IAC BASEBALL: STEWART THROWS NO-HITTER WITH 17 STRIKEOUTS TO LEAD ND PAST EDISON (24 PHOTOS) (April 26, 2022)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
SOUTHPORT — Right from the start of Tuesday’s game Owen Stewart knew that he had his best stuff.

As it turns out, he had unhittable stuff all night long as Stewart threw his second no-hitter of the season, a 17-strikeout masterpiece to help Notre Dame beat Edison 4-0.

“From probably about the second inning on,” Stewart said of when he realized he had no-hit stuff. “Right out of the gate I felt like my velo (velocity) was where it needed to be. My off-speed was where it needed to be. I could trust everybody. They made a couple plays behind me and everything felt great.”

For Stewart it’s a special feeling to throw another no-hitter, and doing it against Edison just makes it a little extra special.

“It feels pretty good,” Stewart said. “It’s one of the greatest feeling. When me and my team go out there they have my back in the field and I can trust myself and we go after them.

“They have been our rivals for years, so getting a no-hitter against them feels pretty good.”

This season the Notre Dame senior has made five starts, striking out 78 batters in 32 1/3 innings. He’s allowed just eight hits this season and one earned run.

“It’s unbelievable, I’m glad he’s on our side,” Notre Dame coach Brad Bollinger said. “He’s been great. He throws strikes and pounds the zones and challenges hitters. Fortunately for us, we have him and hopefully he keeps it going.”

All night long Stewart was ahead in the count, walking just one batter and needing just 96 pitches to throw the complete game no-hitter.

“It’s something I have been preaching with him,” Bellinger said of getting ahead in counts. “Just throw strikes. Challenge hitters, get ahead and then we can get to the off-speed stuff. Owen has been great. The second no-hitter of the year, what more can you ask for honestly.”

Both of the no-hitters for Stewart this year have come at home, and it’s always special to have success on the Notre Dame field.

“The home atmosphere, there is nothing like it, it’s great,” Stewart said.

It’s not just that Stewart was throwing well on Tuesday, it’s that he did it against a good Edison team.

“That’s a great program,” Bollinger said. “I played for all those coaches in summer ball when I was in high school and I respect that program to the max. To shut a team down like that, they are well coached. I just look forward to seeing them again.”

Stewart knew that against a team like Edison every run was crucial, so he had to pitch well.

“They are a solid team all-around, so I knew we had to scrap the whole way,” Stewart said. “Going out and throwing that way is what I feel like I need to do every time to help my team and try and win a sectional title.”

When he’s on Stewart leans on his best pitches.

“I go out there and throw my fast ball and say if you can hit it, hit it,” Stewart said. “That’s on you guys, if you can touch me, good for you.”

With the win the Crusaders are now 11-3 on the year. They have won four straight, and only one of those three losses came to a team from New York, a one-run loss to Watkins Glen the second game of the year, with the others coming in Myrtle Beach.

Stewart feels like he’s played well this year, and he also feels like the team is off to a strong start, and can do even more big things this year.

“I feel like I have started the right way, I couldn’t be happier with the guys here, I love this team,” Stewart said. “It feels amazing, I can’t wait to see what else we’ve got.”

The Crusaders knew that Tuesday’s win was a big won.

“That is a team we needed to beat for the IAC,” Stewart said. “We are getting there. We’ve got Waverly next.”

“It was huge for us,” Bollinger said. “Class C team, we’ll see in sectionals down the road. Right now we are 3-0 in sectionals (teams in their class), so hopefully we can keep that going.”

On Tuesday the Crusaders got a first-inning run, and that would prove to be all that Stewart would need in the game.

Notre Dame tacked two runs on in the fourth inning and one in the sixth.

Edison got strong pitching from three guys to keep the game close all night. Max Goodman went 3 1/3 innings, striking out four batters and allowing five hits. Michael Brown struck out one in 1 2/3 innings of relief and Kyler Ripley threw one hitless, scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

Steven Gough had a double for Notre Dame and Jahmeire Keyser, Cam Johnson, Ashton Colunio, Tyler Richards and Luke Richards all had hits in the game.

Keyser, Tyler Richards and Luke Richards had RBI for Notre Dame and Colunio scored two runs, while Cam Johnson and Tyler Richards scored runs in the game.

Garret Mortimer drew the walk for Edison in the game.
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IN TOP PHOTO: Notre Dame’s Owen Stewart reacts after throwing a no-hitter against Edison on Tuesday. . . PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES