Congrats to the Mini Mast !

My buddy Dave doesn't brag about his boys often and when it does, it's for good reason. Congrats to Neil on pitching a game he'll remember (and, like Dave, talk about) for the rest of his life.

UNbelievable!

Posted by Dave Mast, to Everyone Apr 17, 08:49 pm ET

One of the little Mastadons pulled off a rarity tonight on the diamond. Freshman Neil "Nigel" Mast fired a no-hitter at the Dover freshman Tornadoes, coming within a routine fly-ball drop in right field of a perfect game. Struck out four, walked none, and only went to three balls to one hitter. Far from overpowering on the mound, he simply changed speeds, and let his defense do the job. He threw a grand total of 60 pitches in the six inning 10-0 contest, tossing a meager 18 over the final three frames. I get to brag tonight — at least a little bit! If he never gets another hitter out again, at least he's got that one.

Hooray for Nahorodny

As I watch Cleveland and New York christen the new Yankee stadium, it reminds me of my first childhood baseball memories at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The first game I truly remember attending was back in 1982. Thanks to the Baseball Reference website, I can truly appreciate what I, as a wide-eyed fourth grader, saw that day.

Our entire Berlin baseball team attended the Saturday afternoon game as the first place California Angels faced the 6th-place Indians. The Angels starting lineup featured many high profile players -- future Hall of Famers Rod Carew and Reggie Jackson along with Don Baylor, Fred Lynn, Doug Decinces, Bobby Grich and Bob Boone. For Cleveland, there wasn't a whole lot of talent in the lineup. But Lenny Barker was on the mound for the Tribe, one year removed from his historic Perfect Game, which (until the their palpitating playoff run of 1995) had been the sole Indians highlight of my lifetime.

Mike Hargrove (my favorite Indian), Rick Manning (my least favorite), Von Hayes and Andre Thornton were all held hitless that afternoon, a combined 0-for-14. My first favorite Indian, Buddy Bell, was traded away three seasons earlier (I cried at the news) and his replacement, All Star third baseman Toby Harrah, hit a solo home run for the Tribe.

Even as an 11-year-old, I despised the Yankees. So when former pinstripper Reggie Jackson each time came up to the plate, my teammates and I chanted "Reggie sucks! Reggie sucks!" This was a big deal for me because 'suck' was a forbidden word. Taunting Reggie from our upper deck seats must have rattled the bespectacled slugger because the former Mr October whiffed not once, not twice, but three times that day. Spider-legged Carew had a sacrifice, single, double and stole a base. Doug Decince, the former Oriole with the coolest sounding name in baseball (dee-sin-say), slammed a pair of dingers for the Angels.

California held a slim 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Hayes meekly popped out to second, Manning flew out to right and quickly the Tribe was down to its final out. The slowest man on earth, catcher Ron Hassey, managed a walk against Angel closer Doug Corbett. Reserve outfielder Rodney Craig, who signed my program before the game, jogged in to pinch run for Hassey. Little known utility player Karl Pagel, with 13 career hits to his name, was subbed in to pinch hit for Carmen Castillo. Pagel kept the Indians alive when he also walked. Back to back walks and the Indians had a chance.

Tribe manager Dave Garcia must have been feeling some pinch hit magic that day. Earlier in the game, he summoned Jack Perconte to pinch hit for weak-hitting mustacioed shortstop Mike Fischlin. Perconte did his job, singling then scoring a run. But now with Perconte up again, Garcia summoned career backup catcher Bill Nahorodny to the plate.

Bill Nahorodny was a journeyman backup catcher who bounced around with the Phillies, White Sox, Braves, Indians, Tigers and Mariners. Only once did he see 200 at bats and, after nine unsubstantial seasons, he retired with 25 career homers and a .241 average. So July 18, 1982, probably remains the highlight of his career.

Two on, two outs, Indians down a run. The Angels go to their bullpen and bring in the lefty Andy Hassler to face Nahodney. The dissipating crowd of 16,416 skeptical fans rose to its feet. John Adams banged his drum from the center field bleachers. And with the crack of the bat, the runners took off as Nahorodny's laser blast cleared the centerfielder and rolled all the way to the wall. Craig scored easily, Pagel followed with the winning run and we all screamed in shock as Nahorodny came through with the unlikeliest of game-winning triples.

So here's to you, Bill Nahorodny, wherever you are. Thanks for giving me the best introduction to Indians baseball an 11-year-old kid could ever imagine.