Verrett tosses another no-hitter as Portagers sweep

Posted by Matt Wenzel, Manistee News Advocate
May 17, 2012

ONEKAMA — Stephen Verrett stayed out of trouble for the first five innings, but the Onekama senior pitcher was in a big jam in the sixth.

The bases were loaded with no outs after a couple walks and a hit batter.

“You just have to know that you have defense behind you,” Verrett said, “and you’ve just got to throw the ball in there.”

Verrett proceeded to strike out the next two batters and induce a ground out to complete a no-hitter in the first game of a West Michigan D League sweep against Baldwin on Thursday.

“I was throwing my fastball, pretty much, with great command today,” Verrett said. “I have a great catcher in Joe Eno who helped me. That’s about it.”

Verrett’s gem came in a 9-0 win in the opener and the Portagers went on to take the second game 16-1 by mercy rule in three innings. It’s the third no-hitter of the month for Verrett (the last was in a three-inning mercy), who walked four and struck out 14.

“As any coach would, you cheer for the kids who are working hard and he’s been throwing since he was a freshman trying to get to this level,” said Onekama coach John Neph. “He’s really earned what he’s getting this year. He’s put in the time … and he just loves baseball. It’s a real pleasure seeing him do well.”

With the sweep, Onekama (9-12-2, 7-3 WMD) completed a 4-0 week in the league ahead of Saturday’s trip to Shelby.

“We’re pleased with the week so far,” Neph said. “We’re playing better. We worked really hard on some things this week and it showed up tonight. The kids are sticking together and it’s a pleasure to come out to the ballfield with this team.”

Baldwin (6-14, 3-9) had an up-and-down week. The Panthers were swept by Manistee Catholic on Monday, then took two from Crossroads on Wednesday before Thursday’s losses.

 “These guys may not be first in the conference or second, but they battle the top teams and they’re always tough competition,” Baldwin coach Doug Bolles said of Onekama. “We knew it would be tough coming here.”

Onekama’s Nolan Miller delivers a pitch during the second game against Baldwin on Thursday. (Matt Wenzel/News Advocate)

Onekama held a 3-0 lead in the opener before getting four insurance runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Josh Jacobs led the offense with a pair of hits and three RBIs, Curtis McKenney and Dallas Hearit both had two hits and drove in a run while Verrett, Cordell Williams and Mitchell Clarke each had a single and RBI.

Nolan Miller tossed a one-hitter in the nightcap while striking out five.

“Nolan’s mission was pretty clear before the game and that was to pound the strike zone,” Neph said. “He worked this week in a couple bullpen sessions and it showed tonight.”

Verrett had a double and triple and drove in four runs, Nick Osborn went 2-for-2 with two RBIs while McKenney and Miller both had a hit and drove in a run.

“That’s a huge area that’s getting better for us,” Neph said of hitting. “More guys in the lineup are starting to make contact and put the ball in play.

“We feel like we’re getting better,” he added, “not that we’re there yet, but we’re getting a lot better.”

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