Adam Cartwright not only coached a baseball team for 5 and 6 years old children, but also a team for 10 to 12 year children. In that last team played his eldest son 11 year old Mitch. The young Cartwright was the pitcher and had a lot of talent to throw. But Mitch could also hit well.
One afternoon Mitch had to play with his team the Ponderosa Cowboys an away game against the Silver City Lords. Both teams were big rivals of each other.
On Saturday May 14 2004 the game took place.
Mitch and his best friend Matthew Walker looked at the batting practice of their opponents.
“They say that they will crush us”, said Matthew.
“How then? So to see they can’t even play baseball. I am eagerly to teach them a lesson. But then I do need the help of the team”, answered Mitch.
He looked with squeezed eyes at the opponents.
“Come Matt. We go to the others”, said the young Cartwright.
They walked to their dressing locker where the whole team and coach were.
Already when entering Mitch took the word like he was the coach and said, “I don’t know if you want it to but Matthew and I are planning to teach those Silver City Lords a lesson in baseball. But then we need your help with that.”
“We are in”, said Teddy Shearshton on behalf of the others.
Adam looked at his son and asked, “How do you want to handle that?”
“By throwing a no hitter”, answered Mitch.
“And that is?”, asked Adam.
“A no hitter is when the pitcher doesn’t hit the opponent with a ball, gives no walks and makes sure that he doesn’t get any hits against him. Besides he must be on the mount all innings of the game”, answered Mitch.
Adam nodded smiling and spoke the lineup through with the boys.
The game went well for the Ponderosa Cowboys. Already in the 1st inning the away team scored 4 runs. Jason Harris, The starting pitcher, didn’t concentrate himself at all and just pitched random. The away team made a profit of this.
The 2nd half of the 1st inning began. Mitch got right away Jason Harris opposite him. Jason was already angry with Mitch but really when he had to go back to the dug-out with a strikeout. But the next 2 players George and James Connor had to sit down with a strikeout behind their name too.
The 2nd inning also went very bad for the home team. Gary Willis hit a homerun. But Sean Miller and Lee Sing did that too. Though there also came 3 zeros.
Again Mitch three 3 strikeouts to the big annoying of the home team.
De commentator said, “And that is batter number 6 who can go to the dug-out with a strikeout.”
Adam watched with great pleasure and knew that his son was busy throwing his 1st no-hitter.
The game became more bored with the inning for the fans of the home team. Each player got sent at once to the dug-out with a strikeout. But the away team let themselves go and scored run after run.
It was the 2nd half of the 6th inning. There were 2 outs and Mark Vernon was at bat.
“If Mark Vernon also gets a strikeout the Ponderosa Cowboys has thrown a no hitter. That has never happened in their history”, said de commentator.
“And that won’t happen either. My Mark hits a homerun on that little Cartwright!”, Carla Vernon said on purpose out loud.
Adam heard that and asked for a time-out which he got. He went to Mitch and Matthew came too.
“Kid, the mother of Mark, who is now at bat, claims that he will hit a homerun on you. You only need one out so you know what you must throw”, Adam said whispering.
Mitch nodded. Matthew knew that too. Adam went back to the dug-out.
“Play ball”, said the home plate umpire.
With 3 beautiful fastballs Mitch also eliminated Mark.
“On the field of the SCL Mitch Cartwright writes baseball history by throwing a no hitter. What is that Cartwright a marvelous talent. He probably will bring it far”, called the commentator.
Matthew ran to his best friend and said excited, “You have done it to throw a perfect game.”
“But I couldn’t do it without your help. Thanks boys”, Mitch answered laughing.
They ran to the dug-out where Adam congratulated his son.
“Congratulations son. I knew that you could do it”, Adam said proud as a peacock.
“Thanks daddy”, Mitch said with laughing eyes.
The team got changed and went back to Virginia City by bus. The children got waited for their parents. Of course Mitch stayed by Adam.
On the way to the ranch Adam asked, “What do you want to have as a present for your scoop?”
“May I think about that for a while?”, was the counter-question of his son.
“Until we are home”, his father said teasing.
Mitch sighed deep. He thought for a moment and had then his answer ready.
“Daddy, On internet I have seen a blue baseball of the Yankees. Just give me that one as a present”, said the boy.
“Alright. Then we will order it later on”, said Adam proud as a peacock of his eldest son.
Mitch was satisfied. He would never forget this afternoon.