26 Feb Kennedy High Baseball Kicks Off Season With 6-0 No-Hitter
Kennedy Eagles senior starting pitcher Ivan Zapata Ambriz struck out nine batters in just four innings as part of a combined no-hitter.
Story and photos by Joe Porrello
Kennedy High started its varsity baseball season with a bang, throwing a combined no-hitter and beating Vallejo’s Mare Island Technical Academy 6-0 on Monday in Richmond.
Breaking multiple streaks, it was the Eagles’ first opening day victory in nine years and their first shutout in over a decade. Their previous win came by one run against Valley Christian High 343 days prior — with 13 losses in between.
“It’s something we’re not used to, but we’re going to get used to it,” said Kennedy head coach Lance Faby. “When we’re in sync like that, there’s not a lot of teams that can mess with us.”
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- Eagles senior shortstop Jayson Scarbrough celebrates a double, the only extra-base hit in the game by either team.
The skipper credited the win to his team not committing mental errors.
“We capitalized on their mistakes and didn’t have too many of our own,” Faby said.
Kennedy High scored four of their runs on wild pitches and got walked seven times and stole nine bases as well before the game was called after the top of the sixth inning because of a lack of sunlight.
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- This Griffin, trying to score on a passed ball, was one of multiple baserunners thrown out at home Monday.
Kennedy High didn’t waste any time turning those walks and steals into runs.
Senior shortstop Jayson Scarbrough cashed in a leadoff walk in the first inning — which was followed by steals of second and third — with an RBI single, giving the Eagles their first run and a lead they never relinquished.
Scarbrough went 3-3 with a double — the game’s only extra-base hit — and two singles, along with four stolen bases.
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- Eagles senior shortstop Jayson Scarbrough rounds first base en route to a double, one of his three hits and the game’s only extra-base hit.
Mare Island answered in their next turn at bat with a threat of their own, putting runners on the corners. But Eagles senior starting pitcher Ivan Zapata Ambriz struck out his fourth batter of the frame — because the first reached base on a passed ball — to get out of trouble.
Kennedy’s two most well-hit balls came on back-to-back plate appearances in the second inning, but produced no runs, largely thanks to a Griffins outfielder throwing a baserunner out at home.
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- The Kennedy offense did not need many hits to pile up runs on the scoreboard, using walks and stolen bases to get the job done.
The Eagles pulled away in the third, their highest-scoring inning, with three runs on a single, two walks, three stolen bases and an error.
Zapata Ambriz hit his stride in the fourth — the only inning in which he did not allow a baserunner — and collected his ninth strikeout.
“I was feeling really good and confident out there,” he said. “My fastball and curveball were both working well.”
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- Even the home plate umpire had to give Eagles senior starting pitcher Ivan Zapata Ambriz a pat on the back for his performance on the mound.
The Griffins’ got their best scoring chance with a pair of walks and a couple of steals to start the fifth inning. After an infield popout, both baserunners were thrown out at home trying to score on wild pitches.
Kennedy’s relief pitcher came in to start the sixth and sealed the deal with three straight strikeouts before umpires decided there was not enough sunlight to safely continue play.
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- The Eagles only relief pitcher struck out all three batters he faced to put an exclamation point on the win.
Faby’s main gripe with his team’s performance was baserunners afraid to get their uniforms dirty.
“We need to work on sliding because I don’t want any kids breaking their ankles out there,” he said.
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- An Eagles baserunner has to dive back into second base after overrunning the bag.
The teams were meeting head-to-head for the first time, as the Griffins held their inaugural season last year and only played six games. They won their first matchup then lost all remaining games by a combined score of 65-18.
Kennedy High has not fared much better recently. And as a fourth-year player who experienced the tough times, Zapata Ambriz is not taking the win for granted.
“It feels great because the past two years, we always got blown out,” he said.
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- An Eagles assistant coach takes advantage of downtime during a mound visit to give one of his players some pointers.
The Eagles went 2-30-1 overall their previous two seasons ,were outscored 184-29 in their last 11 games, and have not had a winning record in over two decades.
Mare Island looks for its first win of the season and first Gold Division League victory in its short history when they oppose KIPP King of San Lorenzo on Wednesday.
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- The Griffins shortstop had some feathery guests behind him throughout the entire matchup.
The Eagles look to win back-to-back games for the first time since 2016 when they face the Griffins again Friday for a second consecutive matchup at home.
“I really hope this momentum carries into our future games and allows us to go on a win streak,” said Zapata Ambriz.
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- The teams lined up to shake hands after the game was called early due to a lack of sunlight.
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