Did we say three no-hitters in a row?
Check that.
On Monday night, New Port Richey Mitchell pitcher Patrick Schuster set a Florida high school record by tossing his fourth straight no-hitter.
Schuster flustered Dade City Pasco during a 5-0 win to set the record. The 6-foot-2, 167-pound senior (8-0 this season with a 0.64 ERA) mixed 90-mph fastballs with curves and a slider. He walked three batters during the game and had a baserunner in four innings but more than made up for that with 17 strikeouts.
“I never thought this would happen,” Schuster told CBS television affiliate WTSP. “I was trying so hard not to think about it. … I’m having so much fun with it now.”
Schuster bested the state record for consecutive no-hitters set in 1985 by Gonzalez Tate’s Ben Webb and tied in 1987 by Tampa Jefferson’s Sam Militello. He needs two more no-hitters for a national record.
The Mitchell ace's next appearance will have added pressure – it will come in the semifinals of the Class 6A, District 7 tournament. On April 28, Schuster and Mitchell (20-3 and the event’s No. 2 seed) will face the winner of the Tampa Gaither-St. Petersburg match-up.
The 6-foot-2, 167-pound senior is 8-0 this season with a 0.64 ERA.
Courtesy of Schuster family
Schuster has 110 strikeouts in 55 innings this season. He currently has thrown 26 1/3 consecutive hitless innings. Last year he was 5-2 with a 1.07 ERA.
“Until these last four or five games I was (sure) my junior year was better than my senior year,” Schuster said. “Coming out here and doing this I’m just having a blast.”
So are the Mustangs (20-3), who play Springfield (Spring Hill) tonight and Zephyrhills on Wednesday.
“The kids are going to look back on this and think how fun it is,” Mitchell coach Scot Wilcox said. “They’re going to remember this day for a long time.”
Schuster said he had only one request late in the game.
“I told my outfielders the last two innings, ‘Please just come in. I don’t want to give up a bloop hit.’ That would be the worst way to end it.
“I’m still on cloud nine right now.”
Mitch Stephens contributed to this story.
