Weaver Pitches Dream of a Game

STANFORD, Calif. — Jeff Weaver heard the fans counting, but he lost track at 12.

It wasn’t until after the game that his catcher, Giuseppe Chiaramonte, gave him his final strikeout count: 21.

“I was a little taken back,” he said.

Weaver, a 6-foot-5 right-hander from Simi Valley, pitched a three-hitter and set an NCAA postseason record for strikeouts in Fresno State’s 2-1 victory over Texas A&M; on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA West Regional at Stanford.

Weaver, a redshirt sophomore, walked on at Fresno State three years ago after playing for Simi Valley High. Last summer he pitched for the U.S. Olympic team. His best pitch is a slider, which was in prime form against the Aggies.

Weaver (11-5) walked two and threw 137 pitches.

“They were baffled,” Chiaramonte said. “They weren’t hitting the slider so we stayed with it. That was all we threw to some hitters.”

Texas A&M; scored in the second inning on a double by Rich Petru. Weaver responded by retiring 15 straight, striking out a school-record eight in a row that stretch.

Weaver broke a 34-year-old Fresno State record of 20 strikeouts set by Tex Clevenger in 1953 and equaled by Dick Ruthven in 1972. The NCAA postseason record was 20 by Steve Arlin of Ohio State in 15 innings in 1965.

“He kept us frozen at the plate and we were off balance,” Texas A&M; Coach Mark Johnson said. “He wasn’t behind the count at all. He was doing all the things you want a pitcher to do.”