Sage Hill’s Ashwin Chona sets CIF-SS record with third consecutive no-hitter

Sage Hill's Ashwin Chona pitched his third consecutive no-hitter, which set a CIF-Southern Section record, in a 6-0 victory over Calvary Chapel of Downey on Thursday, April 6, 2017. (Courtesy Sage Hill baseball) — Sage Hill’s Ashwin Chona pitched his third consecutive no-hitter, which set a CIF-Southern Section record, in a 6-0 victory over Calvary Chapel of Downey on Thursday, April 6, 2017. (Courtesy Sage Hill baseball)

PUBLISHED: April 6, 2017 at 8:33 p.m. | UPDATED: April 7, 2017 at 8:59 a.m.

Sage Hill pitcher Ashwin Chona set a CIF-Southern Section baseball record Thursday by throwing his third consecutive no-hitter in a 16-0 Academy League win over Calvary Chapel of Downey.

The sophomore left-hander struck out 12 and walked two in the five-inning mercy-rule game at Calvary Chapel.

The feat came 10 days after Chona no-hit Santa Rosa Academy, 10-0, in another five-inning game, tying the CIF-SS record at the time. Back-to-back no-hitters had been pitched 15 times before, the last time in 1997 by J.R. Chavira of Bethel Baptist.

“It’s just amazing what we’re witnessing right now as coaches,” said Sage Hill coach Dominic Campeau. “Especially in that last inning today. ‘Man’s he’s going to do it again.'”

Chona’s string of three no-hitters began on March 20 in a 9-0 victory over Whitney of Cerritos. He is 4-0 with a 0.62 earned-run average and 55 strikeouts and 11 walks in 34 innings.

Thursday’s effort came two days after Sage Hill senior Brett Super no-hit Calvary Chapel in a 6-0 victory.

Chona relies on a changeup that was “on point again today,” said Campeau.

“It’s already hard to pick up, and when he locates it, it’s just so hard to hit.”

Chona has taken each no-hitter in stride and remains businesslike throughout, Campeau said.

“He’s never been a kid who shows emotion,” the coach said. “As long as he battles and we win, that’s all he cares about.”

Chona received his third straight Gatorade shower from his teammates after Thursday’s game.

His next outing is Thursday, April 13, in an Academy League game at Brethren Christian.
There is no official record book for California high school sports, but based on the Register’s research it appears that the state record for consecutive no-hitters is four, set by three pitchers, the last by Steven Perry of Maxwell High in 2011.

The national record is six, set by Chris Taranto of Notre Dame High of Biloxi, Miss., in 1961, and matched by Tom Engle of Fairfield Union of Lancaster, Ohio, in 1989.