Central’s McGraw fires gem
coach might have been the only one who knew.”
Not even McGraw realized.
“One of my pitching mates came out and congratulated me,” McGraw said. “He told me I had a no-hitter. I was shocked, beyond a doubt.”
The win put Central Catholic (15-4), the No. 1 seed in Class 6A, into the semifinals Wednesday and also moved McGraw’s record to 10-0. But this was no perfect 10th victory, despite the no-hitter.
The reason many didn’t realize the no-hitter was probably because Butler (127) had seven baserunners, as McGraw hit three and walked four. Butler had runners on second and third in the first inning and two runners in the fifth and sixth innings. But McGraw worked out of every jam. He struck out six.
When asked whether he has pitched better games, McGraw said, “Oh yes, tons. Not to sound boisterous or cocky, but it was a struggle to try and figure everything out. Coach likes to use the term effectively wild.”
Central Catholic hadn’t played a game in 13 days, and Walsh felt that was a reason for McGraw’s wildness.
“He was too strong,” Walsh said. “But for him to stay under 100 pitches with four walks and three hit batsmen says a lot.”
What also played a gigantic role in McGraw’s no-hitter was Central Catholic’s defense.
“It was stellar, to use one word,” McGraw said. “People might look at this as my no-hitter, but it was the defense that won it for us.”
Third baseman Austin Vigliotti used his exceptional arm to make three big throws to first on groundouts. Second baseman Ejiro Ogagan and right fielder Brandon Boyce also came up with excellent plays to keep the no-hitter alive.
Central Catholic scored all of its runs in the first three innings. Andrew Walker smacked a long home run the opposite way to left-center field in the first. In the second, Boyce doubled and scored on Vigliotti’s triple. In the third, Max Cepulak doubled home a run. Then with the bases loaded, Ogagan hit a deep fly ball to left field that Jacob Slomers couldn’t come up with, allowing three runs to come home.
Five of Central Catholic’s runs were charged to Butler’s Grant Metzger, who was making his first start of the season. Butler could have started No. 1 pitcher Connor Ollio, a University of North Carolina recruit who was 4-2 on the year. Ollio relieved Metzger in the third with the bases loaded and no outs. Ollio gave up only one hit and struck out seven the rest of the way, but Butler coach Cody Herald didn’t second-guess himself. Ollio pitched two section games against Central Catholic earlier this season and Butler lost, 3-1 and 3-2.
“Our gut feeling was to throw Metzger,” Herald said. “Connor had thrown twice against Central, so we tried to mix it up. I’d do it all over again.”