NO-HITTER … Evergreen righty Nolan Hudik tossed a no-hitter with nine strikeouts to lead Evergreen past Northwood 10-0 in a Division VI sectional final.
(PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
SECTIONAL FINAL … Troy Manz swings at a pitch in last Saturday’s sectional final win over Northwood.
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
METAMORA (May 24, 2025) – A highly intelligent young man once said…never look past what’s in front of your face unless you want to get hit and knocked out.
Third-seeded Evergreen took on the task at hand, and Nolan Hudik was the lead dog, throwing a no-hitter against Northwood, in a 10-0, five-inning win in a Division VI sectional final at Evergreen.
Evergreen moves on to play in a D6 district semifinal at Fremont Ross on May 28th at 4:30.
“There’s lot you could say about Nolan Hudik,” Viking coach Chris Owens said. “He is a kid who throws strikes and continuously pounds the zone. He mixes his off speeds well.”
“Today the product showed, he competes out there and he has no emotion on his face. You can’t tell if he is doing well or bad and that’s what you need out of a pitcher. He was just locked in.”
“This now is tournament baseball, it’s like March Madness, if you look too far ahead, you’ll be the one watching. I was proud of the boys’ pregame today and the first inning and how they took charge right away.”
Hudik was dominant, striking out nine, with the only baserunner coming when he hit Jayden Zuraski with a 0-2 pitch opening the second.
After that, the Vikings’ sophomore put down the last 12 Ranger hitters, eight of those on strikes, including the last three in the fifth on just 10 pitches.
Meanwhile his teammates gave him all the offense he would need in the bottom of the first. Colton Robertson actually gave Hudik the only run he would require when he singled to left, stole second and third, then scored when the throw to third got away.
The Vikes weren’t done though. Two walks and Chris Shrader’s bunt single, loaded the bases and a wild pitch brought home a second run.
Blake Boucher followed with a two-run single to right to double the lead and two groundouts plated two more to give the Vikes a 6-0 bulge.
“That fast start absolutely was key,” Owens explained of the big first. “It helps you ease the butterflies a little being the first tournament game, and just lets you settle into your normal game.”
“It lets you know that the mindset is not looking ahead and play this game against a good opponent.
Evergreen picked up two more in the fourth when Layne Vance ripped a triple to deep left, Bryce Bolger followed with a double and he eventually scored on Shrader’s sacrifice fly.
The Vikings put the contest to bed in the fifth. Austin Burghardt bounced a single to left, Robertson singled with one out and Vance brought both runners home with a double to right to end the game.
NHS 000 00 – 0 0 2
EHS 600 22 – 10 10 0
Records: NHS 4-21, EHS 12-10
WINNING PITCHER: Hudik (5 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 earned, 0 walks, 9 strikeouts)
LOSING PITCHER: Hicks (1.1 innings, 3 hits, 6 runs, 5 earned, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts) Other: Reichow, Leonard
LEADING HITTERS: (Evergreen) Vance – triple, double, single, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Robertson – 2 singles, 2 runs; Bolger – double, 2 runs; Boucher – 2 singles, 2 RBIs