Oregon prep pitcher throws no-hitter just days after his brother's death
It takes incredible mental focus from a pitcher to throw a no-hitter, but Dustin Carter took it a step further.
Just four days removed from his 22-year-old brother Joshua's fatal car accident, the Gold Beach (Ore.) High senior recorded 12 strikeouts over five innings in an 11-0 mercy-rule no-hit victory against Coquille. Prior to the game — the first in a doubleheader — the two rivals held a moment of silence to honor his brother.
Believe it or not, Dustin wasn't done. His three innnings of relief earned him a win in the nightcap, too. Another 48 hours later, he blasted a three-run home run and tossed three more innings of relief in an 11-0 win over North Lake, according to The Oregonian's report on Dustin's amazing feat.
“Baseball is what kept him going,” Gold Beach coach Greg Brown told the paper. "We’re a pretty tight team and that’s where his friends are, and his comfort zone is."
Joshua died in a head-on collision while driving to see his brother's doubleheader at Myrtle Point on April 12, according to The Oregonian. Dustin learned of the news before boarding the team bus.
“Baseball is helping (Dustin) through it," added Brown, "but he’s still not through it."
Brett Favre famously played a Monday Night Football game the day after his father's death. Sometimes the playing field is the only place an athlete can feel normal in times of tragedy, and hopefully Dustin's three remarkable games this past week helped ease the pain, even if only for a few short hours.
