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Irvine senior Drake Brito following Irvine’s final regular season game Thursday. (PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Many high school pitchers dream about throwing one no-hitter in their career.
Irvine High School senior Drake Brito accomplished the remarkable feat twice in a span of a week.
The senior right-hander hurled his second consecutive seven inning no-hitter leading the Vaqueros to a 2-0 Pacific Coast League victory over St. Margaret’s Tuesday, April 29, at the San Juan Capistrano Sports Park.
Brito struck out a school record 18 batters and walked one, facing just three batters over the minimum.
“It was fun, it felt good, I just went out there trying to throw strikes and let my defense work,” Brito said a couple days after his second no-hitter. “Since this was the second one, I think by the third inning, I {thought] I got a no-hitter and try and go for another one, why not? It wasn’t like the first game where I figured it out in the fourth inning, I kind of knew, I was feeling really good, better than the week before.”
Brito said his fastball, sinker and slider was working in the second no-hitter.
“They were the best they were all year,” he said. “Command felt good, body felt good.”
Brito’s parents and his brother were at the game along with other Vaquero fans.
“All the parents are pretty much my family anyways,” he said. “Both of them (the no-hitters) were fun. I think that one I felt a lot better, I had 18 K’s and I was definitely in the zone more and I felt I was throwing a little harder and more composed. Just everything kind of felt a little better. The week before was good as well too.”
Brito joins a very elite group. Two pitchers in the state threw back to back no hitters last season, according to Cal-Hi Sports. Ashwin Chona threw three consecutive no-hitters in 2017, a state record, Cal-Hi Sports said.
“I’ve never seen back to back no-hitters in person, it was fun to watch, Drake was in complete control, in command of all three pitches and locating, 18 K’s and facing three over the minimum is pretty cool,” Irvine Coach Gabriel Cota said. “There is no one who will ever out work him. The kid is here early and stays late every day. I’m happy and proud of him.”
Brito also pitched a no-hitter against Sage Hill in Irvine’s 4-0 victory on Wednesday, April 23 at Irvine.
Brito said he plans to pitch in college.
“I’m not sure where yet but I definitely want to throw at the next level and try to keep dominating and getting better,” he said.
Brito and his teammates are preparing for the start of the CIF playoffs next week after finishing second in the Pacific Coast League.
“Right now, we’re hot, if we just keep playing how we’ve been playing, we can make a run very easily,” he said. “I trust our guys, I think we can hang with any team, pitching, hitting and our bullpen {has been strong. We just got to stay hot.”
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com