Classic Baseball Union

September 8th, 1997 – It is all pandemonium  in Brainered. Dale ‘Lippy’ Johnston spun a no-hitter against the Portland Parasites. After 9 innings, the Blue Ox started finished the game as the 2-0 winner with 9 strikes outs and just one walk.

The game started off just like any other. Johnston shut down the first nine hitters of the game. Dan Burr led off the 4th inning with a 3-2 walk that just missed the strike zone. Burr advanced to 2nd base on a wild pitch, but Dan Snider struck out to end the inning.

Then on the pitcher known as Lippy didn’t allow another Parasite to reach base. Johnston took the mound in the bottom of the 9th inning with the home crowd standing behind him. Carl Moore skied a 1-1 pitch to deep left field, but defensive replacement Jorge Espinoza tracked it down.

The Parasites sent up pinch hitter Pepe Castro who ripped a line drive straight into the glove of right fielder Victor Bullock. For the final out, Dan Burr who broke up the perfect game in the 4th inning, grounded out to 3rd baseman Ernesto Montes to end the game.

Unfortunately this was the lone bright spot of the Brainerd Blue Ox season. But 29,996 fans were on site to see their young ace complete the first ever CBU no-hitter.

Box Score | Game Log

***Update***

September 28, 1997 – Dale Johnston will need surgery after a 0-10 loss to Redbank. Johnston felt some pain in his arm after being pulled in the 7th inning after allowing 5 runs. Unfortunately for Brainered fans, the stud pitcher will be shelved for some time for Tommy John surgery.

Johnston threw the first ever CBU No-Hitter earlier this month and was spinning together a great season for a team that was having an unforgettable one. It is imagined that Johnston will miss 6 to 8 months as Johnston recovers.