Bates Tosses Second Consecutive No-No For Bishop Moore

Junior right-handed pitcher Josh Bates threw his second consecutive no-hitter as Bishop Moore edged Eustis 1-0 on Monday in a non-district matchup.

The Hornets (7-3) scored in the first inning and held on to win their fourth in a row after a 3-3 start. Connor Scheitzach fouled off four pitches before being walked. Scheitzach stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Gabe Scavone’s RBI double.

It was a game that Hornets Manager Tony Mehlich described a “barnburner,” a classic pitchers’ duel between Bates and Eustis’ Cody Carroll. Bates struck out seven and walked four, and Carroll struck out nine and walked two.

“[Bates] did a good job working ahead of the batters. He was in command. His change-up was spot on. He kept them off balance,” Mehlich said. “We played very good defense behind him, very good funadmentally.”

Bates, whom Mehlich said has at least three pitches, tossed a no-hitter against Boone on February 26th. It wasn’t a nail-biter like Monday’s game. Bates, who has given up just two hits in 22 innings, pitched five innings and struck out five in the Hornets’ mercy-rule win.

“As long as he keeps control, he’s tough to hit,” Mehlich said.

Bates, along with fellow juniors Quinton Martinez and Scheitzach, have been getting the job done for the Hornets in place of injured top pitchers Rigsby Mosley, a Troy commit, and Mickey Giordano, a Boston College commit. Giordano will throw his first inning this season Thursday, and Mosley, whose wrist was broke by a hit-by-pitch, is due back soon, Mehlich said.

Kyle Moch had the other hit for Bishop Moore, which will host University on Thursday.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!