Strizak strikes out 16 Cougars in Opening Day shutout win

Fallbrook High School’s baseball team began the 2014 season March 8 with a 7-0 Pirate-Falcon Tournament victory over Escondido in which Warrior pitcher Alexander Strizak threw a two-hit shutout and struck out 16 Cougar batters.

“He was amazing,” said Fallbrook coach Patrick Walker.

Walker noted that Strizak’s strength was having a pitcher-friendly count after the first pitch. “Ninety percent of the hitters he was 0-1, he got ahead,” Walker said.

Only two pitchers in the history of Fallbrook High School baseball struck out more opposing batters in a game, and both reached the major leagues. Mat...