IRVINE – Sophomore pitcher Paul Sardo helped Crean Lutheran’s baseball team make history Tuesday afternoon.
Sardo pitched the first no-hitter in the four-year history of the program, leading the Saints to a 4-1 victory over Tarbut V’ Torah in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.
Crean Lutheran (20-7) advances into the quarterfinal round for the first time to meet Flintridge Prep on Friday. A coin flip on Wednesday will determine the home team.
“I was happy going out there and pitching, I haven’t pitched much this year,” said Sardo, who has been the Saints catcher for most of the season. “It was a great team effort.”
Sardo (3-2) walked eight batters, including three in the first inning when Gabe Heering walked with the bases loaded to drive in Jacob Steinberg for the only run of the game for Tarbut V’Torah (15-6).
Sardo settled down after that, blanking the Lions the rest of the way.
“He’s our starting catcher and he’s only thrown about 25 innings all year until today,” said Crean Lutheran coach Jake Haney. “But because of injuries, we had to use him and he stepped up big.”
Crean Lutheran tied the score in the second inning on an RBI single by Adam Scimeme.
The Saints went ahead, 3-1, with two unearned runs in the fourth inning, one coming home on a single by Scimeme.
Crean Lutheran added a run in the sixth inning. Daniel Kuntz singled and came around to score on an error.
Tarbut V’ Torah starter Matt Riese also pitched well, going the distance, allowing just one earned run.
Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com
