MOUNT VERNON — There are unwritten rules in every sport. In baseball, one of those rules is that if a pitcher is on track to throw a no-hitter, no one mentions it.
On Saturday afternoon, the Mount Vernon dugout might have been a bit more subdued than usual.
Yellow Jacket hurlers Camden Firebaugh and Kayden Packard combined for a no-hit outing that lasted only four-and-a-half innings, with the home team crushing the visiting Franklin Heights Falcons 16-0 in tournament action.
In a game that was over almost before it began, the Jackets crossed the plate six times in the first inning. Things did not improve much for the visitors when the Jackets scored eight more runs over the next two innings and finished with two in the bottom of the fourth.
Franklin Heights did not have a base runner until the top of the third, when Jake Holman was hit by a pitch.
Mount Vernon’s dynamic duo struck out 12 of the 17 Falcons that came to the plate.
Kayden Packard said that this was a first for him.
“I’ve come close; I have thrown multiple one-hitters,” the 6-foot-3 senior right-hander said.
Firebaugh, who toed the rubber beginning in the fourth inning, said that he was unaware of the situation.
“I didn’t even realize what we were throwing,” he said. “I just pitched my game and trusted my defense to have my back. “
Yellow Jackets’ coach Nathan Hunt is pleased with his team’s progress.
“We were 3-5 to start the year and now we are 16-9. We are peaking at just the right time.”
Packard agrees with his coach.
“Pitching a no-hitter is a huge boost to our confidence, it feels great, especially headed into the Districts. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going”.
What does a coach tell a team after a game where it wins 16-0?
“We tell them to relax and enjoy the weekend, but on Monday, it is right back at it,” Hunt said. “That’s one thing nice about baseball, good or bad you have to get right back at it, no waiting a week to correct mistakes, even in great games, there is room for improvement.”
The Jackets will square off against Westerville Central Wednesday at 2 p.m. with the location to be determined.
(Photos by Cheryl Splain)
