Crystal baseball ace no-hits same team twice

Ma notched a career-high 17 strikeouts in firing a no-hitter Thursday in Daly City, allowing just two baserunners on the day. It is the second time in as many years the southpaw has thrown a no-hitter against Jefferson. He recorded his first on April 15, 2024, in a 2-0 Crystal win.

“To me, that’s his normal self,” Gryphons manager Jay Alvarez said. “He’s been lights out all year.”

Ma allowed one walk, while one Jefferson runner reached on an infield error in the seventh. Jeff’s Sean Ferreira reached on the shortstop error. Ferreira proceeded to steal second and third, and scored on the latter on an errant throw to third by the catcher.

Alvarez nearly broke the golden rule of mentioning a no-hitter in progress when he made a mound visit in the sixth inning. The reason for the visit wasn’t for Ma’s benefit, but for the defense’s, as Alvarez was worried the Grizzlies might try to bunt for a base hit. When the second-year manager reminded his corner infielders to be on the their toes, he caught himself just before uttering “no-hitter” and changed up mid-sentence by saying: “in case they try to break something up.”

Just before Ma recorded the final out of the game via swinging strikeout, he implied the no-hitter again without saying the words.

“Yes, I made sure before the last strike,” Alvarez said. “I made sure to tell my bench guys ... ‘you’ve got to rush him on the mound. Dog pile or something.’”

The celebration in the middle of the diamond capped the Gryphons’ second pitching gem of the week. In Tuesday’s 9-1 win over Jefferson at Sea Cloud Park, Crystal starting pitcher Rohan Seiber allowed just one hit through six innings of work. Marcus Kao worked a perfect seventh to close out the one-hitter.

Crystal (7-2 PAL Lake, 13-2 overall) has not won three straight since dropping an April 15 game at first-place South City. The Gryphons are currently in second place, one game behind the Warriors with six league games to play. Two of those games are against South City, April 5 and 8.

“I made sure to tell the guys, pretty much the playoffs start now for us,” Alvarez said. “Jefferson (0-9, 0-16) is in last place, but it’s still a huge win for us in the long run.”

Crystal recorded 13 hits Thursday, with Ma enjoying a big day at the plate as well. The senior was 3 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Connor Uchida led the hit parade, going 4 for 4 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs. Nick Loew added three hits with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs.

Loew, a freshman catcher who calls his own pitches, handled the no-hitter diligently.

“Every team we’ve played, I’ve seen the coaches calling pitches,” Alvarez said. “So, it’s something I really take pride in.”

The freshman backstop got drafted into action, as Crystal was short on catching depth at the start of the year.

“He actually didn’t want to catch this year,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said Loew — who has been working with Crystal coach Willie Hodgins — has acclimated to the job.

“He realized he was decent at it,” Alvarez said. “He’s been doing his job back there for a guy who hasn’t caught since little league.”

South City, Oseguera keep pace

First-place South City (8-1, 14-4) maintained its one-game lead over Crystal with a 9-0 win Thursday over Priory, finishing off a two-game sweep of the Panthers (3-5, 5-6).

Junior starting pitcher Emilio Oseguera fired six innings of two-out baseball, and sophomore Vince Bernal closed it out with a scoreless seventh. Oseguera recorded seven strikeouts on the day.

Heading into play Thursday, Oseguera had 60 strikeouts on the year to lead the PAL Lake Division, while Ma ranked second with 49. By day’s end, Oseguera improved his season total to 67, while Ma has 66.

Oseguera added a single and three RBIs at the plate for the Warriors, while junior Adam Keith led the way with three hits, and adding two RBIs.