Senior staff writer
Perry Meridian’s Bryce Garrity and Center Grove’s Brian Gaffney threw no-hitters last week as each team’s bats came alive.
Garrity tossed his gem April 12 at Franklin as the Falcons won their fourth game by pounding 13 hits and scoring 10 runs. The senior struck out one batter and did not give up a walk.
The Falcons did the rest at the plate by pushing across eight runs in the first and adding a run in the third and fifth innings.
Sophomore Camden Reed had three hits and scored three runs. Junior Luke Atkins scored three times and had two hits. Junior Alex Morgan is leading the Falcons (5-4) with five RBIs and a .360 batting average. Garrity is 1-1 with a 1.40 ERA and is batting .360; freshman Bailey Arnold (2-0) has a 1.66 ERA.
Perry Meridian and Southport met Tuesday in the Battle of Perry Township at Holder Field (result available at www.southsidervoice.com).
At Center Grove April 14, sophomore utility player Gaffney made his first varsity start on the mound against rival Greenwood after a couple of relief appearances.
Not in the regular rotation, the right-hander struck out 12 and walked only two in the Trojans’ 10-0 win. He threw a seven-inning no-hitter at Center Grove as a pitcher on the freshman team.
“Everything was really working,” said Gaffney, who began pitching in youth leagues. “My fastball was in the zone, and my curve ball was just as good; they couldn’t really hit it so I just kept throwing it.”
A left fielder and a catcher, Gaffney was unaware he had a no-hitter until the game ended oddly on a balk by a Greenwood pitcher.
Gaffney also is a long snapper and defensive end on the Trojans’ football team.
The Trojans (3-6) had lost four consecutive games, so the win was most welcome.
“He had really good command of his breaking ball,” coach Keith Hatfield said. “He always commands his fastball. He hadn’t pitched for a week. We got him some runs, and it’s a lot easier to pitch when you have a big lead.”
Center Grove had nine hits and benefitted from three Greenwood errors and six wild pitches in the first three innings.
CG’s Cameron Gregson scored the winning run from third on a pitcher’s balk. Nick Coy and Ryan Sauter drove in two runs apiece. Garrett Hill led off the decisive fifth with a towering home run over center field.
In each game the 10-run rule was in effect at the end of five innings.
Playing its fifth game in five days, Greenwood (4-7) recovered Saturday and defeated Triton Central 11-7.