Baseball: Yes, yes, yes, yes. A fourth no-no for Morrell
No-hitters never get old. Just ask Brian Morrell.
The Shoreham-Wading River High School pitcher should know better than most people. On Monday he threw the fourth no-hitter of his high school career.
“A no-hitter is a no-hitter and it’s good,” Morrell said. “You got to appreciate it all the time because those things don’t come too often.”
Unless, of course, you’re name is Brian Morrell. The senior righthander tossed successive no-hitters in his first two varsity pitching starts as a freshman before tacking on a third his sophomore season.
And then there was Monday’s Suffolk County League VII game in East Hampton. Morrell had a perfect game through 5 2/3 innings before issuing his only walk of the game. Later, his 16th strikeout of the day wrapped up the no-no, which went down as a 9-0 win, Shoreham’s sixth in seven games this season.
“It was definitely a good moment,” said Morrell (3-0), recalling teammates jumping on him in celebration.
Despite his 16 Ks, Morrell worked efficiently, finishing with a pitch count of only 83.
“I knew what was going on, but I just wanted to pitch and throw strikes and compete,” said Morrell, winner of last year’s Carl Yastrzemski Award as Suffolk’s most outstanding player. “That’s all I want to do is throw strikes and get guys out.”
Morrell, who has committed to play for Notre Dame, said he used an array of pitches, including fastballs, changeups, sliders and a spike curve. “Everything was working,” he said.
Shoreham coach Kevin Willi said, “Really, all his secondary stuff combined with locating the fastball, it was really tough to bat against him.”
Willi said it was around the third or fourth inning when he exchanged looks with assistant coach Ray Maccagli. Willi said they “just looked at each other and we’re like, ‘He’s pitching pretty good, right?’ You don’t say it because it’s bad luck.”
Everything seemed to be on Morrell’s side, including plenty of offensive support from people like Nick Manesis (3-for-3, home run, five RBIs) and Tom Brady (2-for-4, four runs, three RBIs).
Morrell’s no-hitter was one of three thrown by Suffolk pitchers Monday. Patchogue-Medford’s Josh Rovner and Southampton’s Jem Sisco also hurled no-hitters, according to Newsday.
Morrell, who keeps all four balls from his no-hitters at his home, has a knack for dealing with no-hit bids.
“In that situation I know what’s going on and I’m not really nervous about it,” he said. “I just try to go out there and throw strikes and get guys out. Coach always tell me, ‘Just throw strikes and you’ll be fine,’ and it worked out to my benefit.”
