High school pitcher throws fourth no-hitter in a row

Cryomaniac · 04-22-2009, 07:18 AM

The Canadian Press: Florida high school pitcher notches fourth straight no-hitter

Quote:

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A Florida high school pitcher tossed his fourth consecutive no-hitter Monday.
Patrick Schuster, a lanky left-hander, struck out 17 batters to help Mitchell High beat rival Pasco High 5-0. "I never thought this would happen," he said. "I'm just having so much (fun) right now."
Schuster's streak began April 3. He's piled up 60 strikeouts in the four games, helping Mitchell to a 19-3 record. He's 7-0 on the season.
Schuster, whose fastball tops 90 miles per hour, has signed to play at the University of Florida next year but hasn't ruled out going straight to professional baseball.
He said he was trying not to think about the streak, but late in the game he asked his outfielders to take a few steps in because he didn't want to give up a bloop hit.
Mitchell coach Scot Wilcox called the performance "vintage Schuster."
"I'll tell you what, he's got command of every single pitch," Wilcox said. "His curve ball, his slider, his change-up, he was just spotting it nicely. He was keeping their hitters off balance."
Schuster said the streak has been harder on his mother, Sharon, than it's been on him.
"I've got the confidence, and she's over there biting her nails and stuff," he said. "I'm having fun with it and she's nervous. She's probably going to make me cry as soon as I see her."
The record for consecutive no-hitters in high school baseball is six.

Damn, that's insane.

Comedian2004 · 04-22-2009, 09:29 AM

In high school, I had 21 no-hitters in a row.

Problem was that I was not a pitcher, but an outfielder. I could not hit that damn ball.

CMH · 04-22-2009, 01:21 PM

What I like is his ability to throw four pitches. I think he struck out the last batter on a slider. Whatever it was, it had really good movement on it and came in hard.

Neags23 · 04-22-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMH

Whatever it was, it had really good movement on it and came in hard.

Sounds like a typical Friday night.

Andy · 04-22-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neags23

Sounds like a typical Friday night.

Heh, yeah, I was gonna say something about that and CMH's avatar...

phightin · 04-22-2009, 08:15 PM

it's reported that he committed earlier in the year to florida on a full scholarship. rejoice young man in thy youth...and go pro asap. if you're gonna throw out your arm might as well do it as a first round pick with a signing bonus trying to get to the majors.

ZiggyPop · 04-23-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phightin

it's reported that he committed earlier in the year to florida on a full scholarship. rejoice young man in thy youth...and go pro asap. if you're gonna throw out your arm might as well do it as a first round pick with a signing bonus trying to get to the majors.

Is he that good? I mean I don't know the context of the league he plays in... Would he really go in the first round this year if he didn't commit to play in the NCAA. I'm having a hard time finding reliable scouting report on him.

And yes, this is fantasy baseball thinking

rudel.dietrich · 04-23-2009, 02:21 PM

He plays for a high school conference that consists of pretty small high schools. It is a cool story but you have to take it in context.
He is in for a rude awakening when he finds that SEC hitters can hit a breaking ball and hit it hard.

Skipaway · 04-23-2009, 02:47 PM

I don't think there is rude awakening for him, considering how he ranked as a prospect even before all these no-hitters, and the competition level his league isn't that low:

BaseballAmerica.com: Blog: Baseball America Draft Blog Blog Archive Schuster Can’t Be Touched

Quote:

Schuster’s season numbers are almost Nintendo-like. He’s now thrown 55 innings, struck out 110, walked 24, allowed nine hits and is sitting pretty with a 8-0, 0.64 record. The most recent no-no gave him five on the season. The first was in the season opener.

Opponents are hitting .054 off of Schuster. He insists it isn’t easy though. Mitchell High is in the largest classification in Florida, 6-A, and arguably one of the toughest districts that includes Tampa’s Alonso High, Gaither High and Sickles High. But there is a kryptonite for Schuster and his name is Scooter Gennett.

Quote:

Schuster was No. 79 on the Baseball America Top 100 Draft Prospects (subscriber only), which was posted back in November. That ranking would put him in the back of the second round, but things have probably changed since then.

phightin · 04-23-2009, 11:34 PM

From what i understand, like skip, said he was considered a fairly good prospect even before all of this. I would think that an mlb team would have no problem throwing a supplemental or at least a 2nd round pick for him now with what he's done. I played with a third round pick on my high school team who didn't have anywhere near the stuff this kid does so it wouldn't surprise me if he was a 1st rounder at all.

Michael Hopcroft · 04-24-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

He plays for a high school conference that consists of pretty small high schools. It is a cool story but you have to take it in context.
He is in for a rude awakening when he finds that SEC hitters can hit a breaking ball and hit it hard.

He would have the same rude awakening as a pro, even in the minor leagues. So experiencing that and learning to cope with it is an essential part of developing as a pitcher. There are no sure things at that level of baseball.

It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the college game and the professional game if he chooses to pursue professional baseball.

Michael Hopcroft · 04-28-2009, 06:07 PM

And Shuster's bid for a fifth consecutive no-hitter ended in the fourth this afternoon. The media is describing it as some sort of failure, which sort of bothers me when talking about high school baseball.

Erik W. · 04-28-2009, 06:18 PM

The kid already had to deal with the pressure of it being the state playoffs, but then throw on top of it huge crowds and media attention (including ESPNews giving dedicated coverage during the game) and it's amazing that it took until the third inning for him to give up the hit.

wireman · 04-28-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hopcroft

And Shuster's bid for a fifth consecutive no-hitter ended in the fourth this afternoon. The media is describing it as some sort of failure, which sort of bothers me when talking about high school baseball.

That bum! They ought to send him down to junior high!

davwms · 10-21-2009, 03:11 AM

D’backs Ink Mr. No Hitter For $450,000

Goody · 10-21-2009, 04:15 AM

Which one of you wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now?

Really think about it...

Anyone on here talking about his competition level has never pitched at any level.

04-22-2009, 09:29 AM	#2
Comedian2004 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: In a house in Saint Cloud, Florida. Posts: 7,085	In high school, I had 21 no-hitters in a row. Problem was that I was not a pitcher, but an outfielder. I could not hit that damn ball. __________________ Like BLUES? Visit www.smokestacklightnin.com, you will LOVE it! New show every Monday!! New Blues HOF![/COLOR][/FONT]

04-28-2009, 06:18 PM	#13
Erik W. Global Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rivière-du-Loup, Qc Posts: 4,615	The kid already had to deal with the pressure of it being the state playoffs, but then throw on top of it huge crowds and media attention (including ESPNews giving dedicated coverage during the game) and it's amazing that it took until the third inning for him to give up the hit. __________________ Free agent baseball fan. Let's go (insert team name here)!

10-21-2009, 03:11 AM	#15
davwms All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clyde, NY Posts: 1,506	D’backs Ink Mr. No Hitter For $450,000 __________________ Lemme tell you the first rule of politics; Always know if the juice is worth the squeeze. ~Kelly (AKA Timoty Oyphant), The Girl Next Door (2004)

04-22-2009, 01:21 PM	#3
CMH Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,057	What I like is his ability to throw four pitches. I think he struck out the last batter on a slider. Whatever it was, it had really good movement on it and came in hard.

04-22-2009, 08:15 PM	#6
phightin All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 586	it's reported that he committed earlier in the year to florida on a full scholarship. rejoice young man in thy youth...and go pro asap. if you're gonna throw out your arm might as well do it as a first round pick with a signing bonus trying to get to the majors.

04-23-2009, 02:21 PM	#8
rudel.dietrich Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Zürich, Switzerland Posts: 8,608	He plays for a high school conference that consists of pretty small high schools. It is a cool story but you have to take it in context. He is in for a rude awakening when he finds that SEC hitters can hit a breaking ball and hit it hard.

04-23-2009, 11:34 PM	#10
phightin All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 586	From what i understand, like skip, said he was considered a fairly good prospect even before all of this. I would think that an mlb team would have no problem throwing a supplemental or at least a 2nd round pick for him now with what he's done. I played with a third round pick on my high school team who didn't have anywhere near the stuff this kid does so it wouldn't surprise me if he was a 1st rounder at all.

04-28-2009, 06:07 PM	#12
Michael Hopcroft Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Portland, OR USA Posts: 487	And Shuster's bid for a fifth consecutive no-hitter ended in the fourth this afternoon. The media is describing it as some sort of failure, which sort of bothers me when talking about high school baseball.

10-21-2009, 04:15 AM	#16
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	Which one of you wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now? Really think about it... Anyone on here talking about his competition level has never pitched at any level.