Diaz helps team turn in all-star no-hitter

VAN NUYS -- Mike Diaz had no idea he’d be a part of history.

Neither did the other eight baseball pitchers who were paraded to

the mound to work an inning and set an example about how to combine

on a quality performance.

Diaz, a Burroughs High pitcher, was part of a group of hurlers

which tossed a no-hitter Saturday to help the East team post a 7-0

victory against the West in the 27th annual San Fernando Valley

Bernie Milligan All-Star Baseball Game at Van Nuys Birmingham High.

Diaz teamed with Jason Glushon (North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake),

Jason Cable (Palmdale), Scott Sistilli (Mission Hills Alemany),Erick

Melara (North Hollywood), Aaron Feterl (Crescenta Valley), Chris

Palma (Sylmar), Max Hibbs (La Canada) and Kyle Boggio (Hart) to

record the first no-hitter in the event’s history, which featured the

top seniors from the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Conejo and Antelope

valleys.

Diaz looked in command, striking out two and walking one in the

second inning.

“I wanted to hit my spots and not make any mistakes,” said Diaz,

who will attend Fresno City College in the fall. “I kept my pitches

down, and I wanted to take care of business. “It’s fun to be a part

of history. I threw a no-hitter in a summer league game a couple of

years ago. [Saturday] was better.”

Diaz began the game as a designated hitter. He went hitless in two

at-bats.

The East pitchers combined to strike out 10. Boggio, who hit a

three-run home run in the eighth to give the East a 7-0 lead, struck

out Adam Schneider of Agoura to cap the no-hitter.

Boggio was named the game’s most valuable player.

Quartz Hill’s Joey Becker kept the no-hitter in tact in the fourth

inning when he made a diving catch in deep centerfield off Matt

Hynick of West Hills Chaminade.

Kyle Williams of Burroughs also competed. Normally a shortstop,

Williams, who will attend Cal State Los Angeles in the fall, made his

debut in center field in the ninth after going hitless in his lone

at-bat in the eighth.

The East squad contained nine shortstops, forcing its coaching

staff to shift some athletes to unfamiliar positions.

“It was a little strange playing in centerfield,” said Williams,

who was selected to the team June 2 after another athlete couldn’t

compete because of a previous engagement. “It’s awesome to be a part

of the no-hitter. I wanted somebody to hit the ball to me in the

ninth.”