Baseball Team Tosses Three No-Hitters in Two Days
Throwing a no-hitter is a feat that seems to elude most pitchers and as a team, having one or two for the season is considered a great accomplishment. Recently the pitching staff at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Mass. threw three no-hitters in two days.
April 18 against Gateway Community College (Conn.) Ryan Mooridian and Richard Hendgen combined for the first no-hitter. The following day Matt Maguire and Tom Lorette threw back-to-back no-hitters in a double-header sweep of Holyoke Community College (Mass.).In the GateWay game Mooradian threw 4 2/3, striking out 10 and giving up one run. Hendgen finished the game with 2 1/3 innings, striking out two.
Against Holyoke Maguire and Lorette each had complete-game, shutout, no-hitters. Maguire struck out 12 in his seven inning performance and Lorette retired 11 in seven innings.
Mooradian, who threw back-to-back no hitters during the 2003 season, had this to say about the performances, "I was thinking that we were finally coming together as a team. Everyone was making the plays they were supposed to. I was very excited for Tom (Lorette) because I knew he had never thrown a no-hitter and I was excited for Matt (Maguire) too because he was struggling a little before. I absolutely shivered watching his performance."
All four pitchers give due credit to teammates for their offensive and defensive play. When asked about any close situations where they felt the no-hitter may slip away, Maguire said, "there were a few times they hit the ball well, but our defense was amazing for all of the games. As much as you have to credit our offense, you have to credit our defense just as much, if not more."
Hendgen said" no, I had great confidence in our defense."
Lorette said, "Francisco Baez made an amazing diving catch at second and Brian Murphy had an incredible jumping catch at first. Catcher Ryan Ricci also called every pitch and every spot I wanted perfectly."
After experiencing one no-hitter, Maguire and Lorette felt no added pressure to continue the streak. "I felt no pressure at all. It was an outstanding performance by Mooradian and Hendgen and I just wanted to pitch well enough to win and we did. It was just a bonus to pitch a no hitter," said Maguire.
Lorette said, "I didn't have much pressure. I honestly didn't think I was going to throw a no-hitter, especially the third-consecutive one. It wasn't even on my mind because it is unheard of."