Jeremy Joustra was close to perfection on the mound as the Sierra Sun Devils defeated San Francisco Trinity 9-0 in an elimination game at the Joe DiMaggio Tournament of Champions on Sunday near Napa, Calif.
The Sun Devils, who were coming off a 7-6 loss to the Tri-County Gamblers on Saturday, scored five runs in the third inning to take a 6-0 lead, which was more than enough support for the shutout pitching of Joustra, a recent Wooster High graduate who is headed to the University of Nevada.
Joustra came within one out of a no-hitter and only allowed three base runners overall to win his second game of the tournament and improve his summer record to 12-0. The right-hander's perfect game was spoiled in the fourth inning when he hit a batter and he allowed one other base runner on an error in the fifth. He had two outs in the sixth when the no-hit bid ended when a flare over second base fell for a single.
Joustra struck out three and walked none over seven innings.
The Sun Devils banged out 14 hits, all singles, including help from two players who will be part of the Western Nevada Community College program starting this fall - Tyson Jaquez went 3-for-4 and Brad Carlsen 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Reed High graduate Zach May hit 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run single in the Sun Devils' third inning rally.
The Sun Devils are now in the final four and need to win two more games today to stay alive in their quest to reach the Joe DiMaggio TOC finals for the fourth year in a row. The Sun Devils play at 1 p.m. against Mendocino.
