Dallas’ perfect game keeps Gregori in race for Modesto Metro’s No. 2 seed

The way the Enochs High School baseball team played in the first two games of this series, Gregori was going to need to be perfect to salvage a win.

Matt Dallas was happy to oblige.

The junior threw the first perfect game in school history, a five-inning, 46-pitch masterpiece, and drove in three runs Friday as the Jaguars remained in the hunt for the Modesto Metro Conference’s No. 2 playoff seed with a 10-0 victory.

After two punchless performances against Enochs earlier in the week, Gregori could do no wrong, beginning with its blossoming ace.

Dallas was swarmed by his teammates after the final out, many of whom doused the right-hander with water.

Dallas’ perfecto checked several boxes: first perfect game in his high school career, first perfect game in school history and first perfect game in Jim Davis’ 24-year coaching career.

“I’ll never forget this,” right fielder Michael Olivarez said.

As a former collegiate pitcher, Davis understands the rarity of a perfect game. However, Davis felt the most impressive component of Dallas’ start wasn’t necessarily his command of three pitches or his ability to work ahead.

It was the timing.

Gregori (16-8, 10-5) had lost two straight games and its grip on the league’s No. 2 seat behind champion Beyer (17-3, 14-1).

A loss Friday would have left the Jaguars no margin for error in this week’s series with Downey (11-13, 9-6), which completed its sweep of Davis (2-21-1, 1-14) with a 7-0 win Friday.

“We needed this win as much as we’ve ever needed a win this season,” Davis said. “Matt went out and he absolutely threw strikes and challenged the strike zone. … He was as tough on the mound today as I’ve ever seen him.

“He’s turned into one of our best players. He did it both ways, and you can’t ask anymore from a kid.”

The Jaguars made two sensational catches to back Dallas’ command, and the runs – so few and far between in the first two games of the series – came in bunches.

Gregori scored four runs in the second inning, taking advantage of an error with the bases loaded. Dallas provided the big knock, a two-run double into the corner in left.

Jimmy McClenaghan and Roberto Flores also had RBI hits during a six-run fourth that induced the mercy rule.

“That’s the way we’re capable of playing every game,” Dallas said. “We knew this was a big spot and we needed the win, and that’s what we did.”

The perfect game wasn’t without its dicey moments. McClenaghan made a diving catch down the left-field line in the fourth inning that drew applause from Enochs coach Chris Butterfield. Cheating toward the gap, McClenaghan tracked the towering fly ball off Aaron Davis’ bat to the foul line. At the last second, he left his feet and extended his glove. Both dugouts gasped.

“I figured I’d be on my knees making that catch,” said McClenaghan, who has committed to Nebraska. “I had a pretty good read off the bat, so I was able to get to it on time.”

Moments earlier, Butterfield tried to jinx Dallas by committing baseball’s ultimate no-no. As he trotted to his position in the third-base box, Butterfield, a savvy former pro player, alerted Gregori coach Jim Davis to Dallas’ bid at perfection.

To a man, the Jaguars’ players say Butterfield’s words fell on deaf ears.

“I wasn’t thinking about it. I didn’t even know what was happening when they threw the water on him at the mound,” said McClenaghan, who reached base three times. “No one was talking about it, which is good. You don’t want to jinx it or anything. I had no idea. … I was just making the play.”

Dallas tipped his cap to the left fielder.

“After that play Jimmy made in left, I had a feeling something cool was going to happen. Something special,” Dallas said. “To see your left fielder lay out like that, completely horizontal, it’s just nice to know you have some defense behind you.”

Olivarez’s game-ending catch in right field was more luck than skill. He lost the ball in the sun and didn’t locate it until was almost by him.

Again, both dugouts gasped.

“My glove was in the sun the whole time, and I could not see the ball,” said Olivarez, who singled twice and scored two runs. “I gave up for a little bit, but I was like, ‘I got to fight it.’ ”

Lost in the beauty of the perfect game was Enochs’ confounding struggles on Fridays in conference play. The Eagles (15-11, 12-6) have suffered four consecutive Friday losses, and none has been close. Enochs has been outscored 50-10 in the four losses, including a 20-8 decision that has fueled Downey’s playoff drive. Three of those losses have been by 10 runs or more.

The latest loss cost Enochs a chance to clinch the No. 2 playoff seed. Instead, the Eagles will spend their bye week on pins and needles.

Enochs has clinched a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I South playoff berth, but its seeding will be determined by the winner of the Gregori-Downey series.

“We weren’t as sharp at any level – pitching, defense or hitting,” Butterfield said. “They were sharp in all three.

“Anytime you’re in a situation where you’re trying to win a third game, especially against a good team, it’s a tough thing to do. We have to tip our cap to Gregori. They played better than us and got it done.”

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 8:18 PM with the headline "Dallas’ perfect game keeps Gregori in race for Modesto Metro’s No. 2 seed."