The San Marcos bats were up against a serious challenge at Newbury Park on Friday, facing University of Oregon-bound pitcher Jimmie Sherfy.
“He’s probably the best pitcher I’ve ever seen at the high-school level,” said coach Rob Crawford.
Sherfy struck out four Royals in the first two innings, and Crawford said he was touching 90 mph on his fastball consistently while showing great command with his curveball. He finished with just one more strikeout through six innings, however.
“We battled okay, it’s just our hits kind of came with nobody on or with two outs,” said Crawford, whose team finished with five hits, including a double by Nick Stathopoulos.
Stathopoulos also started for the Royals (2-2) and pitched five innings, giving up six hits while striking out four and walking one. His only big mistake came when he gave up a two-run homer in the fifth inning.
The Panthers (3-1) put in closer Daniel Dreitzer in the seventh inning, and Crawford said he was touching 94 mph on the radar gun.
It doesn’t get any easier, as San Marcos travels to play Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks on Saturday.
NEWBURY PARK 3, SAN MARCOS 0
San Marcos…..000 000 0 — 0 5 0
Newbury Park…001 020 X — 3 7 0
Stathopoulos, Wieland (6) and RMoore. Sherfi, Dreitzer (7) and Tucker.
2B — SM: Stathopoulos. HR — NP: Christian (5th inn., one on).
