Efficiency was key for De Alejandro in Wednesday’s historical game

By Lethbridge Herald on July 20, 2023.

Herald Photo By Justin Seward Herald photo byJUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge BullsÕ Javier De Alejandro delivers a pitch during his complete game combined with a no hitter on Wednesday against the Brooks Bombers.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Pitcher Javier De Alejandro has engraved his name in the Lethbridge Bulls’ history books.

De Alejandro was the first Bulls pitcher since 1999 to pitch a complete game and no hitter in the same contest on Wednesday night at Spitz Stadium in a 7-0 win over the Brooks Bombers.

He only threw 105 pitches and struck out eight batters in nine innings.

“Looking back on it today (Thursday), I’m still kind of trying to put it together,” said De Alejandro.

“It’s still not hitting me fully. Yeah I mean just trying to get it through my head. It’s still trying to get through but just continuing to push everyday forward. We’re just trying to get better.”

For De Alejandro, it was about being efficient throughout the game.

“Pitch count for me was working, getting ahead in counts, you know getting ahead of guys as much as possible,” he said.

“That way they’re hitting my pitch versus hitting their pitch as a pitcher. It was just working quickly, getting ahead of batters and that worked out for me. I was able just to locate spots and they were able to get themselves out on pitches, and I was able to strike a couple people out here (and) there and keep the momentum going for me physically and mentally.”

De Alejandro got Jeremiah Sanchez to fly out to third baseman Torrin Vaselenak for the last out of the game.

“Yeah I saw the ball go up and I just felt relief (and) joy” said De Alejandro.

“I knew as soon as the ball went up Torrin called it and I knew the ball wasn’t going to drop in the infield. So I just had some confidence and I knew that I just did it. It felt good. I can’t even explain kind of just  the emotions that were running through my head at the moment, but yeah, overall great win for the team.”

He felt the confidence was on his side throughout the game.

“I felt really good and just tried to physically show that, you know, with my body, my posture (and) my presence,” he said.

“Just be present on the mound and don’t let the moment get too big for me.”

He reached out to his parents first.

“I just gave them a call right after the game and they were blowing up my phone with texts,” said De Alejandro.

“So I gave them a call and you know they were ecstatic. They were shocked (and) they couldn’t believe it. But I’m a long ways from home, so they were really excited for me and a couple tears shedding down my dad’s face because (Wednesday) was his birthday.”

“Yeah, it’s really exciting,” said Bulls head coach Chance Wheatley.

“You know, that’s first one I’ve been a part of in this league and yeah it’s something that we’ll remember for quite a while.”

Wheatley didn’t check on him throughout the game.

“To be honest, no, I didn’t talk to him at all,” said Wheatley.

“I stayed away from him and everyone knew it was happening. So, I think as the game went on, guys kind of  gave him a little more distance and  tried not to I guess jinx it or anything like that and just let him be. His pitch count was low and if he had an issue, he would’ve came to me. So I was just going to let him ride.”

The feat was also the first in the Western Canadian Baseball League this season.