Perebzak Strikes Out 14 on Opening Day

Sophomore lefty Bobby Perebzak struck out a career-high 14 batters on opening day to help the Knights earn a 1-0 home win over Compton. Sophomore Quinn Johnson drove in the game's only run on a triple and sophomore righty Erik Radder earned the save. 

Perebzak was in a groove from the start as he struck out the side in the first inning, which set the tone for the rest of the game. After allowing a hit to the lead-off batter in the second inning, Perebzak struck out the next three batters and eight of the first 10 he faced.

With Perebzak cooking, City's offense provided him with the only run he needed in the bottom of the first. Catcher Alejandro Gonzalez led off with a double and then advanced to third on a Jesse Chacon fly out. Johnson came up next and hit a triple to centerfield to bring Gonzalez home. 

Perebzak had a strikeout in every inning except the ninth, but had some big help from his defense in the sixth when two Compton line drives, which could've easily landed for hits, were caught by a diving Isaiah Hilke in center field and shortstop Johnson in shallow left field.

Perebzak got into some trouble in the seventh inning when Compton had runners on first and second bases with two out, but Perebzak picked off Elias Pacheco at first to end the threat.

Compton got another runner in scoring position after a walk and sacrifice bunt to start the top of the ninth, but that's when Radder came in to relieve Perebzak and got the final two batters to ground out and fly out to get the save and keep the shutout.

It was a great start for Perebzak who now leads the state in stikeouts. 

The Knights will play their first road game at College of the Desert on Monday at 1 p.m. They will be back at Morley Field on Tuesday for a 1 p.m. game against Golden West.