All other eyes were on Kerman ace Carlos Salazar, a possible first round pick in June's Major League Baseball Draft. And Salazar did not disappoint, striking out 13 in six-plus innings and topping out at 97 miles per hour.
But his Clovis high counterpart would steal the show. Standout athlete Jake Gatewood was equally as successful on the mound and at the plate, roping the double to left-center off Salazar.
Two batters later, Gatewood would come home on the passed ball, and that would be the game's only run. That's because Gatewood registers the strikeout looking, for the final out of a no hitter.
Only a junior, t USC commit Gatewood throws the first no hitter of his career, as Clovis beats Carlos Salazar and the Kerman Lions, 1-0.
Meanwhile in Wednesday's championship game, Frontier of Bakersfield took on San Joaquin Memorial. The Panthers tried to turn two on a ground ball, but the throw to first was off the mark. Logan Gillespie came in to score, and that made it 4-1 titans. Brooks Douglass' sac fly to center would then score Harrison Smith.
And Frontier wins the Easter Baseball Classic, 8-1 over SJM in the title game. They are the second Kern County team in 44 years to win it all.
