Hackworth Tosses No-Hitter
Tippecanoe Valley senior wins dual of Division I recruits
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Manchester’s batters stepped up to the plate and Tippecanoe Valley’s senior southpaw sat them down.
In a 3-0 Three Rivers Conference win in North Manchester, a game the Vikings won with the help of senior Brody Andrews’ three-run homer in the sixth inning, Hackworth tossed the second no-hitter of his prep career.
The Indiana State recruit struck out 17 of the 22 batters he faced, including the first eight and the final five.
Hackworth, who entered the game with an ERA of 0.28, walked just one batter, as he was ever-so-close to a perfect game.
“Everything was just working,” said Hackworth, who also tossed a no-hitter against conference rival Whitko during his freshman season. “I knew it would be a tough game, and I didn’t want to lose.”
Valley improved to 11-8 overall and 4-2 in conference action, while the Squires fell to 6-15 and 2-4.
“There’s no doubt he wanted the ball,” first-year Valley coach Ryan Moore said of his ace. “James Hackworth is taking it to the next level. He comes into the dugout and looks at the book to see what pitches are working. That’s the difference between a high school pitcher and a college pitcher, it’s between the ears.”
While Hackworth was flirting with a perfect game, Manchester senior Connor McLaughlin was tossing a gem of his own.
McLaughlin, who entered Monday’s dual on the mound with an ERA of 0.32, gave up just three hits over seven innings.
The IPFW recruit struck out 12 and walked three.
He took a no-hitter of his own into the sixth inning, not giving up a hit until Hackworth ripped a one-out single.
Hackworth’s hit came after McLaughlin struck out Jarred Littlejohn and and walked Jacob Ritchey.
After fanning Isaac Shewman for the second out of the inning, McLaughlin’s offering to Andrews found its way over the leftfield fence.
“Our defense played well today, and (junior catcher) Jim (Sainsbury) did a great job behind the plate,” said McLaughlin. “Jim set up in a great spot, and I just missed it. I hung the ball over the middle instead of hitting Jim’s mark.”
The only other hit McLaughlin gave up was a two-out single to Dan Miller in the seventh inning.
“Conner is as good of a pitcher as we’ve had here,” said long-time Manchester coach Jack Rupley. “(Current Ball State freshman) Scott (Baker) didn’t have the command Conner does, that’s what sets Conner apart. He has great command of his pitches.”
On Monday, both Hackworth and McLaughlin had command of their pitches, and it resulted in a memorable evening for those in attendance.
“James is an amazing talent,” McLaughlin said of his counterpart. “He’s a great pitcher.”
Manchester is in action again Wednesday at conference foe Rochester, while Valley travels to TRC rival Southwood Wednesday.
T. VALLEY 3, MANCHESTER 0
TV 000 003 0 – 3 3 0
M 000 000 0 – 0 0 0
James Hackworth (W, 7IP, 0H, 0R, 17K, 1BB) and Jacob Ritchey; Conner McLaughlin (L, 7IP, 3H, 3R, 3BB) and Jim Sainsbury
HR – Brody Andrews (TV)
Records: T. Valley 11-8 (4-2 TRC), Manchester 6-15 (2-4 TRC)[[In-content Ad]]
Manchester’s batters stepped up to the plate and Tippecanoe Valley’s senior southpaw sat them down.
In a 3-0 Three Rivers Conference win in North Manchester, a game the Vikings won with the help of senior Brody Andrews’ three-run homer in the sixth inning, Hackworth tossed the second no-hitter of his prep career.
The Indiana State recruit struck out 17 of the 22 batters he faced, including the first eight and the final five.
Hackworth, who entered the game with an ERA of 0.28, walked just one batter, as he was ever-so-close to a perfect game.
“Everything was just working,” said Hackworth, who also tossed a no-hitter against conference rival Whitko during his freshman season. “I knew it would be a tough game, and I didn’t want to lose.”
Valley improved to 11-8 overall and 4-2 in conference action, while the Squires fell to 6-15 and 2-4.
“There’s no doubt he wanted the ball,” first-year Valley coach Ryan Moore said of his ace. “James Hackworth is taking it to the next level. He comes into the dugout and looks at the book to see what pitches are working. That’s the difference between a high school pitcher and a college pitcher, it’s between the ears.”
While Hackworth was flirting with a perfect game, Manchester senior Connor McLaughlin was tossing a gem of his own.
McLaughlin, who entered Monday’s dual on the mound with an ERA of 0.32, gave up just three hits over seven innings.
The IPFW recruit struck out 12 and walked three.
He took a no-hitter of his own into the sixth inning, not giving up a hit until Hackworth ripped a one-out single.
Hackworth’s hit came after McLaughlin struck out Jarred Littlejohn and and walked Jacob Ritchey.
After fanning Isaac Shewman for the second out of the inning, McLaughlin’s offering to Andrews found its way over the leftfield fence.
“Our defense played well today, and (junior catcher) Jim (Sainsbury) did a great job behind the plate,” said McLaughlin. “Jim set up in a great spot, and I just missed it. I hung the ball over the middle instead of hitting Jim’s mark.”
The only other hit McLaughlin gave up was a two-out single to Dan Miller in the seventh inning.
“Conner is as good of a pitcher as we’ve had here,” said long-time Manchester coach Jack Rupley. “(Current Ball State freshman) Scott (Baker) didn’t have the command Conner does, that’s what sets Conner apart. He has great command of his pitches.”
On Monday, both Hackworth and McLaughlin had command of their pitches, and it resulted in a memorable evening for those in attendance.
“James is an amazing talent,” McLaughlin said of his counterpart. “He’s a great pitcher.”
Manchester is in action again Wednesday at conference foe Rochester, while Valley travels to TRC rival Southwood Wednesday.
T. VALLEY 3, MANCHESTER 0
TV 000 003 0 – 3 3 0
M 000 000 0 – 0 0 0
James Hackworth (W, 7IP, 0H, 0R, 17K, 1BB) and Jacob Ritchey; Conner McLaughlin (L, 7IP, 3H, 3R, 3BB) and Jim Sainsbury
HR – Brody Andrews (TV)
Records: T. Valley 11-8 (4-2 TRC), Manchester 6-15 (2-4 TRC)[[In-content Ad]]
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