Some pitchers can tell during warm-ups if that particular day is going to be a special outing or not.
Senior right-hander Jack Watson needs to see how the game unfolds, however, before he truly knows if he has it that day or not for Batavia.
“Usually in the bullpen, I always feel good,” Watson said. “But getting ready for the game, you can never really tell if you have your stuff until you get out there.”
It was clear Watson had his stuff Thursday against rival Geneva.
Throwing a change-up, curveball and fastball for strikes, Watson struck out 11 and pitched a five-inning no-hitter for the Bulldogs in a 14-0 DuKane Conference victory.
Watson only allowed only one base runner on a walk in the first inning for Batavia (12-9, 7-6), which provided plenty of offense to back up the sterling performance.
Ryan Boe and Henry Saul each hit a three-run homer, the second of the season for both. Ryne Woods went 4-for-4 with three doubles and four RBIs. Jackson Bland went 3-for-3 with a triple.
Nate Stempowski was the lone base runner for Geneva (11-11, 6-7). He drew a two-out walk, stole second and advanced to third on an error in the top of the first but he was stranded at third.
Watson credited Saul, his catcher, for guiding him through the outing.
“I’ve been playing with him for like 13 years,” Watson said. “He knows me very well. He makes it more comfortable when I’m out there. I just want to give kudos to him.”
Unlike Watson, Saul can tell when his friend has his good stuff.
“I usually know when he’s on,” Saul said. “I think he found it (Thursday) and stayed locked in, keeping focus the whole time no matter the score.”
The fact that Watson threw all three pitches for strikes helped him keep the Vikings off-balance all game.
“Jack did a great job, obviously the best he’s looked in a Batavia uniform,” Batavia coach Alex Beckmann said. “That’s where he can be. He was ahead early. He attacked hitters. It was just a really nice, solid outing for him.
“Throwing a no-hitter is a very special thing.”
Watson didn’t have to wait long to pitch with a lead either. Boe, the fourth batter of the game, launched a three-run homer onto the tennis courts beyond the left field fence in the bottom of the first.
The Bulldogs added on during every inning. They scored three runs in the second, six in the third, including Saul’s homer, and tacked on another in the fourth.
“We took it to them early and often,” Beckmann said. “We cashed in when we had runners on base, which hasn’t been the case all year. We put everything together — defense, hitting and obviously pitching too.”
Despite the big lead, Watson didn’t lose focus. Of his 11 strikeouts, five were looking.
“It doesn’t matter what the score is,” Watson said. “Things never change. I’m going to attack the hitter no matter what.”
During the game, Beckmann tried to leave Watson alone.
Watson spent most of the long half innings while his teammates were putting up runs throwing a heavy ball against the wall in the corner of the dugout.
“I didn’t talk to him too much,” Beckmann said. “I kind of left him alone to do his thing.”
Beckmann said the no-hitter was the continuation of a solid season for Watson.
“This year, he’s really improved on getting every pitch over for strikes,” Beckmann said. “When he’s doing that, there aren’t many who can hit him. He had it all going (Thursday).”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
