Throwing zeroes: Hendrickson fires no-hitter in opener against Post 30

On Thursday, June 8, the New Rockford Post 30 Black Sox took on Carrington Post 25 for their first home game of the Legion baseball season.

However, any hopes they might've had about enjoying a smooth home opener were quickly dashed.

The Redbirds employed "small ball" to score a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, sending two runners across home plate on a bunt single and a sacrifice fly.

Then – already with a 2-run cushion – Lucas Hendrickson walked out to the mound in the bottom of the frame. Just five pitches later, he was walking back to the dugout having secured three very quick outs.

For Hendrickson, it was just his opening act. For the Sox, it was an ominous sign of what's to come.

Simply put, with Hendrickson pitching, the Black Sox were incapable of generating offense.

The closest they got came in the fourth and fifth innings, when walks were issued to the Sox' first baseman Brody Weisenburger and their center fielder Keaton Cudworth.

But even on the rare occasions they got a baserunner, the Sox simply couldn't capitalize so long as Hendrickson was on the mound, and that's where he stayed all game long.

Hendrickson's efficiency kept his pitch count low, allowing him to keep pitching for as long as he kept recording outs.

By the time the seventh inning came around, he still hadn't reached 70 pitches and still hadn't allowed a hit.

It was the last chance for the Sox to do anything on offense, but Hendrickson induced two batters to ground out and struck out another to complete the no-hitter.

In seven innings, Hendrickson allowed zero runs, zero hits, two walks, and struck out nine batters.

Meanwhile, the starting pitcher for the Black Sox was Connor Knatterud, and he too had a solid outing before the 'Birds finally broke out on offense in the fifth inning.

A highlight of the game for Post 30 came in the top of the fourth inning when Carrington had runners on first and second, and were looking to extend their lead.

However, a well-executed pick-off throw from Knatterud to second base caught one Redbird in a pickle between second and third base, and the Sox' defenders managed to run him down and record the out.

Getting a great view of the play was Carrington's runner at first base. It was such a good view in fact, that he didn't notice the ball make its way to the Sox' first baseman, who quickly tagged him out and completed a unique double play.

Knatterud then struckout the next batter to end a great inning for the Black Sox.

Though they enjoyed a solid game defensively, Hendrickson's dominance was simply too much to overcome that day, and Post 25 returned home with a 7-0 victory.

Hendrickson was also the leader at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one of the Redbirds' three triples on the afternoon. Grady Shipman and Hudson Schmitz had the other three-baggers, and Owen Hagel also had a double.

In the second game, which did not count in the District 4 standings, Post 25 again came out victorious by the count of 12-3.

Carrington starter Trent Ekren got the benefit of some very-late run support, as he left the game after four innings with a 6-2 lead.

That ballooned to 12-2 in the fifth on the strength of a six-spot which sunk the Black Sox's chance of a comeback.

Even with just six hits, Post 25 played the waiting game due to New Rockford pitching wildness. In the last two innings, Post 25 plated nine runs, received four walks and five instance of hit-by-pitch.

Blame it on the rain

The efficiency Post 25 displayed in their first two games of the season was conspicuously absent the next night, when the Linton-Ashley-Wishek (L-A-W) Rattlers came to City Park for the first home contest of the summer slate.

Defensive lapses in the fourth inning led to three runs for the Rattlers and a 4-0 lead, and poor situational baserunning and execution in the bottom half of the frame diffused what would have been a small rally for Post 25.

L-A-W pitcher Marshall Lindgren was in cruise mode, keeping the Redbirds off balance with his fastball and breaking pitches.

In the top of the fifth inning, a thunderstorm hit the area, and suspended the remainder of the league game until the two teams meet up again in Wishek on July 10 for L-A-W's part of the home-and-home on the District 4 schedule.

The three-team doubleheader set for Cando on June 18 with host Post 79 and Langdon was cancelled.

Today (June 19), Post 25 is scheduled to hit the road to play Kidder County Post 231 for a 7/5 inning District 4 doubleheader in Steele beginning at 5 p.m.

On June 23-25, the team is scheduled to play in the Jamestown/Valley City Classic, with game times and opponents to be determined.

District 4 American

Legion Baseball

Carrington Post 25 7,

New Rockford Post 30 0

at New Rockford

Cgtn. 200 031 1 - 7 8 0

NR 000 000 0 - 0 0 2

Lucas Hendrickson and Hudson Schmitz; Connor Knatterud, Easton Simon (7) and Alex Weisenburger. W - Hendrickson. L - Knatterud.

Carrington: Hendrickson CG, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K; 2-4, triple, SB, run, 2 RBI; Josh Bickett 1-2, SB, RBI; Grady Shipman 1-3, triple, 2 runs, RBI; Owen Hagel 1-3, double, 2 RBI; Jack Erickson 1-3, 2 runs; Kael Kovar 1-3, SB; Schmitz 1-4, triple, run, RBI; Kyle Johnson run.

New Rockford: Knatterud 6 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K; Simon IP, 2 H, ER, BB; Brody Weisenburger and Keaton Cudworth walks.

Post 25 12, Post 30 3

(non-counter)

Cgtn. 030 36 - 12 6 1

NR 020 01 - 3 6 2

Trent Ekren, Hagel (5) and Corbin Clifton; Haydon Meier, Jackson Schumacher (4) and A. Weisenburger. W - Ekren. L - Meier.

Carrington: Ekren 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, BB, 2 K; 1-4, RBI; Hagel 1-1, SB, 2 runs, RBI; Jake Otto 1-2, run, RBI; Shipman 1-2, run; Hendrickson 1-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Johnson 1-4, run, 2 RBI; Schmitz and Erickson RBI; Bickett SB, 3 runs; Clifton and McCoy Beckley runs.

New Rockford: Meier 3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; Simon 2-2, double, run, RBI; Cudworth 1-1, run; Skye Kramlich 1-2, run, RBI; Thomas Allmaras 1-3, RBI; B. Weisenburger 1-3.