Pitching Record Doesn’t Tell Story With Taft’s Wade

When should a 3-8 pitching record be considered misleading?

When the pitcher’s name is Justin Wade of Taft High.

Last season, Wade struck out 10 and pitched a two-hitter in a 2-0 victory over top-ranked Chatsworth. Last week, Wade came through with another upset, striking out 15 to beat two-time defending City Section champion El Camino Real, 6-4.

Wade, a senior right-hander, has a losing record because the young Toreadors continue to make errors. Of the 65 runs he has allowed, 42 are unearned. Wade is a ground-ball pitcher, and if the defense falters, he can’t win.

“We haven’t hit for him or played defense,” Coach Rich McKeon said.

But when it comes to earning respect from opposing coaches and players, Wade has it.

“He was absolutely incredible,” said Coach Bob Ganssle of El Camino Real. “The guy’s breaking ball was just very odd. We tried like the dickens to hit it. It really was the best single-game pitching performance I’ve seen this year.”

Added McKeon: “It was spectacular. It ranked right up there with what he did to Chatsworth last year.”

Taft (6-17, 2-12 in the West Valley League) plays a key game against Birmingham (14-12, 3-11) today. A victory moves Taft into a tie for third place in the league and helps the Toreadors’ chances of gaining a spot in the City playoffs.

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The City Section is close to moving its championship game at Dodger Stadium to June 3 and will start the playoffs on May 25, a week ahead of schedule.

The final was originally scheduled for June 10 at Dodger Stadium, with first-round games June 1. But a conflict in securing Dodger Stadium prompted a change. A final scheduling decision is expected today.

Previously, there would have been 13 days between the end of the regular season on May 19 and the start of the playoffs.

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Nolan LeMar of Hart is on a hitting tear. He has hit home runs in four consecutive games and is forcing Coach Bud Murray to find a place for him in the lineup. LeMar, who plays first and third base, is batting .500 (14 of 28).

“I’m just feeling hot right now,” LeMar said. “I’m kind of feeling in a groove, becoming more relaxed.”

This is LeMar’s first year on varsity. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior missed Hart’s first five games while recovering from back problems. He also was slowed because of second-degree burns suffered the day before Thanksgiving during a senior physics class experiment.

Murray likes LeMar’s baseball future.

“He has a chance to be real good,” Murray said.

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Adam Geery of Kennedy, the first freshman in school history to play varsity baseball, is emerging as a pitching standout for the Cougars.

Geery has a 1.70 earned-run average in Northwest Valley Conference play. Overall, he’s 5-4 with a 3.27 ERA.

“He’s been outstanding,” Coach Manny Alvarado said.

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Center fielder Spencer Gordon of Chaminade will attend USC.