Of all of the great performances during Monday’s USSSA Memorial Day Classic 18u championship game, the show put on by BBIG Black pitcher David Alopeza stands out.

Alopeza’s stat line from the game is extremely impressive. The righty picked up the win by pitching a five-inning complete game and striking out five while allowing only one run (on a balk in the final frame).

Beyond the stats, though, it is the efficiency with which Alopeza shut down the opposition that is truly impressive. He walked no batters in the game and set down the Hoyas 1-2-3 in three out of the five innings. Additionally, he never faced more than five batters in an inning.

Some of the credit for this efficiency should go to the Black defense. The team picked up two double plays and looked generally solid in the field outside of one ball lost in the sun in center.

However, Alopeza definitely put his mark on the game by carving the corners and placing his pitches with deadly accuracy. After becoming accustomed to the umpire’s strike zone, which expanded a little off the outside corner against righties, Alopeza used the space to his advantage. At least three of the pitcher’s five strikeouts were made by hugging the no man’s land on the outside corner.

With 11 runs scored, the Black did not need such a stellar performance to secure the victory, but they can’t complain about their pitcher’s performance.

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