Taft Batters Are Helpless Against El Camino Real

El Camino Real High opened West Valley League play Tuesday against Taft with a historic pitching combination.

In the varsity game, Chris Gallo pitched a five-inning no-hitter in the Conquistadores’ 15-0 victory.

In the junior varsity game, Brian Brende pitched a five-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts in an 11-0 victory.

The misery continued for Taft. Kevin Fitzpatrick of El Camino Real pitched a five-inning perfect game with 11 strikeouts against the Toreadors on Thursday in a junior varsity game.

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Notre Dame usually uses a portable fence for home games, making it easier to hit home runs. But on occasion, the Knights remove the fence.

That occurred most frequently when Alemany had home-run hitters Bill Scott and Jon Tucker.

This season, the Knights have their own group of sluggers, so Coach Tom Dill is keeping the fence up--except when it’s windy. Strong winds Tuesday forced the fence to be dismantled.

One fan said outfielder Chris Dickerson of Notre Dame, who has six home runs, should have gotten on his hands and knees and nailed the fence down.

“Ninety percent of our home runs this year have been to right-center, so believe me, I want the fence,” Dill said.

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One of hottest pitchers in the region is senior right-hander Matt Palmer of Canyon.

Palmer started the season with a 1-0 loss to Sylmar but has come back to defeat Moorpark, 4-0, Palmdale, 5-3, and Burbank, 6-0.

He’s 3-1 with a 0.84 earned-run average.

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Several teams in the region have improved the appearance of their fields.

Cleveland spent $1,600 for a black tarp that gives hitters a better background.

El Camino Real’s field has become a hitter’s paradise with the addition of a dark blue outfield background.

San Fernando improved its field by adding a backstop with college-like dimensions and spending $17,000 on upgrades.

Thousand Oaks, which might have the best field in the region, built a clubhouse with a big-screen television and lockers.