AtL Lancaster Stormers

Mikkelsen deals no-no

Published on June 16, 2006 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Lincoln Mikkelsen fired the third no-hitter in Atlantic League history Friday evening, pitching the Atlantic City Surf to a 1-0 victory over the Lancaster Barnstormers in front of 5,815 at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The win in the first of seven straight meetings between the two clubs brought the Surf (23-17) to within 3 games of the Barnstormers (27-14) in the Southern Division race.

Mikkelsen (4-1) walked four and struck out five in his history making effort and never allowed a runner beyond first base. He joins Rod Henderson and Joe Gannon in the Atlantic League annals.

All the Surf player-coach needed was a run in the top of the third. Demetrius Heath led off with a walk from Cam Smith (3-3) and stole second, his league-leading 21st of the season. Raul Marval singled deep to the hole at short, and Heath took third after Kris Dufner threw across the diamond. Smith, who fanned eight in six innings, struck out Clyde Williams for the first out. Todd Leathers followed with a slow bounder up the third base line. Jose Ortiz' only option was to third to first as Heath raced across with the run.

Mikkelsen felt he wasn't in command early in the game. "Early on, everything was not good," said the 38-year old right-hander. "I was overstriding and fighting myself, but I kept working between innings. It got better later in the game."

The only time that the gem was at all threatened came in the third when first baseman Manny Santana led off with a towering fly ball to right. The ball carried well and forced Ozzie Timmons to press against the vinyl fence in front of the short porch in right field to make the play.

For a moment, it appeared that Travis Hake had a bunt single to start the fourth inning. His bunt rolled out to the third base side of home plate, and catcher John MacLeod's throw was wild high. However, the umpires conferred, and it was ruled that Hake had made contact with the ball a second time outside the batters box and became the first out of the inning.

Eric Crozier, playing in his first Atlantic League game, drew two of the walks off Mikkelsen, leading off the fifth and eighth innings. Both times, Lance Burkhart forced him at second, and Manny Santana hit into a double play to end the inning.

Working with the slim lead in the late innings also played on Mikkelsen's mind after Bridgeport, just three days earlier, rallied for two in the bottom of the ninth for a 2-1 victory, spoiling a shutout for Ryan Schurman. "It popped into my head," said Mikkelsen. "I just had to get it out of there."

Going into the ninth, the large crowd was fired up in anticipation of a Barnstormers comeback. Mikkelsen felt that worked to his favor. "The crowd was loud going into the ninth. It kinda pumped me up," he claimed.

The ninth inning turned out to be easy. Kris Dufner struck out swinging. Quincy Foster, who broke up a perfect game bid by Donovan Osborne with a bunt single in the seventh a month earlier, grounded to Demetrius Heath at second. Travis Hake grounded to Raul Marval at shortstop, and Mikkelsen was swarmed by his teammates and received a standing ovation from the Lancaster crowd.

"It was cooler than the no-hitter, having my teammates lift me up like that," said Mikkelsen. "We were jumping around like a bunch of college kids. Then, it dawned on me that the fans were standing and cheering. It shows what really good fans they have in Lancaster."

Check out the Lancaster Stormers Statistics



Atlantic League Stories from June 16, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central