San Clemente sophomore hurls a shutout against Fullerton in first varsity career start

San Clemente’s standouts Saturday were from left, Vinnie Kane, Luke Acuna and Cade Cereone. (Photo Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).

San Clemente High School pitcher Luke Acuna made his first varsity start a memorable one.

Acuna, a sophomore left-hander, tossed a three-hit complete game shutout as the Tritons defeated Fullerton 2-0 in an Anaheim Lions Tournament game Saturday afternoon at Fullerton High.

“I felt great and my fastball and changeup were working and I kept getting more confidence as the game went on,” said Acuna, who helped the Tritons avenge an earlier season loss to Fullerton (8-3).    

Acuna retired the side in order five times and only walked two batters while displaying remarkable poise. He pitched out of a jam in the third inning. After retiring the first two Indians batters, Acuna walked DJ Garcia and Zach Fany and then hit Conner Sunderland with a pitch to load the bases.

Acuna retired Nate Norman on a ground out to end the inning. In the sixth inning, Acuna benefited from a double play that foiled a Fullerton rally. With one out, Sunderland and Norman hit back-to-back singles. However, with the runners going on a hit and run, Malachi Meni lined out to right field, but Sunderland was doubled off second base to end the rally. Acuna retired 16 Indians batters on fly outs.

San Clemente Coach David Gellatly said he didn’t expect Acuna to throw a complete game.

“You don’t expect that kind of a performance from a sophomore making his first varsity start, but he only threw 84 pitches and he kept them off balance,” said Gellatly, who is in his 29^th season as the Tritons coach. “Fullerton’s a good club and we heard this is a good hitter’s park and they had good swings and put a lot of balls in the air but there was a strong wind blowing in today. Overall, I like the way we’ve been playing the last two weeks.”

San Clemente (6-2) pushed across a run in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Vinnie Kane walked with one out and went to third on Chase Brunson’s single. He scored one out later on an infield error that gave the Tritons the lead.

San Clemente added a valuable insurance run in the seventh inning. Joey Bookataub led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Cade Cerone. Kane followed by slamming an RBI single to center, scoring Bookataub and increasing the Tritons lead to 2-0.

“It feels really good to get a clutch hit when we needed it,” said Kane. 

Cerone, Acuna’s battery mate, said Acuna was in control.

“Luke had good control and he was consistent throughout the game,” said Cerone. “He remained calm and kept battling.”

Fullerton got an outstanding pitching performance from AJ Hernandez but the Indians bats were quieted.

“AJ had good control and he never gave up; he was a dog out there on the mound,” said Fullerton Coach Shaun Hill, praising his starter. “But we have to tip our caps to their pitcher. He kept us off balance. I think a few of those fly balls may have gone out of here on other days, but that’s the way it is.”

Hernandez said his team will bounce back.

“We’re a good team now but we can be 10 times better,” said Hernandez, who only gave up four hits in 6.1 innings. “We got the barrel on the ball but it just didn’t drop in today.”

Later Saturday in another tournament game, San Clemente (7-2) defeated Douglas, Nev. 10-3 at Glover Stadium for its seventh win in a row. Mike Erspamer, Riley Smith, Lucas Weckerle, Joey Bookataub and Hayden Dill combined to strike out 15 and Brunson belted a home run over the fence in left center field.

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone