How do you top the first complete-game shutout in the league since 2017?
How about the first no-hitter since 2015?
Jacob Palisch (Stanford) did exactly that for Harwich on Wednesday night. He now owns two complete-game shutouts this season, and the second one was better than the first. He walked two, struck out seven and didn’t surrender a hit in a 2-0 Harwich win over Orleans.
It’s a rare feat in the Cape League. There have been a few no-hitters with caveats – combined efforts by a few pitchers, weather-shortened achievements. Just this year, Nick Dombkowski threw a five-inning perfect game that was called due to rain.
I suppose Palisch’s gem also comes with an asterisk. Since the game was part of a doubleheader, it was a seven-inning game, but because it was scheduled that way and not shortened, we’ll put this no-hitter into the official category. It’s the first such no-hitter in the league since Devin Smeltzer did it for Hyannis in 2015. Before that, it was another Stanford pitcher who did it – Jordan Pries in 2010.
Palisch hit a batter in the first inning and walked one in the third, but then retired 14 in a row before issuing a two-out walk in the final frame. The last chance to break up the no-no-, Rob Emery, flew out to center field for the final out.
Palisch lowered his ERA to 0.93, which ranks second in the league. But his two complete-game gems most certainly rank first.
Orleans 8, Harwich 3
Palisch’s no-hitter was in the first game of the doubleheader with Orleans, and the Firebirds rebounded for a win in the second game. Emery, Shay Whitcomb (UC San Diego) and Josh Zamora (Nevada) all went deep for Orleans, while Max Troiani (Bentley) had three hits and three RBI. Jared Shuster (Wake Forest) allowed three runs in four innings for the win.
Falmouth 2, Wareham 1
We almost had two no-hitters on the same night. Instead, Falmouth broke up Wareham’s combined no-hit bid in the eighth and came away with an improbable win. Levi Prater (Oklahoma) and Brandon Pfaadt (Bellarmine) put together the no-hit effort, Prater going the first two innings and Pfaadt dominating in 5.1 innings. Austin Langworthy (Florida) broke up the no-no with a single to lead off the eighth. An Austin Masel (Holy Cross) sacrifice fly tied the game. Later in the inning, a bases-loaded walk to Zach DeLoach (Texas A&M) plated the go-ahead run. Zachary Brzykcy (Virginia Tech) pitched the ninth to finish off the win for Falmouth. Brant Brown (Eckerd) pitched three hitless of innings of relief for the win. Before all that, Falmouth starter Franco Aleman (St. John’s River) finally allowed an earned run, his first of the summer. He still leads the league in ERA at 0.32. The win was the seventh in a row for Falmouth.
Brewster 3, Cotuit 0
Mason Black (Lehigh) starred again and T.J. Collett (Kentucky) ended a pitcher’s duel with his eighth home run of the summer as Brewster topped Cotuit. Black struck out five and allowed three hits in five innings, lowering his ERA to 1.44. Sean Fisher (Maryland) kept the shutout going with four innings of one-hit ball. Trey Holland (Sewanee) struck out seven in five scoreless for Cotuit, but Collett broke the ice against the Kettleer bullpen. The two-run blast moved Collett into a tie for the league lead with Harwich’s Niko Kavadas.
Chatham 5, Y-D 0
Three Anglers combined on a shutout as Chatham reclaimed sole possession of first place with a win over Y-D, who had entered the day locked in a first-place tie. Cole Ayers (Kentucky) struck out five and allowed just two hits in five scoreless innings. Just like the last time Ayers pitched, his Kentucky teammate Mason Hazelwood followed him to the mound, this time tossing three hitless innings of relief. Dawson Merryman (Midland) – who I don’t think has any connection to Kentucky – pitched the final inning. Five different players drove in each of the five runs. Ben Ramirez (USC) and Hueston Morrill (Oklahoma State) had two hits each.
What to Watch
Y-D and Chatham, the top two teams in the East, will meet for the second straight night, this one at Veterans Field.