Loe Stands and Delivers in 1-Hitter

Ask 6-foot-7 Kameron Loe of Granada Hills High what it’s like to stand on a mound, and he’ll snicker before revealing the obvious.

“It feels like I’m on top of the world,” he said. “The mound is my favorite place to be and I feel powerful up there.”

Pitching like the giant he has become, Loe pitched a one-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk Tuesday to help the Highlanders defeat Taft, 10-0, in a Northwest Valley Conference opener that was called after six innings because of the mercy rule at Granada Hills.

Dan Frisbee contributed three hits and three runs batted in, and Jon Bringuier hit a two-run home run, his third of the season and 14th of his four-year career at Granada Hills (5-1).

The only hit against Loe (3-0) was a two-out single by Justin Wade to right field in the first inning.

Loe, a senior right-hander, retired 10 consecutive batters between the second and fifth innings, including four in a row on strikeouts.

In 21 innings this season, Loe has struck out 23 while walking four and compiling a 1.33 earned-run average.

Last season, he pitched erratically with occasional bouts of wildness.

But he has finally matured into his body, increased his strength and appears on the way to becoming an elite pitcher.

“He’s throwing real smooth,” Coach Steve Thompson of Granada Hills said.

Added Bringuier: “Every time he goes out there, we know the game’s in his hands. We believe in him.”

Coach Mike Batesole of Cal State Northridge believed in Loe so much he signed him to a letter of intent last November, and there are going to be plenty of jealous college coaches wondering how they let Loe get away.

Loe hopes to follow the path taken by Mike Schultz, former Cleveland High pitcher, who is also 6-7 and entered his senior year not knowing how good he might become.

Schultz ended up an All-City Section pitcher in 1997 and was the West Coast Conference pitcher of the year last season as a freshman at Loyola Marymount.

“I remember him doing quite well,” Loe said of Schultz. “He threw hard and hit his spots. That’s something I’d love to duplicate.”

Granada Hills is the North Valley League title favorite and has aspirations of challenging for a City title.

Last season, the Highlanders struggled defensively.

This season, thanks to solid play from sophomore shortstop Erik Hagstrom, freshman second baseman Ryan Braun and senior third baseman Peter Gunny, the Highlanders have committed only four errors in six games.

“We’re hot with the glove right now and I couldn’t be happier,” Thompson said. “Good pitching and good defense wins games.”

In the past, Loe and pitcher Peter Tuber were frustrated at times because of defensive breakdowns.

“We were pitching our hearts out,” Loe said. “It’s discouraging when your team is making errors, but we’ve made a lot of improvement.”

Frisbee, a senior catcher who entered the game batting .538, gave Loe an early cushion against Taft by hitting a three-run double in the third inning to provide Granada Hills with a 4-0 lead.

Taft (3-3) never was able to threaten Loe, whose fastball has been clocked between 85 and 88 mph.

Granada Hills will soon be tested against Chatsworth and El Camino Real, two Northwest Valley Conference powers.

“By the time we play them, we’ll be ready,” Bringuier said.

Tuesday vs. Taft

Innings: 6

Strikeouts: 8

Hits: 1

Walks: 1