Record's near no-hitter gives El Dorado first National Classic win

FULLERTON - El Dorado (Placentia, Calif.) pitcher Joe Record turned around on the mound in the seventh inning Thursday night at Goodwin Field to see how many outs there were and he saw something he didn't expect – no hits for his opponent.

"I wasn't trying to look, but I just happened to see it," said Record, who was making his first varsity start for the Golden Hawks. "I had to remind myself to stop looking."

While Record lost the no-hitter in the seventh inning on a basehit by El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.)'s Logan Roberts, he did manage to do something that no pitcher in El Dorado history had done – pitch the Golden Hawks to a first-place finish at the Hard 9 National Classic.

With Record throwing six and a third innings of no-hit baseball and senior ace Kyle Twomey finishing up for the final two outs, the Golden Hawks topped El Toro 4-2 in the final at Cal-State Fullerton. The win was the first time in six championship game appearances that the Golden Hawks, the co-hosts of the tournament, had won the event in its 23-year history.

"It's nice to get the National Classic monkey off our backs," said El Dorado coach Dave Moore. "I've been a part of a couple of those losses so it's nice to get this one. It was fitting that (former El Dorado coach) Steve Gullotti threw out the first pitch today since he helped start this tournament. We dedicate this win to him."

El Dorado reached the championship game on the arms of their aces – Twomey, PJ Conlon and Cameron Yen. Record threw one inning in Wednesday's win over IMG Academies and Moore called upon the 6-foot-3 junior to make his first start of the season in the championship game.

"I felt good all night," said Record. "I was just trusting my fastball and I was hitting my spots. Even when I lost it for a little bit, I was able to get it back. But I also have to thank the defense, they did a great job."

The Golden Hawks benefit from an outstanding left side that includes third baseman Seve Romo and shortstop Chris Rivera. Romo had four assists on the night while Rivera pulled off the play of the game when he grabbed a slow roller behind the mound and threw out the baserunner by a hair to preserve the no-hitter.

"I've played with (Record) since I was 9-years-old and I've always had trust in that kid," said Rivera. "Today he proved himself. He showed he could be a phenomenal starter – one of the many we have."

The Golden Hawks got Record the runs he needed in the top of the first. Drew Winter was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and Rivera walked. A throwing error on a bunt by Conlon allowed Winter to score. Scott Serigstad then drove in the second run with a basehit.

El Toro cut the lead to 2-1 without the benefit of a hit in the third inning. Record hit three batters in the inning and Rivera made a rare error to provide the lone run, which actually scored when Roberts raced home on a wild pitch.

However El Dorado countered with a run in the bottom of the inning on singles by Serigstad and Jason Moll.

El Dorado (12-5) lengthened the lead in the fifth when Romo reached base on an error and scored on bunt single for a basehit.

With a 4-1 lead, all that was left was for Record to close out the seventh. After a strikeout, Record gave up a basehit to left field by Roberts. That prompted Moore to take out Record, who left to a standing ovation, in place of Twomey.

Twomey pitched a 14-strikeout, no-hitter in the first round of the tournament, but he gave up a walk to put Jonah Arenado on base. A wild pitch moved Roberts and Arenado up a base and Jayson Yano's groundout allowed a run to score.

But Twomey induced a grounder back to the mound, which he snagged and tossed to first for the final out of the inning.

"I was pumped to get the chance to close in this setting in this tournament my senior year," said Twomey. "It was a blessing, it was magical. Hopefully this is a start of what we will do the rest of the season."

Twomey earned MVP honors while Record was named the tournament's most outstanding pitcher. Nick Villar of El Toro (19-3) was named the tournament's most outstanding offensive performer.

While El Dorado captured the tournament championship for the first time in the event's 23-year history, co-host Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.) won the third-place game with a 7-3 win over IMG Academies.

The Aztecs scored three runs in the second inning and added three more in the fifth to break a 3-3 tie.

Brad Anderson had the big hit for the Aztecs. With the bases loaded and two outs, Anderson hit a blooper over the second baseman and in front of the right fielder to score two runs. A passed ball allowed another run to score before a strikeout ended the rally.

Esperanza (14-3) led 3-1 after getting basehits by Mitch Christensen and Mark Tumlinson, a sacrifice fly by Nick Catalano and a squeeze bunt by Ryan Aguilar.

IMG Academies (Bradenton, Fla.) (16-9) rallied to tie the game at 3-3 on a double by Phil DiLandro, who later scored on a passed ball, and an RBI double by Alfredo Acebal, that scored Brett Hanewich.

However Brandon Luper shut down IMG the remainder of the game as it went down in order over the final four innings.

"The kids take these games very seriously," said Esperanza coach Mike Curran. "Playing in these games is like we are competing in the playoffs."

In the rest of the tournament, Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.) defeated Spanish Fork (Utah) 11-8 for fifth place and Carlsbad (Calif.) topped Valley Vista (Surprise, Ariz.) for 7th place. In the consolation bracket, Cypress (Calif.) beat Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) for the consolation championship, Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.) knocked off Galena for 11th place, Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.) held on to beat Ocean View (Huntington Beach, Calif.) for 13th place and James River (Midlothian, Va.) topped Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) for 15th place.