by DAVE FACINOLI

Staff Writer

A slider, instead of a fastball, might have been all that stood between Jay Sborz and a perfect game last week.

BASEBALL

As it was, the Langley High School senior right-hander tossed a no-hitter and allowed just one baserunner April 2 as the Saxons blanked the host Fairfax Rebels, 7-0, in a Liberty District game. The only runner that reached was No. 8 hitter Dustin Richitt with a one-out walk in the sixth inning. Langley did not make an error.

Richitt worked the count full, then walked on a slider.

“I should have called a fastball there instead of the slider,” Langley coach Jeff Ferrell said. “To the No. 8 hitter, what was I thinking? I should have called a fastball. I pumped my fist to my chest afterward and told Jay that was ‘my bad.’ ”

With a couple of dozen professional scouts on hand watching Sborz (2-1), he struck out a season-high 15. He threw 97 pitches, and his fastball wasn’t clocked as high as it had been in earlier games this season.

“He threw a gem,” Ferrell said. “His ball was moving, he was getting inside more, he threw more up in the zone, he challenged hitters, his changeup was a jaw dropper, and he got ahead in the count. Also, Nick [Zahra, Langley’s sophomore catcher] caught him very well.”

After Sborz lost to Madison in his previous start, Ferrell said he and his ace changed strategies a bit.

“We worked on not trying to be so fine and on challenging hitters a little more,” Ferrell said. “Jay has worked hard on becoming a better pitcher instead of a thrower.”

Sborz made a nice play on a come-backer to preserve the no-hitter.

Senior Jon Greenwich had three hits and scored three runs for Langley.

In other games last week, Langley (4-1, 3-1) defeated the McLean Highlanders, 9-2, and the Lee Lancers, 3-2. Right-hander Russell Blankinship (2-0) tossed a four-hitter against McLean. He walked one. Zahra had three hits for Langley and Chuck Eller and Alex Gregory had two each.

Against Lee, Sborz got the save as he fanned six in two innings of work. Sborz also homered in the game as did Greenwich. Zahra went 3 for 3 and Jason Potter had the game-winning RBI. Blankinship was the winning pitcher.