In a pitchers duel between Valley Christian’s Danny Davis, who
threw a no-hitter through seven innings, and San Benito’s Darin
Gillies and Bryan Granger, who combined for one hit through seven
innings, the visiting Warriors escaped Hollister with a narrow 1-0
victory on Thursday to kick-off the 2010 season for both teams.
HOLLISTER
Valley Christian has a way of spoiling San Benito’s season openers, if only by the slightest of margins.
Last year it was one bad inning — a seven-spot in the fifth that allowed the Warriors to leapfrog the visiting Haybalers en route to a 7-4 victory in San Jose.
But in Thursday’s season opener at Hollister — the fourth year in a row the two teams have opened against one another — it was just one hit.
Shawon Dunston Jr.’s double to right-center field to lead off the sixth inning was compounded by a throwing error following a Matt Jackson sac bunt, and the Warriors held on for a 1-0 victory as a result behind the right arm of starting pitcher Danny Davis.
Davis (7IP, 0H, 0R, 6K, 2BB, 1HBP), last year’s West Catholic Athletic League pitcher of the year, threw a no-hitter against the Balers on Thursday, striking out six batters, many of whom couldn’t figure out the hurler’s curveball.
“That’s the thing that makes him special,” Valley Christian manager John Diatte said.
“You’re facing a Division I pitcher, who could possibly be the best pitcher in the CCS this year,” San Benito manager Michael Luna said of Davis, who’s already signed to play at San Jose State next season.
Davis will be joined by Valley Christian first baseman Matt Carroll and catcher Tevin Craig next year as well, each of whom have already signed on with the Spartans.
Although Dunston’s double in the fifth was one more hit than the Balers had all game, it was also the only hit of Thursday’s seven-inning affair.
Matching retired batter for retired batter with Davis was San Benito’s Darin Gillies (5IP, 0H, 0R, 8K, 2BB), who threw a no-hitter through five innings and struck out eight.
“Outstanding, absolutely,” Luna said of Gillies, who was held to a pitch count of 65, and was pulled following the fifth inning after throwing 72 pitches.
“Obviously, you want to go back out there. But it’s too early in the year,” Luna said of the decision to relieve Gillies through five innings. “As big as a game as it is, I’m thinking about the long term.
“I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize him by throwing him too early in the year.”
In relief of Gillies was lefty Bryan Granger (2IP, 1H, 1R, 2K, 2BB, 1HBP), who allowed the lead-off double in the sixth to Dunston Jr., the son of former Major League baseball player Shawon Dunston.
Jackson’s attempt to sacrifice bunt resulted in a Baler throwing error, though, and the speedy Dunston scored easily from second base as a result — the game’s lone run.
“A dandy,” Diatte said. “Our guy (Davis) just … had a little bit more in him. Otherwise, we’d still be knotted at 0-0.
“But Mike (Luna) and their crew always do a good job.”
Perhaps San Benito’s best chance to get on the scoreboard came in the third inning when Spencer Brann led off with a walk, and Gillies attempted to sacrifice him over to second base.
But the Valley Christian catcher opted to get Brann at second, and the ensuing throw to the bag instead went into center field. Brann advanced to third base, beating the throw, but Gillies tried to get second base in the process and was instead thrown out.
“And we weren’t able to score that guy (from third),” Luna said.
The Balers (0-1) will be back in action next week, when they will open the Mike Hazlett Tournament at Washington Park in Santa Clara. San Benito is scheduled to kick-off the eight-team tournament against Monterey on Monday night at 7:30 p.m.
Granger will get the start on the mound for the Balers.
A win on Monday will advance San Benito to Wednesday’s showdown with either Palo Alto or Mitty.
On the other side of the bracket, Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, Wilcox and Valley Christian will all be vying for a chance to play in the following Saturday’s championship.
Note:
Valley Christian is ranked No. 6 in the state of California in CalHiSports.com’s top 20 preseason poll.
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