7/15/04 – Daily News Record

By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record Harrisonburg pitcher Mike Mlotkowski is the only Valley League pitcher to throw a no-hitter this season, but Front Royal first baseman Seth Steinhauer wasn’t too impressed. Steinhauer hit a two-run home run to dead-center field in the fifth inning, lifting the Cardinals to a 7-6 victory over the Turks in a VBL baseball game Thursday. "I knew that he went to my school for one year so I’m used to that style of pitching," said Steinhauer, a Florida University freshman. "I had no idea he had just threw a no-hitter." Mlotkowski (Oklahoma City), who spent his freshman year at Florida, threw his no-hitter July 8 in the Turks’ 5-0 win at Covington. Steinhauer’s fifth home run of the season put the Cardinals (17-14) in control with a 5-0 lead. The Turks fought back in the bottom half of the fifth when right fielder Kevin Koski (Southern Illinois) led off with a double down the left-field line. Next up was left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins) who hit a triple to left field that scored Koski. After a sac fly from first baseman Joe Kemp (Indiana), catcher Matt Weglarz (Southwest Missouri State) hit a blooper to right field that scored shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) from second, capping the three-run inning for the Turks (20-12). Harrisonburg pitcher Pat Caldwell (Yavapai CC) relieved Mlotkowski in the seventh, but with the bases loaded walked in right fielder Jon Love (Kennesaw State) to give the Cardinals a 6-3 edge. A passed ball scored shortstop Dan Melvin (Maryland), putting the game just out of reach for the Turks. "We tried to make things happen on the base paths and that put pressure on their defense," said Front Royal coach Matt Kirby, whose team has won four out of its last five. A two-run double to left-center field from third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) in the seventh wasn’t enough for Harrisonburg as VBL saves-leader Derrick Lutz (George Washington) retired the Turks in order in the ninth. "We shot ourselves in the foot early on in the game," said Parker. "It looks like we’re still working the kinks out from the all-star break." Front Royal 000 230 200 – 7 6 1 Harrisonburg 000 030 300 – 6 9 2 Knight, Wolfe (6), Ramsey (7), Lutz (9) and Bennett; Mlotkowski, Caldwell (7) and Weglarz. W – Knight (1-1); L – Mlotkowski (4-2). Sv – Lutz (11). HR: FR – Steinhauer (5).