Sawyer no-hits Northampton

Jimmy Sawyer’s only varsity start on the mound for Liberty this season came against Dieruff on April 28. He threw a one-hit, seven strikeout performance en route to a predictable 13-3 win over the Huskies.

But Sawyer showed himself up on the mound last Wednesday against Northampton during a 10-0, no-hit performance. Not a bad two-start performance for someone who was a regular in Liberty’s relief efforts.

“I never really liked coming in for relief,” said Sawyer. “At the beginning of the year, people talked about how we really don’t have any arms past Colin [Gotzon], but I hope that I’ve changed some people’s minds.”

Sawyer, who didn’t even realize he was in the no-hit zone through four innings, needed to be reminded in the fourth inning last week.

With the game at a 9-0 cushion in the bottom of the fifth, Sawyer needed an extra run in the inning to solidify the 10-run rule and avoid a possible sixth and seventh innings.
That’s when Tyler Brong belted a triple to bring home Tom Haller from first to give Liberty the win and Sawyer a no-hitter.

“It was a great feeling,” said Sawyer of his first varsity baseball no-hitter. “I’ve thrown a no-hitter in junior legion before, but this one definitely means more.”
Amidst Sawyer’s week of revelations, he got another first on Monday, a 5-1 loss to Nazareth, to give him his first defeat of the year.

The loss puts Liberty at (12-4, 9-3) on the year, with Easton (14-4, 9-3) right on the ‘Canes heels for the division title with two games left.

Liberty played Easton yesterday, with the winner likely earning the division crown towards the LVC playoffs. Either way, both teams are likely to get into the LVC playoffs, as the division runner-up would grab the wild-card spot.
Freedom (9-9, 4-8) needs one win in their final two contests (against Bethlehem Catholic and Liberty) to solidify a spot in districts. The Pates and Hurricanes go at it Thursday at Freedom.

Meanwhile, Bethlehem Catholic (12-6, 6-6) closes out the year with Freedom and Easton before they tune-up for districts next week.