MOC pitcher Capps throws no hitter
By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 12, 2011 11:06 PM
HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- Carter Capps tossed a no-hitter - the first nine-inning no-hitter in school history and the third overall - to lead nationally fifth-ranked Mount Olive to a 4-0 victory over Coker in game one of a Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader Saturday at Hartsville, S.C. Capps recorded his ninth strikeout for the final out of the game and the Trojans' first no-hitter since 2005.
Mount Olive made it a doubleheader sweep and back-to-back shutouts as Pete Levitt tossed a seven-inning complete game six-hitter for a 2-0 victory. Jason Simone drove in both Trojan runs.
Mount Olive (19-3 overall, 6-1 Conference Carolinas) has won 15 of its last 16 games.
After the first two Coker batters of game one reached on an error and a walk, Capps (5-0) retired the next 13 batters until walking a batter with one out in the bottom of the fifth. He allowed a baserunner in the sixth, then retired the side in order in the seventh and eighth innings.
Capps struck out the leadoff batter in the bottom of the ninth and retired the next batter on a flyout to shallow left to put himself within one out of the no-hitter. Capps walked the next batter, but got the next batter to swing and miss for strike three as the Trojan dugout emptied in celebration.
The no-hitter was the first since Justin Staatz tossed a no-hitter in a conference game against Pfeiffer during the 2005 season. Ryan Barham threw the first no-hitter in school history in 2004 against Virginia State. Both no-hitters were in seven-inning games.
Capps improved his collegiate record to 15-0.
Ryan Faison went 4-for-5 with two runs scored to pace Mount Olive's 10-hit attack. Daniel Coffey's rbi-double in the top of the second broke a scoreless tie and Jacob Rogers added a bases-loaded two-run single with two outs in the fifth to give Capps all the run support he needed.
In the nightcap, Levitt (4-2) struck out six on his way to his third complete game of the season and second in as many starts. Coker (9-15, 3-5) had its best scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fifth with runners on first and second and nobody out, but Levitt picked off the lead runner. After a walk and a single loaded the bases, Levitt struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Levitt retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
Simone doubled home a run with two outs in the top of the second to put the Trojans on top. He added another two-out rbi-double in the fifth.
The two teams conclude their three-game series with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.