San Fernando pitcher Alonzo Garcia shows steely resolve

Someone should give 16-year-old sophomore pitcher Alonzo Garcia of San Fernando a psychological test to understand how he’s able to deal with pressure and distractions so effortlessly.

In his first varsity baseball game last month, he was sent to the mound in the alumni game. If you don’t know anything about San Fernando alumni baseball players, they can be loud, a little obnoxious and don’t care whether they say something that might make a varsity player cry.

“Hey, Gomez, is this your ace?” one of them jubilantly shouted to Coach Armando Gomez after Garcia walked the opening batter.

The insults continued, but Garcia ignored them. And each time he has taken the mound this month, he has employed laser-like focus and showed a maturity that could be a lesson for some major league pitchers.

Last week, in a game against Verdugo Hills, there were lots of voices coming from the dugout.

“I’m so proud of that kid,” Gomez said. “Verdugo Hills was talking so much, 10 times worse than our alumni. It didn’t even faze him.”

Garcia threw a three-hit shutout. And that’s the way it has been pretty much all of March. Garcia, a junior varsity pitcher last season, has thrust himself into the conversation about who’s the best pitcher in the City Section.

In 32 2/3 innings, he has 34 strikeouts and eight walks, has given up 13 hits and is 4-0 with a 0.43 earned-run average. He helped his team beat Wilmington Banning, 1-0, and L.A. Cathedral, 2-1. The more pressure there is, the better Garcia does.

“These guys have my back,” he said. “It’s a great team, great chemistry. They love to challenge me, and every day I learn something new from these guys.”

San Fernando won its first City Section championship in 20 years last season behind All-City pitcher David Lira, who graduated.

Gomez boldly chose Garcia to be the team’s ace without any varsity experience other than hanging out with the players at Dodger Stadium. He had concluded after summer and fall ball that Garcia was ready. And he hasn’t disappointed.

“I don’t have to strike everyone out,” Garcia said. “I think I have one of the better defenses in the City.”

Garcia’s main problem this year has been trying to improve his grade in a math analysis class from a B-plus to an A. He has been getting straight A’s on his report card since middle school.

“School is always first,” he said. “I want to go to college and be the first in my family.”

He’s the perfect person to build a championship team around.

Showdown time

There might not be a better pitching matchup all season than Friday’s 6:30 p.m. Moore League showdown at Blair Field in Long Beach featuring Lakewood and ace pitcher Shane Watson against Long Beach Wilson and ace pitcher Chase DeJong.

Both pitchers have signed with USC but are considered top pro prospects. DeJong is coming off a 15-strikeout performance in an eight-inning victory against Long Beach Millikan.

Big volleyball event

When it comes to high school volleyball, there’s nothing better than sitting in the stands and watching Los Angeles Loyola and Manhattan Beach Mira Costa do battle. Their annual nonleague match is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Loyola Marymount.

The two schools have combined to win 17 Southern Section boys’ volleyball championships. Loyola is 15-0 and ranked No. 1 in Division 1. Mira Costa is 9-2 and ranked No. 3.

Just watching each school’s students get a little excited is entertaining enough.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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