The junior right-hander tossed a one-hit gem in Bayside's 11-0 pounding of archrival Cardozo High.
His masterpiece was slightly marred by two Bayside errors and one hit batsman. Velazquez was even hot on offense, going 3-for-3 with a walk and three stolen bases as the Commodores' leadoff batter.
"As long as we win the game, that's the only thing that counts," Velazquez said moments after whiffing Cardozo's Andy Vega to end the game.
The one-hitter capped a roller-coaster 24 hours for Velazquez. Admitting he "got no sleep whatsoever" Sunday evening, the 17-year-old spent all yesterday trying to calm his nerves - and avoid reporters.
Once the Daily News publicized Velazquez's historic feats in yesterday's paper, Bayside baseball coach Pat Torney said "a media circus" ensued.
Broadcast and print reporters descended upon the Queens school, all wanting an interview with the only pitcher ever to throw consecutive perfect games - no hits, walks or errors - at the high school, minor or major league level.
Cincinnati southpaw Johnny Vander Meer once threw two straight no-hitters during the 1938 season, but walked 11 batters over those two games.
Velazquez, who improved to 5-0 on the season, admitted to being "a little nervous" when he took the mound yesterday. Besides the bevy of news crews, the audience also included his mother Jeannie, two older brothers, Ruben and Manny, and younger sister Jen.
But Velazquez showed his moxie with a stellar effort.
It took just three batters to break up yesterday's bid for perfect game No. 3. After a groundout and the first of his six strikeouts, Velazquez plunked Jamie Liebowitz. Adam Torres followed with a sharp grounder to second that Emmanuel Madera botched for Bayside's first error. A flyout ended the threat.
The no-hit bid died in the second inning when host Cardozo's Michael Bean ripped a clean, two-out single to left. The game was called after five innings due to the mercy rule.
"It's been a stressful last three weeks," Velazquez said. "But I love pitching. That's my dream right now."
