Serra's Lim outduels Covey

 ATHERTON – If Rallin Covey is a sleek speedy European sports car, Serra junior Riley Lim is more like a low-mileage Chevy sedan.

He’s dependable. He starts every time. And he gets you where you need to go.

On Thursday, the Chevy sedan was the better bet. Lim tossed five no-hit innings – Nate Hui and Danny Dinelli pitched an inning each to close out the no-hitter – as the Padres advanced to Saturday’s Battle for Atherton championship game against Los Gatos with a 6-0 victory over Sacred Heart Prep.

Lim outdueled Covey – the 6-foot-5 junior who has already committed to Southern California – by throwing strikes.

“I try to fill the strike zone – that’s my game,” said Lim, who finished the game with six strikeouts and a walk – a second-inning leadoff pass to Nico Polloni – the only baserunner the Padres allowed.

He threw 56 pitches before giving way to the bullpen.

Serra gave Lim the only runs he would need in the first inning when Ian Josephson led off the game with a long double to left field. He scored an out later on Davis Minton’s double. Minton moved to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

The Padres (2-0) broke it open in the third on two-run triple by Evan Bradshaw, which was followed by a double by William Walbridge.

Three Things we Liked

·        Pitchers who throw strikes. The two teams combined for just three walks, which explains the game time of 95-minute game. There are worse ways to spend a sun-splashed day in Atherton.

·        Covey is legit. The hard-throwing right hander gave up six hits they came in bunches against a Serra team that was far better than it showed in Tuesday’s season-opening victory over Menlo School. “We had an approach of being on time to the fastball today,” said Serra coach Mat Keplinger. “That was missing in the last game.”

·        Serra’s aggressive nature on the bases paths. Besides stealing five bases and scoring a run forced on errant throw by running out a grounder to the left side.

Play of the game

Minton’s comebacker in the third – a cue shot – squirted through Covey’s legs and was fielded at second base, but Minton hustled to beat the throw. Bradshaw followed with his triple. “If we make that play, we’re out of the inning and it’s still 2-0,” said Sacre Heart Prep coach Sean McMillan.

He said it

“I had no idea I had a no-hitter going. We don’t worry about things like that.” – Serra junior Riley Lim.

Up Next: Serra takes on Los Gatos for the Battle of Atherton tournament title on Saturday at noon, while Sacred Heart Prep (1-1) will face Menlo-Atherton (1-1) in the third-place game.

W: Lim. L: Covey. 2 hits- D.Minton (S). 2 RBI- Bradshaw. 3B- Bradshaw (S). 2B- Josephson (S), Harrison (S), D. Minton (S), Walbridge (S).

Los Gatos 11, Menlo School 2

Matt Ludeman struck out nine in four innings of work and Los Gatos continued its assault on Atherton by scoring in double figures for the second straight game to start the season.

The Wildcats (2-0) will face unbeaten Serra on Saturday at noon in the Battle for Atherton title game – a game that could be a precursor for what's to come in May when the CCS tournament unfolds.

Senior Will Temple had three hits and three RBI to lead Los Gatos, while Brady Simon, Rowan Smith and Gavin Jordan drove in two runs each.

Smith, who opened the season with a five-hit game, was held to just one base hit in this one.

W: Ludeman. L: Salama. 3 hits- Temple (LG). 3 RBI- Temple (LG). 2 RBI- Smith (LG), Simon (LG), Jordan (LG). 3B- Smith (LG), Jordan (LG), Carlisle (3B). 2B- Temple (LG).

Menlo-Atherton 7, Scotts Valley 3

The Bears bounced back from Tuesday's 15-2 loss to Los Gatos with the victory.

Ryder Kelly's two-run double was the big hit for Menlo-Atherton, which will face Sacred Heart Prep on Saturday morning for third place in the Battle for Atherton tournament.

The score was tied at 2 in the fourth inning when the Bears (1-1) took the lead for good with two runs. Merrick Lee scored on a sacrifice fly and Masataka Shuto scored on a grounder to the right side.

W: Zaharias. L: Bray-Zoreque. 2 RBI- Kelly. 2B- Molise (MA), Lee (MA).