By Curran Daly
Maddison WIlliams threw a no hitter in a 6-1 win over Cal State East Bay on Monday.
Cal State East Bay first batter reached second base on a Lumberjack error, which doesn’t count as a hit. The baserunner then made their way to third after a ground out. Finally they came home on a wild pitch. That sequence left the Lumberjacks trailing 1-0 but meant that Williams hadn’t let up a hit.
After the sequence Head Coach Shelli Sarchett saw Williams go to work to keep Humboldt in the game.
“Maddy was just really being her typical maddy. East Bay, looking on paper, they have a really good hitting team.” Coach Sarchett said, “She continued to keep them off balance with her off speed and down pitches.”
Williams went on to strike-out seven East Bay hitters throughout the game. Keeping Humboldt in the game until a third inning run could tie the game. The game stayed tied until the seventh inning when Humboldt scored five runs to win the game 6-1.
Williams realized how well she was pitching in the third inning and knew what she had to do to keep her team in the game.
“I was thinking to myself, I’m not gonna let them score again, if they get on base,” Williams said, “I’m not gonna let them get a hit off of me, I’m not gonna let them beat me on my best pitch.”
The no-hitter came after Williams and Humboldt first loss of the season to Stanislaus State on March 4.
“After coming off a loss, her first loss of the season, she really buckled down,” Coach Sarchett said, “she came back and threw the game that we know that Maddy is capable of.”
This was Williams second no-hitter of her career at Humboldt State. Hard-work throughout her four years have prepared her according to her pitching coach, Hannah Jones.
“Her hard work, determination, and focus sets her apart from the competition,” Jones said, “and it has been a joy to witness her growth over the years.”
Hard work pays off and Williams recognizes that time spent during practice and in the offseason helped her grow into the pitcher she is this season for the Lumberjacks.
“It’s really cool, like having all my hard work pay off,” Williams said, “what you do in practice really does make a difference in the game and it just feels really good that i can help my team out.”
In typical softball and baseball fashion no one mentioned the potential no-hitter to Williams during the game. Coach Sarchett was surprised to see after the game that Williams had pitched a no-hitter.
“Maddy comes up to me after the game and said ‘Did i throw a no hitter?’” after looking down at her clipboard Coach Sarchett said, “yup, you did.”
The Lumberjacks hope to host Cal State Dominguez hills this weekend it what would be their first home game. Due to wet conditions and their normal field being unplayable, the games may be held at Mckinleyville High School. As of right now the games are scheduled for noon and 2 p.m. friday and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. saturday.
