There is a new sheriff in town for the Columbus Whalers rotation and his name is Jim Norris. Having pitched in the shadow of the great Jake Harris for the past 4 seasons, Norris has emerged as the ace of the Whalers staff.
And yesterday, he notched two career firsts- his first 20 win season and his first career no-hitter. The 27-year old lefty is certainly looking like the prime candidate for SJL Pitcher of the Year this season and leads in 2 of the 3 Triple Crown categories, trailing Washington's Jose Casillas in strikeouts by only 6. In notching his 20th win he also put his team on the verge of clinching their second straight SJL pennant, as their magic number is down to just 1.
With his durability, his excellent change-up, and plus control that shows potential to develop even further, the future should be bright for the mild-mannered young ace.