No hits, no runs in first start for Jordan Gonzalez as Flagler Palm Coast tops DeLand 1-0

Marion Clayton's base hit drove in Cody Clymer with the only run of the game.

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Sophomore right-hander Jordan Gonzalez was striving for perfection in his first varsity start for Flagler Palm Coast. He didn’t quite get there, but his first start was still a memorable one as he threw six innings of no-hit ball to help the Bulldogs defeat DeLand 1-0 at home on Friday, Feb. 29.

Senior Dalton Roberts pitched a perfect seventh inning to complete the combined no-hitter and sophomore Marion Clayton drove in Cody Clymer in the bottom of the sixth with the only run of the game.

“You can’t beat a game like that,” FPC baseball coach Kyle Marsh said. “The guys stayed together and they got the win.”

Gonzalez and DeLand's Bryson Treichel, who will pitch for the University of North Florida next year, were locked in a scoreless pitching duel into the sixth inning when pinch hitter Clymer reached first base on a walk, stole second on a pitch in the dirt and ran all the way home on Clayton’s single to center field.

Clymer slid under the tag attempt by catcher Derek De Jesus, who had to leap high to catch the throw home.

Gonzalez, who held the game ball in the Bulldogs’ post-game huddle, seemed unfazed by it all, joking that the ball “will probably go in the bucket in a few days.”

“He did a great job,” Marsh said. “He kept guys off balance and gave us a chance to win.”

Gonzalez said he had nerves at the start of the game, but it didn’t take long for him to settle down.

“With the first batter I was a little nervous, but I struck him out, so I wasn’t too nervous after that,” he said.

But he felt his control could have been better.

“My slider was my best pitch. My fastball, I couldn’t really locate it,” Gonzalez said.

He gave up two walks and hit two batters, but those were the only DeLand batters to reach base. He had three strikeouts and was able to preserve the shutout without the benefit of a double play. 

It’s cool we won. (Clayton’s) hit was probably the best part of the night.”
— JORDAN GONZALEZ

“It’s cool we won,” Gonzalez said. “(Clayton’s) hit was probably the best part of the night.”

Clayton had two of FPC’s four hits against Treichel, also smacking a two-out double to center field in the fourth but was left stranded on base. In the sixth, the first baseman laced a liner to center on a 2-2 count to score Clymer.

“He worked that count. He kept battling,” Marsh said. “It was a great at-bat. He kept his composure and fought off a couple of tough pitches.”

Clayton said he hit a fastball.

“It was middle, in. I stayed through it,” he said. “It felt great. My teammates had my back the whole game. My first at-bat I got out, but they stayed behind me. And Gonzo balled out on the mound today.”

FPC improved to 2-1. The Bulldogs will visit Matanzas on Friday, March 8, two days after traveling to Clay County to face Fleming Island.

 

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