Cleveland’s Jack Hartman throws a no-hitter

Jack Hartman has red hair, is left-handed and acts with the coolness of a surfer dude — even though he doesn’t surf.

Baseball is his sport, and Friday in a City Section Division I quarterfinal game, Hartman accomplished something he hasn’t done since he started playing — throw a no-hitter.

The Reseda Cleveland pitcher struck out 11 and walked three in a 5-0 victory over San Pedro that sends the Cavaliers into a Wednesday semifinal against Marshall at 3 p.m. at USC. Marshall defeated University, 4-0, behind pitcher Andre Burciaga.

The other semifinal will match San Fernando against Banning at 6 p.m. at USC. San Fernando defeated Bell, 9-2, with Roberto Ramos hitting a grand slam. Banning defeated Narbonne, 2-1, thanks to Juan Gallardo’s two-run home run.

Hartman’s face was covered with shaving cream after the game. He improved to 12-1 with his 12th consecutive victory. He gave up only one run in 32 innings during West Valley League play.

He wasn’t bothered pitching for the first time in 16 days, and he didn’t lose focus even though the start of the game was delayed one hour because the bus that was supposed to pick up San Pedro was delayed by a communication snafu.

“That’s an awesome experience to have,” said Hartman, who is headed to the University of Pennsylvania. “I was just trying to go out there and pump strikes the entire game.”

Hartman struck out the side in the seventh to earn the no-hitter. He had come close earlier against El Camino Real, having a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the seventh.

“I wanted to attack that seventh inning,” he said.

Reno Rankin had two RBIs and Matt Del Mundo had an RBI single for the Cavaliers (23-10), who are trying to win their fifth City title.

“The kid wants the ball every other start, and he just competes,” Cleveland Coach Greg Venger said “We just follow him and he’ll take us to wherever we need to go.”

Venger will have to decide whether to come back with Hartman on Wednesday or go with his improving No. 2 pitcher, Steven Perez.

“He’s been a huge No. 2,” Hartman said. “You put him out there and we have just as much as a chance to win as putting me out there.”

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com