A Ballpark Figure : Pitcher Alonso Lopez Is King of the Mound at South Gate High

Alonso Lopez’s fastball doesn’t leave a vapor trail like Roger Clemens’ of the Boston Red Sox. His slider doesn’t make a catcher’s mitt smoke like recently retired Nolan Ryan’s of the Texas Rangers. And he doesn’t play with a rock band in his spare time like Jack McDowell of the Chicago White Sox.

But the 18-year-old South Gate High School senior has something in common with these Major League pitchers: winning.

Last year, Lopez enjoyed the best season of any pitcher in Rams’ history. He was a perfect 11-0 on the season, with a 1.58 earned-run average. He collected one of his two saves in South Gate’s 9-5 City 3-A Championship win over Crenshaw. Lopez, who didn’t give up a home run all year, struck out 63 batters in 79 innings while walking only 15.

“Alonso’s key thing is control,” said Coach Mike Ryan. “Lots of kids in high school can’t throw the curveball across the plate, but Alonso can.”

In addition to throwing an accurate breaking ball, Lopez can bring the heat.

“Alonso’s fastball is not overpowering, but it has lots of movement, which makes it difficult to hit,” Ryan said.

On the mound, Lopez is the picture of composure, never changing his stoic expression from the first out to the last.

“He is so focused that he doesn’t even like to bat,” assistant coach Scott Pearson said of Alonso, who did go three-for-four on the year with two runs batted in. “I can’t remember a team having a big inning against him.”

Last season’s City 3-A championship would showcase Lopez against Crenshaw’s Mark Jones, the area’s pitching ace. Jones was selected City Times Pitcher of the Year and City 3-A MVP. During the regular season, Jones was 16-0 with a remarkable 1.00 ERA and posted back-to-back no-hitters against San Pedro and Gardena.

But Jones did not make it past the fourth inning, giving up six hits and six earned runs while walking eight batters. Ironically, after Jones’ exit, Lopez came on in the fifth inning to get the save for South Gate, establishing himself as the new king of the hill.

“We wanted Alonso to go in and bring home the win, and that is exactly what he did,” Ryan said.

Among those at the 3-A championship game were Lopez’s brother, Jorge Luis, 38, and sister, Martha, 23, who live with him in South Gate. “I knew he had a good record,” said Martha Lopez, “but I didn’t realize he was as good as he is. After I watched him pitch, I was amazed.”

Lopez’s parents and 10 other brothers and sisters live in Mexico.

“I came to America to get an education, and my primary goal is to finish school,” Lopez said. “Maybe one day I can own a business.”

Lopez tried to enroll at South Gate in 1990, but because the school was overcrowded, he attended Reseda High in the San Fernando Valley. There he pitched on the varsity team as a 15-year-old freshman.

Lopez entered South Gate the following year and pitched on the Rams’ junior varsity team. “The varsity staff was already set, and (the coaches) wanted to bring him along slowly,” Ryan said. “He was 5-1 in the Central League that year, and by the end of the season, I knew he would be my No. 1 pitcher.”

Lopez doesn’t mind bearing that responsibility again.

“The thing I like about pitching is that I am more responsible for our team winning and losing than any other player,” Lopez said. “I have a lot of confidence that I am going to do well.”

Lopez is not only confident but competent, possessing great mechanics on the mound and being in superb physical condition. A member of the school’s Marathon Club, he runs six miles a day as well as up and down the bleachers in the football stadium.

“Alonso is probably the best athlete on the team,” Pearson said.

“Because of all the running he does, Alonso has grown a lot in his legs, which will give him even greater stamina,” Pearson said. “A lot of pitchers get tired from standing as the innings go on, but Alonso pitched seven complete games last year.”

But Lopez needs to gain velocity on his fastball to compete professionally.

Pearson said this too will come in time: “Alonso is still growing. He has gotten two inches taller and gained 12 pounds since last season. As his legs grow, he will pick up speed on his fastball.”

Lopez will anchor perhaps the area’s best pitching staff.

Senior Rick Alcantar, who was 6-1 last season with a 2.77 ERA, and junior David Correa, who was 6-1 with a 1.95 ERA, top South Gate’s five-man pitching rotation.

“We have a big chance to win the championship again because we have most of our key players back,” Lopez said. “I will be even better as a pitcher because I have more experience and know more about the batters.”