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Baseball: Some amazing pitching stats

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The Southern Section baseball playoff pairings will be released Monday afternoon, but I’d like to focus on two pitchers who’ve had amazing seasons.

One is senior Parker Merritt of La Verne Bonita. I’ve never seen stats like this from a starting pitcher: He has walked just one batter in 71 innings. He’s 8-0 with an 0.69 ERA.

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He doesn’t throw very hard, but he throws strikes better than some bowlers. And, in high school, throwing strikes means you’re going to be successful.

The other pitcher who’s had a fantastic season is junior Jack Flaherty of Studio City Harvard-Westlake. Most had predicted Flaherty’s future would be as a hitter, but look at these stats this season: 10-0, 0.72 ERA, 85 strikeouts in 68 innings, seven walks.

As a freshman and sophomore, Flaherty couldn’t win a playoff game on the mound. I have a feeling that’s going to change this coming week.

The key for Harvard-Westlake’s Division 1 chances will be to get No. 2 pitcher Conor Cuse (7-1, 2.06) to throw strikes. His 24 walks in 57 2/3 innings is what will make Coach Matt LaCour a little nervous.

But the Wolverines are the only team to own wins over Oaks Christian ace Phil Bickford and Reseda Cleveland ace Jack Hartman.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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