STOCKTON -- Beyer High pitcher Trey Ridenour overwhelmed batters much of this season, sending most on a quiet walk back to the dugout.
Though a freshman, he was one of the best in the Modesto Metro Conference and an ace for conference champ Beyer.
None of those feats seemed to impress St. Mary's, as the Rams rifled shots into the gap most of the night for an 11-1 victory in the winners' bracket final of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 playoffs.
While Ridenour (7-2) struggled, St. Mary's lefty Louie Lechich (7-1) was overpowering. He fired a five-inning no-hitter, striking out six and enjoying four 1-2-3 innings.
Mitchell Walding's two-run single in the bottom of the fifth made it 11-1, forcing the 10-run mercy rule to be used.
"They bring so much pressure, and they maintain it," Beyer coach Steve Clark said. "We make a few mistakes and they've got six runs on us."
Those came in the third, after Ridenour retired the first six hitters of the game. With runners on first and third with two out, Walding hit a high chopper to first base.
The ball bounced just over the glove of Stephen Roy and into right -- allowing the first run to score -- and Kyle Crawford bobbled it to allow the runner from first to come in.
After Ridenour hit a batter, Kurt Smith stroked a grounder to center for an apparent RBI single. Kaden Cline charged it and the ball rolled under his glove and to the fence, allowing three runs to score.
Beyer got its lone run in the fourth, when Crawford came in from third on Garrett Roberts' chopper to the mound. Lechich fielded the ball, but then dropped it while turning to throw to first for an error.
That didn't bother Lechich or the Rams, who have won 16 in a row since losing to national power Serra of San Mateo. They have forced the mercy rule to be used in all three playoff games, outscoring their foes 34-3 in 16 innings.
"Everyone's going right for us, but we're also taking advantage of it," said Lechich, who has signed with Cal. "We see an opportunity, like that ball just going past their first baseman, and we jump on it."
Beyer (21-9) might get a second shot at St. Mary's, but it needs to beat Turlock (22-7) in Wednesday's losers' bracket final at University of the Pacific. The survivor faces St. Mary's on Thursday, and would need two wins to get a title.
Both teams used their ace Monday, so it could be a challenge to see who has the deeper staff. Beyer has Matt Jackson (7-2, 217 ERA) and Kyle Crawford (4-1, 1.09) to choose from, while Turlock might use Dylan Silva (3-1, 2.86) or Jeremy McDonald (3-3, 3.23).
Turlock extended its season by blasting Lincoln, as Oklahoma State-bound Vince Wheeland (12-0) scattered six hits, homered and drove in three runs in the 10-4 victory.
Wheeland opened the playoffs with a one-hit and is challenging Lechich, who tossed a one-hitter in his postseason opener, as the top pitcher in the Division 1 tournament.
Lincoln scored twice in the first, but Wheeland shut 'em down through the next five.
By the time Lincoln scored two unearned runs in the seventh, Turlock was ahead 10-2.
Junior Kevin Kramer gave the offense a jolt with a double, triple and two RBIs, as five Bulldogs had two hits.
Bee staff writer Richard T. Estrada can be reached at restrada@modbee.com or 578-2300.
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