COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL : Irvine’s No-Hitter Is a First for the Dons

Kirk Irvine pitched the first no-hitter in Rancho Santiago College history as the Dons beat Los Angeles Pierce, 8-0, in a Fullerton-Cerritos tournament game Sunday in Santa Ana.

Irvine, a sophomore right-hander from Chino Hills Ayala High School, walked two and struck out six. Besides the walks, another batter reached base after a strikeout but thanks to two runners caught stealing, Irvine faced only 28 batters.

Irvine retired 12 in a row at one point. In the ninth, he retired the side with a short flyout to left field, a strikeout, then a fly out to first baseman Kyle Evans to end the game. Irvine was 8-1 last season for the Dons.

“There was really nothing that was close to a hit,” Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon said. “I’m really excited for him.”

Irvine’s performance wasn’t the only outstanding effort by a Rancho Santiago player Sunday.

Brandon Hendrikx and Randy Wilson combined on a one-hitter in an 8-0 victory over Canyons. Hendrikx gave up a fifth-inning bloop single. Wilson pitched the final four innings for his second save.

Kyle Wilson had four hits in the first game and a home run in each game for Rancho Santiago.

In other tournament games:

Orange Coast 9, Los Angeles Pierce 2--Todd Kehrli had two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs, Travis Anderson had two hits, including a double, and drove in four runs for host Orange Coast (2-2). OCC lost to Canyons, 7-5, earlier Sunday.

Fullerton 2, Southwestern 0--Scott Parsonage pitched a five-hitter with three strikeouts and a walk for host Fullerton (4-0). It was the second complete game of the day for the Hornets.

Dan Bergmann pitched an eight-hitter in a 5-3 victory over Chaffey earlier Sunday.

Marc Anspach had a home run and Poncho Ruiz had a triple and a single and drove in three runs for the Hornets against Chaffey.

In the Palomesa tournament:

Saddleback 9, Cerro Coso 4--Ryan Johnson had three hits and drove in two runs and Pat Antrim added two hits and made six putouts and added four assists at second base for Saddleback (2-2). Sam Voita had a run-scoring double and a sacrifice fly for the Gauchos.

Paul Matijevich pitched four innings, giving up six singles and an unearned run for the victory.