League News
HELMS THROWS FIRST NO-HITTER IN TCL HISTORY The no-hitter came just hours after pitcher Cody Curry (2-2) delivered a gem of his own, a complete game shutout in the opener of the twinbill. The Bombers took the first game 2-0 and won the nightcap 1-0 to leapfrog the Copperheads and take over first place in the Speaker Division. Helms (1-2) wrote his name in the history books by going seven strong innings, walking four and striking out three. Only one Coppell runner advanced past first base in the game. Matt Curry walked to open the fourth, advanced to second on a groundout and moved to third on a fly to left. Paul Goldschmidt walked to put two Copperheads on with two out, but Helms defused the threat by coaxing All-American Jonas Fester into a flyout. That was the closest Coppell ever came to threatening. Helms retired the side in order in first, third, fifth, and seventh innings. He closed out the game in classic fashion, striking out Justin Walker to secure the TCL’s first complete game no-hitter. Helms was aided by a superb defense behind him, crediting plays by outfielders Mark McGonigle and Blake Walker to keeping the no-no alive. McGonigle was also responsible for giving the Bombers the lead in the fourth inning. TJ Mittelstaedt opened the frame with a single and moved up to second on Walker’s groundout, then came home when McGonigle singled to right field. The Bombers would go on to load the bases with two outs, but couldn’t push across another run – not that Helms needed any more than one run of support on Tuesday. The no-hitter was the first in the Bombers’ short history but it’s the second Helms has thrown in his pitching career. In his first game at the varsity level for Whitehouse High School, Helms was as good as could be, pitching a perfect game for the Wildcats. In the opener, Curry was lights out as well, going the distance for just the second complete game shutout in the TCL this season – only to be overshadowed when Helms delivered the third just a few hours later. Curry surrendered just three hits, walking one and striking out one. He faced just 22 Copperheads batters, one more than the minimum for a seven inning game. No Coppell baserunner advanced past first base with Curry on the mound. In fact, Curry and the Bombers did an excellent job of erasing any Copperheads that managed to reach base. Paul Goldschmidt opened the Copperhead second with a single, but Matt McGuirk followed by grounding into a double play. Austin Goolsby picked up a two-out single in the third but was stranded. In the fourth inning, Anthony Walsh led off with a walk, but Curry coaxed Justin Howard to ground into a double play. When Goldschmidt followed with a single, Curry promptly picked him off first to close out the inning. He then retired the last nine Copperheads he faced to close the book on Coppell. The Bombers did their damage in the fourth inning, courtesy of the man who caught Curry’s gem. After Joseph Towns opened the frame by reaching on an error, catcher Kip Masuda crushed his third homer of the season to give the Bombers a 2-0 lead. That was all Curry would need on a night when Bombers pitching limited Coppell to three hits in 14 innings, a mere .071 team batting average for the doubleheader. |
Browse by Month »
August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 April 2020 March 2020 July 2019 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 December 2016 November 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 August 2015 July 2015 November 2014 August 2014 July 2014 May 2014 April 2014 November 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 March 2013 November 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 March 2011 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 April 2008 February 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 |
