STAUNTONS TIM HUDSON THROWS CLUBS FIRST NO-HITTER

For Immediate Release
May 9th, 2002

Making just his seventh start of the season, Hudson overcame four walks and threw the first no-hitter in the Mid-West Baseball League this season as the Staunton Cheap Seats defeated the New River Road Runners, 3-0.  The 26-year-old Hudson (1-1) battled control problems but was helped by the Road Runners, whose batters repeatedly bailed him out by swinging early in the count. He threw just 65 of 128 pitches for strikes, fanning seven.  “I was effectively wild,” Hudson said. “I was able to find it when I needed to. It’s a great feeling. I knew this day would come, I didn’t know it would come so soon.”   Hudson finished strong, however, and was hitting 91 miles per hour on the radar gun in the ninth inning.  “I threw maybe 10 curveballs all game,” said Hudson. “We were just working in and out all night. This is a great feeling. I never thought that I’d throw a no-hitter this early in a season. Just to be able to throw one is a great feeling. I was trying not to look up at the scoreboard too much. I knew about it after the seventh.”   In the ninth, Larry Walker hit the first pitch on a line to right fielder Danny Bautista. Then Ellis Burks grounded out, bringing up hitter Garrett Anderson.  Anderson, who bats fifth in the Road Runners line up, popped out to shortstop Edgar Renteria, starting a mob scene around Hudson on the mound.   It was the first No-Hitter Staunton’s Five-year history.   Damian Miller caught the no-hitter.  “I’ve been very fortunate,” Miller said. “I’ve played with some very good pitchers like Tim Hudson, Greg Maddux and Kelvim Escobar. To me, what’s so important is this is only his seventh start. He pitched a very good ballgame. About the eighth inning, I told myself something good might happen. I didn’t think no-hitter until that point.
Ironically, Hudson was selected by the Kentucky Head Hunters, with the first overall selection in the 2000 MWBL draft and was acquired by the Cheap Seats on May 30th, 2000 in a six-player deal with Hudson being the main component headed to the Cheap Seats, and Jason Giambi headed to the Kentucky Head Hunters.   The 5-1 Hudson began with a win over Kentucky giving up four hits and three earned runs six innings.
Hudson was helped by second baseman Fernando Vina (who leads the league in hitting thus far), who went behind the bag to field a ground ball and threw out Marlon Anderson to end the sixth inning.  “I thought the ball was through,” Anderson said. “He made a great play on it. I guess that’s what you need to have to throw a no-hitter.”   Larry Walker led off the seventh and Renteria cut off his slow chopper behind the pitcher’s mound before making a low throw that was scooped by first baseman Mike Sweeney.  “The ball was in the hole, I was just trying to make an out,” Renteria said. “My throw was a little bit to the left side. Sweeney made a very good play.”   Right hander Paul Abbott (4-2) allowed three earned runs and eight hits over seven innings. The 34-year-old right-hander threw 104 pitches, walking one and striking out seven.
Hudson was wild from the outset, allowing two base runners in the first three innings. After striking out Burks to start the third, he got Mike Lowell on five pitches. But Hudson stranded the runners at first Ellis Burks by striking out Julio Lugo, and retiring Dan Wilson on a fly out.
All in all Tim Hudson had a career day.  His No-Hit ball will be saved by team owner Jim Schwendeman, and be kept on his mantle like a prize possession.   Schwendeman was noted as saying “It doesn’t get any better than this” Of course Jim had a cold beer in his hand, and looked three sheets to the wind, but for the franchise’s first No-Hitter, who wouldn’t be on cloud nine.