Perry spins third no-hitter of season

Steven Perry struck out the first nine hitters he faced on his way to his third no-hitter of the season as Maxwell High beat University Prep 10-0 on Friday.

U-Prep didn't get the ball out of the infield all game against Perry, who lost his perfect game on an error to start the fourth inning.

Despite striking out 12 batters, Perry kept his pitch count down by keeping the ball around the strike zone. Perry only made one mistake all game when he missed just inside on a full count to walk the second batter in the fifth inning.

"I just look at it like any other game," Perry said. "I go out there and hit my spots and mix in my curve ball and make myself better."

This season, Perry has allowed just two hits, four walks and one hit batter in 26 innings while striking out 61. He hasn't allowed a run this season.

Undefeated Maxwell (14-0, 6-0 Tri-Cities League) had little problem scoring runs against an overmatched U-Prep (6-9, 3-3 TCL).

Perry adjusted well to the slower pitching of U-Prep's Owen Fitzgerald a day after facing Valley Christian of Roseville's hard-throwing lefty, Jimmy Shaw.

"I'd rather hit off fast pitching because I can just stay back and be relaxed, he said. "Against these guys I feel like I have to swing hard and it messes you up."

Perry, who hit a home run off Shaw during Maxwell's 2-0 win on Thursday, didn't let the slower pitching slow him down at the plate as he went 2-for-3 against Fitzgerald with a double, RBI and three runs scored.

Tyler Wells went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double a day after dislocating the ring finger on his right hand Thursday against Valley Christian in Roseville. Wells, who normally plays first base, was the designated hitter for the game to give his finger, which was still slightly swollen, time to heal.

Maxwell's David Lee drove in two runs on two hits and David Vierra drove in two runs on one hit, a triple, and hit a deep fly ball to center field that was caught at the fence.

James Bowen added three hits, including a double, to raise his team-leading batting average to .686.

Maxwell hosts Chester (1-6-1, 1-1-1 TCL) for a doubleheader on Friday.

Contact Kirk Barron at 458-2121 or kbarron@tcnpress.com.