St. Monica Academy baseball gets no-hitter to clinch International League title

PASADENA — It was just one of those games.

One of those games where the St. Monica Academy baseball team could seemingly do no wrong. One of those games where Southwestern Academy couldn’t catch a break.

PHOTOS: St. Monica Academy vs. Southwestern Academy International League baseball

One of those games with a league title on the line, as St. Monica defeated Southwestern, 14-1, at Caltech on Thursday in five innings to capture the International League title behind a no-hitter from freshman pitcher Matt Golbranson.

“Our goal is to win every game we play,” said St. Monica Coach Nick Fabanish. “Obviously, that is a goal, to win league. Now we’ve got to keep going. Then we role into the playoffs and I want to get that momentum going.”

Golbranson, a freshman, struck out 10 in five innings, his only blemish a walk to the first batter of the game.

“I felt pretty good,” Golbranson said. “I felt like my control was a little off in the first inning, but I found the plate.”

St. Monica was connecting from the plate from the start, scoring nine runs in the first inning and adding three in the second to go up, 12-1. The team added two more in the fourth for the 14-1 advantage.

“I think it was a good team win today,” Fabanish said.

The Crusaders finished with eight hits and seven walks. Peter Zwart had two hits and three runs batted in.

The Sun committed six errors and a number of other mistakes.

Southwestern Coach Tom Bornt said that the field played quicker than his team’s home diamond and his players didn’t adjust.

“They got the experience,” Bornt said. “Today was just, the infield which has been our strength all year, they let their pitcher down.”

St. Monica improved to 10-5 overall and 5-0 in league. They team has now won six straight and is preparing for the postseason.

“I think we’re on a pretty hot streak right now and I think we can carry it through, get pretty far,” catcher Andy Lessard said.

Southwestern fell to 4-6 overall and 4-2 in league, good enough for second place and a playoff berth.

“Unfortunately with our record, we know we’re going to be traveling somewhere,” Bornt said.