Jul 4, 2008

Schembri nearly tosses a no-hitter

Settles for shutout; Ota wields a big bat for Foster City

By John Reid / Daily News Staff Writer

Before Foster City's Adam Schembri delivers a pitch, he stands straight as a weed, holding the ball with his right hand in his glove. Schembri wished he was just a wee bit taller in the bottom of the fourth inning of Thursday's Little League District 52 9-and-10 year-old All-Stars game with Pacifica National. That's when Pacifica National's Mills Notmeyer singled up the middle to break up a potential no-hit bid by Schembri, his team well ahead at the time.

"I jumped as high as I could," Schembri said. "I knew I had a no-hitter going and I really wanted it."

Schembri settled for a four-inning one-hitter as Foster City cruised to a 10-0 win, the game called due to the 10-run mercy rule. Foster City plays Alpine-West Menlo on Monday in a winners-bracket game at 7:30 p.m. Pacifica National will try to stay alive in a losers-bracket game against Menlo Atherton on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Schembri struck out seven hitters out of a possible 12 outs. Catcher Nick Hom threw out Notmeyer, a daredevil on the bases, trying to steal second in the first inning.

"How many guys did he strike out?" asked Pacifica National manager Rich Notmeyer. "We couldn't get it together hitting the ball."

"I just believed in myself and threw strikes," Schembri said. "My team played well behind me and we had good hitting."

Foster City manager Mike Callagy had a lot to be happy about after the game, but led with his discussion of Schembri.

"Schembri was awesome," Callagy said. "He kept his fastball low and on the outside. His changeup was real effective. Pacifica National hung in there and battled him."



Schembri got all the runs he needed in the first inning. After Mills Notmeyer, a scrappy catcher, threw out Noah Ventosa trying to steal second, Rohan Kothari beat out a swinging bunt for a base hit. Schembri's grounder went to second baseman Matt Lavorini, who missed the tag on Kothari going to second, then threw too late to first to get Schembri. Scott Ota drilled a double down the right-field line to score Kothari. Schembri came home when the relay throw was dropped. Ota scored on a two-out error. With first base open in the second inning and two runners on, Ota singled to center for two more Foster City runs.

"Ota is our best hitter," Callagy said. "He's really hitting the ball well. As a team, our hitting came together."

Schembri helped himself with a two-run single to left field in Foster City's four-run third inning. Ryan Callagy had a hard-earned RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Ryan Fitzgerald came off the bench to get two hits, adding some depth on offense for Foster City.

Ventosa, batting leadoff, was on base all four times. He singled and scored in the second, walked and scored in the third and singled in the fourth. Ventosa, playing at second base, ended the game when he caught a low liner by Brendan Mauer with Matthew Schivo on at third base. Had Ventosa not made the play, Schivo would have scored, forcing a fifth inning.

"We have a great group of kids," Mike Callagy said. "They work hard at practice and all care about each other. That's the best thing about this team."



E-mail John Reid at

jreid@dailynewsgroup.com.



Foster City 334 0 - 10 10 0

Pacifica National 000 0 - 0 1 2

Schembri and Hom, Courtney (3); Cuddihy, Lavorini (2) and Notmeyer. WP-Schembri. LP-Cuddihy. 2B - Ota (FC). 2 hits - Ventosa, Ota, Fitzgerald (FC). 3 RBI - Ota (FC). 2 RBI - Schembri (FC).