For the City-Times

Lefty Is Second NWL Pitcher To Throw No-Hitter And Lose

Mequon, Wis.- It was a surreal scene at Kapco Park as the Lakeshore Chinooks (34-12, 10-2) downed the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (17-30, 5-7) in the most unusual of fashions. Lakeshore won the game 2-0 despite not recording a hit all night off of Rafters’ starter Domenic Mazza (UC Santa Barbara). Both runs came in the 6^th and were both unearned.

It was a pitcher’s duel right from the start as Lakeshore starter James Teague (Arkansas) was excellent in his six innings of work. Teague mowed through the Rafters, retiring the first eight hitters he saw with seven via the strikeout. Teague would go on to strike out twelve in six innings and give up the only hit the game saw.

The honor of the game’s lone hit belonged to Kirby McGuire (New Mexico) who also contributed a great defensive play. As always, a no- hitter usually relies on a outstanding effort and McGuire’s diving catch in the bottom of the first was the toughest defensive play made by Wisconsin Rapids.

That being said, it was some sloppy defense that allowed Lakeshore to pull out the win despite not recording a hit. Two errors committed by the Rafters allowed two runs to come in during the bottom of the 6^th. After that the Northwoods League’s top pitching staff took over.

Two Chinooks’ relievers shut down the final three innings and completed history. Mazza’s performance is the 18^th no- hitter in NWL history and is the second that occurred in a losing effort. Thanks to the brilliant pitching Tuesday’s game lasted only 2 hours and 5 minutes. The two teams wrap up the series tomorrow evening with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm.