The Ladysmith Bantam “A” Cannons were in fine form at Holland Creek Park on June 12 when Mitch Doherty threw a no-hitter in a mercy versus Duncan during playoffs.
Doherty, who had only surrendered one hit in his last three outings, had batters confused the entire game, according to coach Mike Morgan.
“You could see early in the game that Mitch and our catcher, Dion, had something special,” Morgan said in an e-mail. “It was the grinning back and forth that told me they knew they had batters fooled.”
Doherty allowed only two base runners, one by error, and one by walk, in the 10-0 shutout.
Clayton Perry anchored the defence at shortstop with four outs.
“He made a great backhand play on a hard hit ball, and timed the bounce on a high hopper to make a strong throw on a bang bang play at first to get the out,” said Morgan.
Thomas Durand, after a bobble on a really tough play that could have been ruled a hit had he fielded it clean, also saved the no-hitter on a line drive one-hopper at second base for a crucial out, according to Morgan.
The Cannons dominated the game. They jumped out 5-0 in the first inning, and Morgan says that “with Mitch in the zone, it was all but over.”
“Word of the looming no-hitter spread and made its way to the adjacent field,” said Morgan. “Onlookers were thrilled when catcher Dion Isaac drove home Tyler Knelson and Dawson McIntosh for the walk-off mercy and put the no-hitter nail in the coffin.”
Doherty says he didn’t really realize he had pitched a no-hitter until after the game.
“It was pretty nice to have the team behind you,” he said. “I just pitched kind of consistent, and the team had pretty good defence — that helped.”
Doherty has been playing baseball since he was about four, and this was his first no-hitter.