1917 North Carolina State League — April 10 Update
The Wizard pitches NCSL's first no-hitter!
Merlin McNeill fans eight in win over Greensboro
Though defending champion Asheville has struggled a bit to open the 1917 season, ace pitcher
Merlin McNeill certainly hasn't. The Wizard, coming off a three-hit shutout win against Charlotte, put his name into the record books on April 10 as the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the North Carolina State League.
McNeill blanked the Greensboro Patriots in an 8-0 victory at the Ballpark of Greensboro. He struck out eight and walked just two. Asheville committed one error behind him.
There have been a handful of one-hitters in the NCSL and lots of two- and three-hitters. But McNeill becomes the first to go the distance without allowing any hits. The no-hitter feat has been done three times in the Developmental League, including one perfect game.
Asheville is 3-0 when McNeill has pitched so far this season, though the Tourists have won only once when he hasn't started, owning a 4-5 overall record -- already four games behind the red-hot Charlotte Hornets. McNeill is the only pitcher to beat Charlotte thus far.
McNeill's season record: 2-0 with a sterling 0.59 ERA.
Greensboro's
Lester "Blitz" Kennedy was so disgusted at being McNeill's last strikeout victim -- he was the second out in the ninth inning -- that he got tossed when the umps rung him up...
Standings so far:
Charlotte 8-1
Raleigh 5-4
Durham 4-5
Asheville 4-5
Greensboro 3-6
Winston-Salem 3-6