By George Bremer
The Herald Bulletin
PENDLETON, Ind. —
Just try competing with this Father’s Day gift.
On Sunday, with parents Charlie and Debbie watching from the stands at historic McBride Stadium, Richmond River Rats pitcher Sean Collins hurled the first no-hitter in the three-season history of the Prospect League.
“I kept thinking, ‘How many dads are watching their son play baseball and getting a no-hitter on Father’s Day?’” Charlie Collins said. “I assume I was one-
in-a-million.”
That closely approximates the odds against the former Pendleton Heights star throwing this gem in this league in this start.
The Prospect League formed in 2008 when five Frontier League cities felt the league was outgrowing them and began to seek a new home. They eventually banded together with the six teams in the Central Illinois Collegiate Conference to form the new 11-team league.
Players must have completed one year of college and still have eligibility remaining to participate in the league.
The CICL has a long history of showcasing future Major League Baseball stars. Among the most famous alums: Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Kirby Puckett, current stars Jonathan Papelbon and Ryan Howard, Chicago Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenley and New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi.
As if the opposing talent wasn’t enough, Collins hadn’t made a start since his days at Pendleton Heights before blanking the Slippery Rock Sliders on Sunday. He struck out five and walked four in the 5-0 victory.
In two years at Purdue, Collins has worked exclusively out of the bullpen. He has a 1-0 career record with a 5.70 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings pitched. He’s yet to allow an earned run in 13 1/3 innings against Big Ten foes.
But he wasn’t sure what to expect after stretching out his arm for a rare start.
“I just tried to take the same mindset: Throw strikes, let the defense work behind me, get outs,” he said. “Physically, I was concerned with how deep I could go (into the game).”
Arabians coach Bill Stoudt hasn’t talked with Collins since he arrived in Richmond for the summer. But he said Collins’ best pitch in high school was a two-seam fastball that got more effective with the more movement he put on it.
In that respect, Collins likely is better suited to a starter’s role.
“The more pitches he makes,” Stoudt said, “the more the ball moves.”
Collins’ catcher was Kevin Plawecki, his backstop with the Boilermakers. Aaron Etchison, Collins’ catcher at Pendleton Heights who now plays for Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., also is on the River Rats’ roster.
“It’s amazing to be reunited with my high school catcher,” Collins said. “The trust I have in both of those guys is phenomenal.”
It appears as though Collins also is regaining much of the trust in himself.
He’s slated to remain Richmond’s starting rotation for the remainder of the season, swapping places with a teammate whose college coaches prefer he gets some work out of the bullpen.
His first start has him understandably excited about the next one.
“It’s definitely uplifting to know, going out against guys like this that can swing the bats pretty well, that you can shut them down,” Collins said.
Charlie Collins was at a loss for words when he met his son after the game. The smile on his face said it all.
“He was pretty emotional,” Sean said, “as I was I.”
That emotion hasn’t faded in the days since.
Richmond had Tuesday and today off before returning to action Thursday.
Sean was able to come home, spend some quality time with his family and reflect upon his unique Father’s Day gift.
“It was better than any shirt or tie,” Charlie said.
