WAPAKONETA – It was as perfect as you could be.
Wapakoneta right-hander Manny Vorhees faced 15 batters.
He struck 14 of them out.
Vorhees fired a five-inning, perfect-game, no-hitter in Wapakoneta’s 10-0 baseball victory over Delphos St. John’s Monday at Wapakoneta.
It marked the senior Vorhees’ second no-hitter (both perfect games) of his career. His first perfect game came two years ago as a sophomore.
“It’s a weird feeling,” Vorhees said. “I credit the camaraderie in the dugout and the closeness of all of us. I’m going to give my all every day. Everything is brought back to the team. Every single day, whether it’s pitching or in the field, we know we have each other. Honestly, if I didn’t have that feeling behind me, I wouldn’t pitch like I did.’’
It was the opening game for both teams.
Vorhees struck out every batter he faced but one.
With one out in the second inning, St. John’s Chandler Skym hit a grounder back to the mound. Vorhees gobbled it up and fired to first for the out.
He then struck out the final 10 batters to finish off the perfect game.
“I felt like everything was on top of its game, especially the curveball,” Vorhees said. “I also had a change-up. I didn’t throw it that much, but when I threw it, it was on.’’
Vorhees threw his fastball (which ranged from 87 to 91 mph), a sharp, nose-diving breaking ball and change-up for strikes.
“First and foremost, he was throwing strikes,” Wapak coach Jason Brandt said. “He was really good. He had all three pitches working. His change-up was fantastic. His curveball, when he had to throw that, it was good. He hit 90 six or seven times on a cold day. That’s really exciting for us and for him.’’
The Redskins scored seven in the third inning, then added three unearned runs in the fourth to provide the 10-run lead.
St. John’s lefty Luke Reindel threw plenty of breaking balls and had the Redskins off balance for the first two innings.
With one out in the third, Wapak leadoff hitter Don Goodes got the first hit of the game with a double to left-center field. Bubba Miller walked with two outs.
Mitch Apple then jumped on Reindel’s first pitch and sent it over the left-field fence for a three-run home run.
That gave Wapak a 3-0 lead.
“That was a no-doubter,” Brandt said. “And that (rally) was all with two outs.’’
Gage Schenk’s RBI single in the third made it 4-0. Schenk later came home on an error to make it 5-0.
Joel Roediger’s two-run single gave the Redskins a 7-0 lead in the third.
Wyatt Moyler went 2 for 3 with two runs for Wapak.
Vorhees closed out the game with strike three to Corey Koverman on a 90 mph. fastball.
“I just get on the mound and try to throw strikes and something’s going to happen,” Vorhees said. “I definitely wasn’t thinking of something like this.’’
It was a great start for the Redskins, who have three pitchers, Vorhees, Roediger and Schenk who all throw at least in the high 80s.
Vorhees is headed to Ohio Dominican, where he hopes to catch first, and pitch second.
However, if he has more games like Monday, that could change.
“I want to catch (in college),” Vorhees said. “Pitching is a second option, but if it gets me on the field, I’ll pitch.’’
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