Schuster Watch: The Dream is Dead

By Mike McCall

Well, Patrick Schuster's amazing no-hitter streak has come to an end. Gaither High's Drew Doty smacked a deep liner to right in the third inning to end the streak at four games.

It didn't come as much of a surprise, actually, because Schuster had a pretty wild start to the game. His control was a little off, as he pegged two and walked two.

Kudos to the St. Pete Times, who pretty much predicted how that would go down. Check out the column HERE.

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Update (4:51): Schuster's Mitchell High answered with two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead, and Schuster opened the third by pegging Gaither High's first batter in the face. He was down for a few minutes, and Gaither put in a pinch runner.

The next batter, Drew Doty, laced a line drive into deep right field for a double, and that's all she wrote for Schuster's no-hitter streak. For some reading on Schuster, check out the feature The New York Times ran on him today: LINK, although it's a little bittersweet now.

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Update (4:35): Schuster got through the second unscathed, so far his line is 2 IP, R, 2BB, 2K.

The Florida signee is trying to get his fifth-straight no-no, and if he does that, he'll still be one shy of the national record. Funny thing is, Schuster could throw a no-hitter today and never get the chance to get six. With his team trailing 1-0, he could throw a no-hitter and take the loss, meaning his team would be bounced from the state playoffs.

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So I'm toggling between the Chelsea-Barcelona Champions League semifinal and Mitchell High pitcher Patrick Schuster's bid for a fifth-straight no-hitter, which is being broadcast on ESPNNews, so bear with me.

Schuster got through the first without allowing a hit, but he did give up a run. He walked and pegged batters, and a run scored after a throwing error on a grounder to shortstop.

Comments

[Adam S.]

Watching the game on ESPN 360...boy does Barca flop a LOT. I think I saw 5 in a two minute time span...ugh. Go Blues!

[Mike Mike]

Yea it was a horrible game. Chelsea pretty much stayed in their own half the whole time and just tried to withstand the attack.

And I don't know if you saw it, but Drogba missed a golden opportunity in the first half. He was one-on-one with the goalie after a terrible back pass, and he blew it.

[Adam S.]

No, I missed it. ESPN 360 was a bit choppy today. Blues are looking good recently, though. Hopefully they can make a run. Which club do you root for?

[Mike Mike]

I'm an Arsenal guy. Unfortunately, they're about to get slapped around by ManU.

[13-1LiftTheTrophy]

Only FOUR consecutive no-hitters? What a bum !

[Adam S.]

Probably...I hate Man U!!!

I'm assuming he had walks in his other games and none of them were perfect - am I correct?

[Mike Mike]

Yea, no perfect games.
I believe he pegged the first batter in his third no-hitter as well.
It's amazing to me how he goes from amazing, pinpoint control to pegging guys and back again.

[Adam S.]

Hit the guy in the face? Holy crap! Duck!!!

Bad control today, obviously. He was nervous, and it got in his head.

[RicoPallazzo!]

Chelsea played what the English speaking world likes to call "cynical football," what Italians refer to as "catenaccio," playing six at the back and trying to free Drogba on counters. I thought I was watching an old AC Milan-Barcelona CL game from years gone by. Hopefully Barca can score one goal at the Bridge, I'd like to see Barca-Arsenal. Hate the Arse but tired, tired of ManUre.

Schuster seems like a good kid, I'd be glad to have him as a fellow Gator alum. He was actually thankful the guy got a hit in the third. not wrapped up in it, showshe's grounded. The kid has a pretty funky delivery, i think after seeing his mechanics and excessive breaking ball stuff, he will likely matriculate at Florida and not sign some ridiculous 1st/2nd round contract.