Nearly two dozen no-hitters: Section V's top pitching performances and breakout stars

There was a high school baseball game April 27, and Leah Batterson was the one wearing a Red Jacket uniform, holding the ball on the school's pitching mound, since she was the team's starting pitcher.

Some of the batters on the Eugenio de Maria Hostos Charter School team that day ended up slightly flinching, turning or swinging and missing while following the flight of Batterson's pitches.

Five Hornets struck out during the first varsity no-hitter thrown by Batterson, a junior in her third season on the Red Jacket team.

"Some of the kids (at home plate) were a little surprised about how much the ball was moving, there were a couple of smiles," Red Jacket coach Todd Battle said. “It’s really her movement (on the pitches). It throws you off, definitely throws off your timing."

Counting performances like Batterson's in five-inning games shortened by the mercy scoring rule, there have been 22 no-hitters in Section V reported to the Democrat and Chronicle this spring, including five perfect games where the team that is being shutdown has no baserunners. Batterson walked two Hornets during her no-hitter.

More: Section V baseball scores for the 2023 season

Here are short lists of notable pitchers and hitters in Section V, who might be raising their profiles or moving closer to all-star or even elite status in the area. Most of these players were not on the D&C's pre-season watch list that included the best players returning to leagues around the section.

Leah Batterson

It is unclear how many girls play varsity baseball in Section V or in the rest of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, but whatever the number is, Batterson stands out.

"It's not the easiest thing, but she handles it with class," Battle said.

While teams seem to need all the pitching they can get, coaches need to trust whoever is sent to the mound. And Battle trusts Batterson.

"She is a captain on the team, the first one to practice, the last one to leave," Battle said. "She does a great job in the classroom, has a competitive attitude.

"She’s thrown some great games, not only this year. I usually like her for middle relief, but she has started a few games."

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Batterson, who also plays second base and is on the girls basketball team at Red Jacket, is about 5 feet, 4 inches. Her tactics on the mound to get outs involves off-speed pitches and movement. She joined Red Jacket's varsity baseball team two years ago, as a freshman. That was Battle's first season as the team's coach.

"Right away, I definitely knew someone had worked with her during her early ages," Battle said. "She is dedicated, knows the game.

"When we want a fundamental drill demonstrated, she is the example."

Batterson faced 18 batters during her no-hitter. She threw 61 pitches, 39 for strikes.

"Two years ago, she did a phenomenal job against Bloomfield," Battle said about a start where Batterson allowed 1 run, 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 10 in 6 innings. "That was probably her most dominant performance."

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Keisel Cuevas

This is how locked in Keisel Cuevas, a freshman at Wilson in the Rochester City School District, was during back-to-back pitching starts.

First, Cuevas pitched a perfect game. He struck out 19 of the 21 Monroe batters in a full seven-inning game, that the Wildcats won 4-0 at Genesee Valley Park.

Cuevas then threw a no-hitter against Franklin in the second game of a doubleheader. His performance came after a wild first game, won by Wilson/Early College by a football-like score of 27-11. The right-hander, who is about 6 feet tall with a fastball that has been clocked at 85 miles per hour, then shut down Franklin during an 8-0 victory.

Cuevas struck out 34 of the last 38 batters he faced, prior to a scheduled league game against Edison at Genesee Valley on May 5. The Wilson Wildcats are 5-5 overall, 5-2 in the Rochester City Athletic Conference.

"He’s been a great addition to this team," Wilson/Early College coach Barry Burke said.

Here is a list of pitchers with perfect full and shortened games this season reported to the Democrat and Chronicle:

• Bryceton Berry (Batavia Notre Dame) 18 strikeouts.

• Keasel Cuevas (Wilson/Early College) 19 strikeouts.

• Aiden Reed (Red Jacket) 12 strikeouts.

• Omar Rodriguez (East High), sophomore, 11 strikeouts.

• Micah Swaderer (Northstar Christian Academy) 12 strikeouts.

No-hitters through May 4

A list of pitchers with no-hitters in full and shortened games this season reported to the Democrat and Chronicle, including three thrown by Sodus Spartans who are in the Wayne County league:

• Leah Batterson (Red Jacket)

• Jed Bodine (Sodus)

• Logan Bulman (Sodus)

• Bulman with Evan Laird and Jacob Laird (Sodus)

• Luke Colombo (Fillmore)

• Ryan Fitzpatrick (Batavia Notre Dame)

• Ian Goodness (Palmyra-Macedon)

• Goodness with Brennan Pipitone (Palmyra-Macedon)

• Dominic Kurmis (Northstar Christian Academy)

• Evan Laird (Sodus)

• Gates Miller (Hornell)

• Connor Osier (Greece Athena)

• Damon Potter (Fillmore)

• David Reinosa (Edison)

• Brayden Smith (Oakfield-Alabama)

• Gage Thomas (Bath Haverling)

• Phillip Dotterweich with Ryan Whitney, James Hy and Luke Davis (Geneseo)

Socking it

A partial list of standouts with the bat or on the bases by those moving toward the area's top group of players so far this season:

• Derrick Allen (Greece Athena outfielder): The Trojans won 12 of their first 14 games, and this varsity newcomer, a sophomore, seemed to be a factor. Three runs batted in against Canandaigua. Stole two bases against HF-L. Pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings with 13 strikeouts against Brockport. Solid pitching effort against Hilton, a team that was 12-2 as of May 4. Allen had 2 RBI and 3 hits against Rush-Henrietta earlier this spring.

• Nate Brinza (Canandaigua first baseman): He is a sophomore who is already about 6-2, 220 pounds and also pitches. Maybe his best game to this point was a win over Wellsville in which he drove in nine runs, as he hit two home runs, including a grand slam. He finished 3 for 4.

• Luca Ciaramitaro (McQuaid corner infielder): A senior who led the Knights in hits (17 in 13 games), runs batted in or RBI (9), at-bats (45) and plate appearances (48). He was second in slugging (.444).

• Roger Friedlander (McQuaid middle infielder): A senior who led his team in on-base percentage (.552), batting average (.435), runs (10) and on-base plus slugging or OPS (.987).

• Justin Maier (Webster Schroeder): Outfielder is in his junior year season. Had four-hit games against Victor and Gates Chili. His sacrifice fly won a game against Fairport, 3-2. Had two hits against Greece Athena.

• Sam Miller (Fairport junior): Five RBI during a 3 for 3 game with two doubles. Hit a solo home run during a two-hit game, in which he pitched 3 1/3 innings. Also dominant on the mound during a 3-1 win over McQuaid.

• Nick Olmo (Webster Thomas third baseman): A senior, who along with senior outfielder Mason Lawyer, appeared to be a steady contributor to the Titans' offense. Olmo also has provided relief pitching.

• Owen Osborne (Pittsford Sutherland second baseman): Sophomore impressed with a .483 slugging percentage, .483 batting average, .571 on-base percentage and 1.054 OPS.

• Evan Putney (Churchville-Chili first baseman): Junior is in his second varsity season, and was even better on the mound as a starting pitcher.

• Drew Reigelsperger (Naples infielder): Senior had 16 stolen bases in 9 games, including 3 in a game in which he drove in five runs. On-base percentage was .657.

• Brennan Russo (Eastridge outfielder): A junior who played varsity baseball last season. He was hitting with consistency and provided some home runs.

• Sammy Saucke (Greece Athena infielder): Sophomore is in his second varsity season. He seemed to be another Trojan who got on base, advanced by stealing and scored, all with reasonable regularity for baseball.

• David Schnaufer (Oakfield-Alabama first baseman): A sophomore who drove in three or more runs in one game at least three times, including five in one ballgame.

• Wes Sturrup (Brighton infielder): Sophomore was in the middle of just about all of Brighton's wins to this point, whether driving in or scoring key runs. He is also pitching during his first varsity season.

• Max Vorrasi (Pittsford Sutherland catcher): A 6-2, 230-pound junior. Coaches seem to love a catcher who can handle the position's defensive responsibilities. Vorrasi was also hitting, judging by a .429 batting average, .568 on-base percentage, .571 slugging percentage and 1.139 OPS.

• Tre Walker (Aquinas infielder): A junior who was a standout for this independent or non-league team last season. He has hit for extra bases and stolen bases. There was a four-RBI game earlier this season.

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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V baseball: 2023's top pitching performances and breakout stars