CLEVER, MO - Baseball is a superstitious game, and perhaps no situation exemplifies that more than when a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter. Rule #1: Don't mention the no-hitter. Rule #2: Don't talk to the pitcher.
"We had a no-hitter going into the last inning against Pierce City and a kid said something in the dugout and the next pitch was a single," said Clever head coach Justin Snyder.
Thursday April 12th, Clever senior Jordan Burnett took a no-no into the 7th and this time, the superstitions were taken seriously.
"It was a lot quieter in the dugout. Nobody said anything. The kids were very on top of what was going on."
The result? A 7-inning, 12 strikeout, no-hitter. Punctuated by this big, breaking curveball to end it.
"Sometimes it breaks a lot and sometimes it's a decent curveball, but it was really breaking quite a bit that day," said Burnett. "From the get go he had his 2 main pitches, his fastball and curveball working real well."
But if you had been watching Burnett warm up before the game, you probably wouldn't have expected that type of success.
"In the bullpen I was doing terrible. I actually hit our catcher in the knee. I couldn't throw a strike. It hit me when I got to the mound. I felt a little better."
When Burnett remembers his high school career he'll likely remember that no-hitter. But he hopes this team's season is remembered for a lot more.
"It will be a good memory, but hopefully we can make better memories on throughout the rest of the season."
Clever senior Jordan Burnett is this week's Arby's high school athlete of the week.
"We had a no-hitter going into the last inning against Pierce City and a kid said something in the dugout and the next pitch was a single," said Clever head coach Justin Snyder.
Thursday April 12th, Clever senior Jordan Burnett took a no-no into the 7th and this time, the superstitions were taken seriously.
"It was a lot quieter in the dugout. Nobody said anything. The kids were very on top of what was going on."
The result? A 7-inning, 12 strikeout, no-hitter. Punctuated by this big, breaking curveball to end it.
"Sometimes it breaks a lot and sometimes it's a decent curveball, but it was really breaking quite a bit that day," said Burnett. "From the get go he had his 2 main pitches, his fastball and curveball working real well."
But if you had been watching Burnett warm up before the game, you probably wouldn't have expected that type of success.
"In the bullpen I was doing terrible. I actually hit our catcher in the knee. I couldn't throw a strike. It hit me when I got to the mound. I felt a little better."
When Burnett remembers his high school career he'll likely remember that no-hitter. But he hopes this team's season is remembered for a lot more.
"It will be a good memory, but hopefully we can make better memories on throughout the rest of the season."
Clever senior Jordan Burnett is this week's Arby's high school athlete of the week.
