Perfect Timing in Conrad's No-hitter

Author: Andrew Zimmermann

Middlebury baseball had to combat April showers as the team went 1-2 this week, with one game being postponed due to rain on Saturday. The Panthers sit third in the NESCAC West division and must work hard in the coming weeks to make up the two and a half games that stand between them and a post-season tournament birth. This weekend the team starts that journey with three critical games against West division leader Wesleyan in Connecticut.

Last Wednesday at home Middlebury faced a tough non-league opponent in Colby-Sawyer College. The result was one of the most lopsided losses of the season in what amounted to a 20-6 final score. The Chargers from Colby-Sawyer blew the game wide open when, leading 11-6 in the eighth, they erupted for nine unanswered runs. The offense at times showed signs of life as Denver Smith '03 was responsible for two doubles. John Prescott '03, Jon Downs '02 and Jim Muhlfeld '04 each had multiple hit games it what was otherwise a tough loss to swallow.

In its games against Hamilton over the weekend, Middlebury had a chance to gain ground on the division competition. Hamilton came in with a 0-2 record in the league and just a 5-10 record overall. The first game saw two very competent pitchers on the mound. Russ Budnick '05 picked up the slack by going the distance and giving the pitching staff a needed rest after the 14 run loss to Colby-Sawyer. His defense let him down however as four of the seven Hamilton runs were unearned. Budnick took the loss despite giving up just those three runs in nine innings.

Middlebury scored three runs of its own in the 7-3 loss. Rookie Gil Kim '05 took the offensive torch by collecting three hits including a double.

Saturday marked a fine day for Middlebury as veteran southpaw Tyler Conrad '02 gave the Panthers a lift with an improbable no-hitter. The senior has been the anchor of the Middlebury rotation, having to lead by example for many of the younger pitchers. Conrad recorded 11 strikeouts over the seven innings in the 6-0 win. He now sports a record of 3-1 and is currently sits in a tie for fifth in earned run average (ERA) in the NESCAC at 2.22. For his performance Conrad was named NESCAC Co-Player of the Week along with junior shortstop Bill Robinson of Wesleyan.

The Panthers gave their ace more than enough run support as they cranked out hit after hit en route to six runs. Co-captain Downs had two hits along with his senior teammate Ted Walker. Craig Hanson '03 contributed to the cause with two RBIs. With the first game over, the skies opened up and soaked the field, forcing the umpires to postpone the meeting until a later date.

Middlebury now lays more than two games out of a playoff spot with eight league games remaining. The rainout could prove to be crucial as the Panthers have three games against the West division's top team, Wesleyan. As it stands now the team is three games out of the position Wesleyan holds at the top and could potentially eliminate that deficit with a sweep in Connecticut. After that it must stay sharp in its remaining NESCAC games as the league record is the determining factor in who makes the playoffs and who goes home.