Melendez No-Hitter Keeps St. Bernard Streak Going

Former teammates who started St. Bernard’s Camino Real League winning streak way back in 1986 often playfully threaten pitcher Dan Melendez about keeping the streak alive.

Saturday afternoon at St. Bernard, the left-handed Melendez went out of his way to keep the streak intact by pitching a no-hitter and leading the Vikings to a 4-0 victory over visiting St. Monica.

St. Bernard has now won 34 consecutive league games, tying the mark set by Lakewood, which won 34 Moore League games in 1973-76. The Vikings can set the record with a victory Wednesday against Serra. Their last league loss was to Cantwell three years ago.

“I think about the streak because it started when I was a freshman and I played with some of the guys who really got it going as a sophomore,” said Melendez, who struck out seven, walked one and faced the minimum 21 batters in raising his record to 5-1. “Some of them still come around and tease us a little bit and tell us we better not lose.”

Melendez was in control throughout. He retired the first 15 batters before walking Dave Gadelha to open the sixth. No balls were hit out of the infield.

St. Bernard (10-3 overall and 4-0 in the league) got on the board in the second inning when Chris Richardson stroked a two-out double, went to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on an error.

It remained 1-0 until the sixth, when Jeff Richardson belted a lead-off homer to left. Melendez walked, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Grant Hohman walked and Chris Richardson doubled home Melendez.

Hohman stole home when Bobby Waller’s attempted suicide bunt got past catcher Richard Marker.

In the seventh, Melendez induced two easy ground outs to open the inning, then struck out Chris Leaton for the first no-hitter of his career.

“I was a little worried about him (Melendez) in the fourth because he came up with a little twitch in his back,” said Vikings Coach Bob Yarnall. “But he just finished stronger.”

Chris Richardson had three hits and scored twice for St. Bernard.

Leaton (0-1) struck out six in his season debut for the Mariners, who fell to 0-8 and 0-4 in 1989.