Rider helps Hancock storm to no-hit win

June 29, 2008|By CHRIS CARTER

HANCOCK - Hancock pitcher Trent Rider had just one pitch at his disposal Saturday morning.

It wasn't a problem because Valley couldn't touch it.

Rider pitched 4 1/3 hitless innings with 10 strikeouts before giving way to Jesse Wolford, who got the final five outs as Hancock no-hit Valley for a 6-0 win in the winners' bracket final of the Maryland District 1 9-10 Tournament.

"I didn't throw anything other than my fastball," Rider said. "I was pretty confident that I could (win)."

Rider walked four and left in the fifth inning after throwing 78 pitches. Wolford, who entered the game with one out and the bases loaded, struck out the next batter and got out of the inning by picking off Austin Jones at third base.

That was the only time Valley had a runner in scoring position.

"(Jones) thought the ump called timeout and they caught him," said Valley coach Frank Bywaters. "I wish he would have told me right away and I could have challenged it. I liked our chances to pick up a couple of runs there.

"I can't say enough about Hancock's pitching. (Rider) threw strikes, challenged us and we just didn't hit the ball. The few that we did hit went right at them."

Rider walked the first Valley batter of the game on five pitches but responded by retiring the next 12 in a row.

Jones drew the first of three walks in the fifth before Rider's exit.

"That's probably the game of (Rider's) life," Hancock coach David Faith said. "It looked like they had trouble catching up with him."

Rider had no such trouble with Valley starter Boo Jordan. Rider helped himself with a two-run single in the first inning and later scored on a passed ball to give Hancock a 3-0 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, Rider singled in Bradley Younker for a 4-0 edge in the top of the third.

Hancock got two insurance runs in the sixth on a two-run double by Justin Barnard. Barnard and Clark each finished with two hits.

"This just shocked me," Faith said. "We read the paper. We know how good they are."

As it turned out, just not good enough.

After striking out just four times in its previous two victories, Valley fanned 14 times Saturday and was held below 10 runs for the first time in the tournament.

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