Lions improve to 10-3 on the year after Senior Austin Nicholas threw the first no-hitter of the season in a 10-0 shutout over Charlottesville High School. On a beautiful Thursday night, Nicholas got the call for the Lions, coming off of a strong outing against Monticello.
Evan Baumgartner led off the top of the first for the Black Knights, hitting it back to Nicholas for the first out. Back-to-back strikeouts from Jack Rabinowitz and Dalton Richardson ended the top of the first.
With Chico Richardson on the mound for the Black Knights, Nicholas led off the bottom of the first for the Lions with a walk followed by a bunt single from Matt West. Soon after, Jack McDonald walked and the bases were loaded. Tyler Earley ripped a two out single which scored both Travis Pleasants, courtesy runner for Nicholas, and West to give Louisa an early 2-0 lead over the Black Knights.
Once again, Nicholas threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second with three groundouts. Owen Agee led off the bottom of the second with a flyout to the left fielder. Caleb Turner followed with a single to left field and later a stolen base. The inning quickly ended on a pop out and Turner was stranded on second.
In the top of the third inning, Nicholas recorded his third and fourth strikeouts of the game with only 14 pitches, continuing to dominate Charlottesville's offense.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Tristan Snyder singled to the third baseman and soon stole second. Earley then ripped an RBI single to left field to increase Louisa’s lead 3-0.
Nicholas recorded all three outs himself in the top of the fourth inning, with his fifth strikeout of the game. Louisa’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning. Turner led off the rally with a single to left center. The Black Knights brought in sophomore Tyler Williams to relieve Richardson. Back-to-back singles from Nicholas and West scored Turner to give Louisa a 4-0 lead. McDonald reached on an error from the second baseman and advanced to scoring position on a single from Snyder. Tyler Earley then hit his fourth RBI of the night with a single to centerfield, giving Louisa a 8-0 over Charlottesville. When asked about his night, Earley believed that he needed to adjust to the pitcher. “I went in with a different approach today,” explained Earley. “I had to get up in the box and took a cut at it. It seemed to be working today.”
Nicholas lost his perfect game bid after a two out hit by pitch and his only walk of the night, but kept the no hitter alive. “I was just getting ahead with my fastballs,” explained Nicholas. “That was my main focus coming into the game tonight was throwing strikes and letting the defense work.” Williams flew out to the left fielder, and the inning was soon over.
Pinch hitter Kyron Butler led off the bottom of the fifth for the Lions with a double to center field. With two outs, sophomore J.B. Lamb nailed a triple to the left field fence, scoring Butler. After the ball went out of play on a Charlottesville error, Lamb scored the walk-off run and Louisa slaughtered Charlottesville 10-0. “It was the greatest moment in my life for baseball,” explained Lamb. “I wasn’t even thinking about it, to be honest. It was great!”
Louisa is set to face Orange on Friday and Fluvanna on Tuesday. “We owe Orange two big ones,” explained Earley. “They beat us both times last year so we’re coming to get them this year.” Let’s go Lions!
