Chris Bradley became the first Sobrato player to pitch a
no-hitter Saturday, as the Sobrato baseball team blanked Greenfield
in the Salinas Easter Tournament
SALINAS — The final out was made, and Sobrato junior Chris Bradley trotted off the baseball field at Washington Middle School in Salinas, oblivious to the history he had just made.
“Good job throwing a no-hitter,” assistant coach Louie Andrade told him.
Bradley could not believe his ears. But just as Andrade and the official box score from the Bulldogs’ Easter Tournament-opening 5-0 victory over Greenfield revealed, Bradley pitched a complete-game no-hitter Saturday, becoming the first Sobrato player to do so.
“I was like, ‘what?’ ” Bradley said. “I was shocked, completely surprised when I heard. I remember some runners got on that day, but that was because I walked them. It was a huge shock to me.”
Surprise may be the best way to describe it, considering Bradley (2-3), the fourth man in the pitching rotation, wasn’t even trying to hold the Bruins hitless.
“I wanted them to hit it so our defense could make plays,” he said. “Really, this was all about our defense.”
The right-hander got ample support from his infielders, notably Ryan Williams, Billy Birrell and Timmy Giles, but also managed to strike out a dozen and surrender only two walks.
He helped send Greenfield (2-12, 1-6) to an eighth straight loss.
“Chris was going to have a good day no matter who he faced with the way he was throwing,” Sobrato coach Ulises “Shorty” Gutierrez said. “He felt it that day. He knew something was going to be good.”
Bradley helped his effort with two RBIs in a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. Kaleo Correa doubled, and Andrew Commons, David Rotter and Andrew Langone drove in runs for the Bulldogs (10-9 overall, 6-6 league), who totaled 11 hits.
“It was good for our kids to feel the excitement of something like this,” Gutierrez, now in his fifth season, said. “The guys know this tournament is our chance to show some teams we can battle at compete at their level.”
Last year, Sobrato won the program’s first championship at the Easter Tournament, placing first in the silver bracket.
Saturday’s win moved the Bulldogs into a gold-bracket showdown with Monte Vista Christian on Monday — which is where this story gets even crazier. Two days after the no-hitter, Bradley’s twin brother, Bryan Bradley, came within three outs — and a couple feet — of matching that performance.
Bryan Bradley had a no-no through five innings, but settled for the decision in an 8-3 victory.
“You know, we always have a family battle,” Bryan Bradley said. “I just wanted to get out and get the win. I don’t pitch that often.”
Bryan Bradley (1-0), a spot starter, was only supposed to pitch a few innings, but ended up lasting 5 1-3. He struck out four, walked three and gave up three hits.
“My intention originally was to staff it during these games,” Gutierrez said of his pitching strategy. “The way they pitched, they went out there and it was too hard to take them out. They were almost both perfect.”
Defense was key again, as Bryan Bradley pounded the strike zone and got help behind him. Rauley Cambra made some nice catches in center field, and catcher Shea Adams and Gutierrez managed the game well, Bryan Bradley said.
“I just had to get ahead in the count. My teammates took care of the rest,” he added.
Williams finished 3 for 3, and Correa drove in a run and scored twice. Bryan Bradley had a doubled and two RBIs.
Monte Vista Christian (5-12, 4-2) totaled four hits.
A no-hitter was nearly clinched in the fifth inning, when — with two men on and the Bulldogs leading 8-0 — Adams hit a line drive to the top of the wall in left field. A home run would have triggered the tournament’s 10-run rule, which immediately ends the game.
“We were that close,” Gutierrez said. “Back-to-back no-hitters by twin brothers, has that ever been done before?”
Sobrato returns to Salinas today to play Palma in the gold bracket semifinals.
