Schuster's attempt at 5th no-hitter falls short

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

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Patrick Schuster gave up a double in the third inning, ending the streak. Watch the hit Watch Video

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The drive for five came up empty.

Patrick Schuster's attempt at a fifth straight no-hitter ended in the third inning Tuesday when Gaither's Drew Doty connected for a double.

The Cowboys followed with more hits on their way to a 9-4 Class 6A, District 7 tournament win.

Schuster had put together a string of four no-hitters going into Tuesday's district tournament game.

With a horde of media and large crowd watching at a high school field in Clearwater, the lanky left-hander gave up the hit to Doty, ending the streak.

More Information

Schuster after the game

Schuster left the game after five innings, allowing three hits, three runs and hitting three batters. He also walked five and struck out five batters.

The loss ended Mitchell's season while Gaither advances to the tournament finals.

The national record for consecutive no-hitters by a high school pitcher is six. Schuster captured the state of Florida record when he turned in his fourth straight last week.

Who Holds The Record?

The national record is six consecutive no-hitters.

That has been done twice:

1961: Chris Taranto -- Notre Dame High, Biloxi, Miss.
1989: Tom Engle -- Fairfield Union High, Lancaster, Ohio

Both Taranto and Engle were eventually drafted by major league organizations, but neither made it to the big leagues.

Did You Know?

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir threw four straight no-hitters while at Houston's Cypress Falls High School.

As for the Big Leagues, the only pitcher in Major League Baseball's history to throw two consecutive no-hitters was Johnny Vander Meer, a Cincinnati Reds lefty who threw back-to-back no-nos in 1938 against the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers.

On Bay News 9 On Demand Channel 342

Extensive Patrick Schuster coverage, including an earlier interview with him, Tuesday's ENTIRE Mitchell/Gaither game, the post-game interview with Schuster, and a Schuster highlights package.

Just go to the Bright House Sports Section.