchell doubled and homered for Rio Mesa (7-1).

Crespi 6--5, Montclair Prep 3--6--Phillip Aghajanian pitched a complete game for Crespi in the first game, but Montclair Prep (4-3) came back to win the second game. Victor Seper had three hits and three RBIs for Crespi (6-4).

St. Paul 6, Chaminade 3--Chaminade surrendered three consecutive solo home runs in the fourth inning of a Mission League game at Chaminade.

Canyon 10, Burroughs 2--Canyon took advantage of six errors in the sixth inning and scored five runs in a Babe Herman tournament game at Stengel Field. Chris Stark had a double and three RBIs and Chad Engbrecht had two hits and two RBIs for Canyon (5-1-1).

Hart 11, Villa Park 1--R.J. Simone (3-0) pitched a three-hitter, striking out nine for visiting Hart (5-4), in the Santa Ana tournament. Keith Halcovich and Shane O’Brien doubled for Hart.

Bosco Tech 4, St. Genevieve 3--Pedro Gutierrez hit a two-run home run in the second inning to help put the Valiants (4-1) on top, but Bosco Tech tied the score in the fifth and scored an unearned run in the sixth to win the nonleague game.

Newbury Park 5, Quartz Hill 1--Ocean Campbell and Robert Fick each had two hits and Bryant Fick pitched a four-hitter and struck out eight to lead Newbury Park (3-6) in a Babe Herman tournament game.

St. Bernard 9, Alemany 1--Andy Diver pitched a complete game--allowing only Gabe Villasenor’s home run--and went three for four with a home run in a Mission League game at St. Bernard.

Calabasas 14, Murphy 4--Alex Armacost and Paul Schaffer each had three hits for visiting Calabasas (1-4) in an L.A. Baptist tournament game.

Harvard 3, Faith Baptist 2--Adam Braun’s three-run home run in the seventh led Harvard (3-5) in the first round of the Faith Baptist tournament.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

Nordhoff d. Westlake, 12-15, 15-13, 15-9, 6-15, 15-5--Kevin Cochran had 24 kills and five blocks and Tim Sebek added 11 kills and eight blocks for Nordhoff (1-3, 3-4) in a Marmonte League match.

SOFTBALL

Canyon 9-9, L.A. Baptist 5-1--Cyna Schuster hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning of the first game, helping Canyon erase a two-run deficit, and homered again in the first inning of the second game. Two batters later, Lisa Jones hit a two-run home run.