OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Heartland Baseball League: 1984 and Beyond

HerbD · 03-27-2013, 05:34 PM

Oshkosh, WI

Craig Challis

Who is Craig Challis? The short answer is this: the fifth pitcher in the history of the Heartland Baseball League to pitch a no-hitter. That's right folks...Craig Challis just pitched a no-hitter. In a year where hitting records are falling like rain, a relative unknown outside of HBL circles has done the unthinkable. And as if their season could get any worse the defending HBL Champion Oshkosh Outlaws were the victims...at home!

Things did not start well for the Reapers as 3B Curt Smith and SS Wesley Holmes collided chasing a shallow pop up on the first pitch of the game allowing Outlaws leadoff hitter Dan Smith to reach base effectively erasing any chance of a perfect game. Smith was charged with the error. Challis would recover to retire the next three batters without incident.

The bottom of the second would start with Challis issuing a four pitch walk to Allen Beck. Beck would be erased at second base on a fielders choice leaving Christian King at first. The next batter, Oshkosh's Ed Gray would hit a line drive to right center that was snagged out of the air in an all out Superman dive by Reaper's rightfielder Nathan Hamilton. As Hamilton lay on the outfield grass gasping for air King would return to first and tag up to head to second. Hamilton alertly popped up and threw a strike to 2B Clarence Harris to nail King sliding into second to end the inning.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth Challis hit Outlaws catcher Anibal Cortez with the first pitch of the at-bat but Cortez was stranded at first after Beck struck out swinging.

With one out in the top of the fifth Rochester finally broke through with a solo homer from Darren West to give the Reapers and Challis a 1-0 lead. The run seemed to invigorate the veteran as he set down the final 15 batters of the game without incident. Rochester would add four more runs in the top of the eighth compliments of a two run homer by Don Conrad and a two run double by West to push the final score to 5-0.

Challis, who has been a reliever most of his career, threw just 86 pitches while striking out seven and evening his season record at 7-7. "Aside from that first batter the defense was great behind me." he said following the game. "It's funny that the pitcher gets all the credit for a game like this when in reality it is the defense behind him that makes or breaks the game."

03-27-2013, 05:34 PM	#44
HerbD All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 978	August 22, 1984: Craig Who? Oshkosh, WI Craig Challis Who is Craig Challis? The short answer is this: the fifth pitcher in the history of the Heartland Baseball League to pitch a no-hitter. That's right folks...Craig Challis just pitched a no-hitter. In a year where hitting records are falling like rain, a relative unknown outside of HBL circles has done the unthinkable. And as if their season could get any worse the defending HBL Champion Oshkosh Outlaws were the victims...at home! Things did not start well for the Reapers as 3B Curt Smith and SS Wesley Holmes collided chasing a shallow pop up on the first pitch of the game allowing Outlaws leadoff hitter Dan Smith to reach base effectively erasing any chance of a perfect game. Smith was charged with the error. Challis would recover to retire the next three batters without incident. The bottom of the second would start with Challis issuing a four pitch walk to Allen Beck. Beck would be erased at second base on a fielders choice leaving Christian King at first. The next batter, Oshkosh's Ed Gray would hit a line drive to right center that was snagged out of the air in an all out Superman dive by Reaper's rightfielder Nathan Hamilton. As Hamilton lay on the outfield grass gasping for air King would return to first and tag up to head to second. Hamilton alertly popped up and threw a strike to 2B Clarence Harris to nail King sliding into second to end the inning. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth Challis hit Outlaws catcher Anibal Cortez with the first pitch of the at-bat but Cortez was stranded at first after Beck struck out swinging. With one out in the top of the fifth Rochester finally broke through with a solo homer from Darren West to give the Reapers and Challis a 1-0 lead. The run seemed to invigorate the veteran as he set down the final 15 batters of the game without incident. Rochester would add four more runs in the top of the eighth compliments of a two run homer by Don Conrad and a two run double by West to push the final score to 5-0. Challis, who has been a reliever most of his career, threw just 86 pitches while striking out seven and evening his season record at 7-7. "Aside from that first batter the defense was great behind me." he said following the game. "It's funny that the pitcher gets all the credit for a game like this when in reality it is the defense behind him that makes or breaks the game."