SAINT JOHN, N.B. — Chandler Laporte pitched a masterful six-inning no-hitter Saturday as the P.E.I. Junior Islanders earned a split of the New Brunswick Junior Baseball League doubleheader in Saint John, N.B.
After losing the opener 12-7, Laporte shut down the Alpines offence in a 12-0 P.E.I. victory.
The 19-year-old Cornwall native barely broke a sweat, needing only 69 pitches and facing the minimum 18 batters. He allowed only a one-out walk in the second inning to Matt Digham, who was quickly erased trying to steal second by catcher Gavin Hickey.
Laporte struck out eight and allowed only one ball to leave the infield in the masterpiece, which was shortened to six innings due to the mercy rule. The lefty induced the final batter, Cam Greer, to tap back to the mound for the final out, before being mobbed by his teammates.
Offensively the Islanders continued to pound out hits and score runs, making the blowout the third mercy rule game of their first four contests.
Connor McGregor had three hits and three RBI while Ryne MacIsaac, Josh Myers and John Savidant each had two hits. Gavin Hickey, Patrick Gallant and Pat Young also had knocks.
Nick McDermott was roughed up in the loss and was relieved by Ryan Nason and Matt Oram.
P.E.I. got a taste of their own medicine in Game 1, seeing the Alpines score nine first-inning runs and added three more in the second to lead 12-0 after two.
The Islanders bats came alive late, but it wasn’t enough to escape suffering their first loss of the season. Control problems proved P.E.I.’s undoing as starter Patrick Gallant, who was making his first start in three years following Tommy John surgery, was unable to find the zone.
Saint John was held to five hits in the game but were issued 13 walks by Isles pitchers. Eric Anderson, Alex Jabbour and MacIsaac, also saw time on the hill.
At the plate, Savidant had three hits with MacIsaac and Laporte each adding two. Gabe Penalver, Myers and McGregor all had one hit.
Nason and Jake Estabrooks each had two hits for the Alpines. Connor Huckings got the win on the mound.
The Islanders are off next weekend, with their next action being June 8 when they host the Fredericton Royals for a doubleheader.
