Pitchers shut down Farmington

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Four Tradewater Pirate pitchers combined to shut out the Farmington Firebirds 1-0 and took a no-hitter into the final frame of a seven-inning game on Saturday night at Riverside Park.

Tradewater threw 61⁄3 no-hit innings, until pitcher George Hebert surrendered back-to-back singles in the seventh inning.

While the Pirate players knew about the possible impending feat, assistant coach Jason Belk, filling in for coach Kurt Elbin, said he was unaware until after the game.

“No, no, I don’t really pay attention to that,” he said. “I think that happened three or four times this year, and me and Kurt Elbin are too busy about the situations and winning the ballgame than focusing on no-hitters and perfect games. It’s just real funny how it happened.”

The Pirates appeared poised to wrap up the no-hitter without any objections from Farmington, as Tradewater sent one of its starting aces, Hebert to the mound in the seventh for a relief appearance.

Hebert induced a groundout from the first batter, but the next two batters ripped consecutive singles to right field, ending the no-hitter and threatening to tie or take the lead.

Mentally preparing for a relief role is different than starting a game and could have made it difficult for Hebert to settle in, Belk said.

“That might have been it, but as a pitcher the hardest thing is getting the final three outs,” he said. “Finishing the game is the hardest thing to do.”

With runners on first and second, Hebert recovered to retire the next batter, but walked shortstop Mitch Guemmer to load the bases. Hebert, however, refused to permit the comeback and struck out the next Firebird batter to end the game.

Starting pitcher Kevin Belk began the no-hit bid by tossing three innings. Kevin faced 10 batters, striking out four and walking one. Pitcher Payne Spence took the ball for the fourth inning and sent Farmington down in order.

Don Pugliese entered to pitch in the fifth inning, and although he and his teammates were conscious of the game’s developments no one spoke about it.

“Not at all,” Pugliese said. “ It’s a thing you’re not allowed to talk about.”

Pugliese walked the first two batters, and a wild pitch allowed the runners to advance to second and third. With Tradewater ahead just 1-0, Pugliese stopped the potential rally by striking out the next three Farmington batters to preserve the no-hit attempt.

During the sixth inning Pugliese skipped the drama and retired the side in order.

After the game, Pugliese said he found his groove once he became comfortable with his fastball.

“I’ve been struggling a little bit trying to find control,” he said. “It wasn’t too bad after those first batters, so luckily I found it.”

Tradewater scored its only run, the only one it needed, in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Logan Bawcom began the inning with a double to the left field fence. It looked as if the Pirates would waste the scoring opportunity when the next two batters both flew out to center field, but Tanner Hall succeeded in bringing Bawcom home. Hall smacked a double down the left-field line and gave Tradewater a 1-0 advantage.

The Pirates threatened again in the fifth inning when Sean Mahley hit a one-out triple and Andy Gerhartz reached after he was hit by a pitch. Belk put on the delayed steal in an effort to get Mahley home, but a great defensive play by Farmington nailed Mahley at the plate.

The lone run from the fourth inning, however, proved to be all the Pirates needed.

At the time of press Tradewater led Farmington 8-3 in the third inning of the night game. Mahley continued his hot hitting with a deep home run to right field.

The KIT regular season champion Pirates will be back in action Tuesday night against the winner between the fourth and fifth seeds in a game played Monday.