Gift that gave nothing
CRANBERRY TWP — Jon Hart has a pitching arm that doesn’t quit.
On his 39th birthday, the Butler resident had a pitching arm that couldn’t be hit.
Pitching for the Cranberry Juice in Pittsburgh’s National Adult Baseball Association (NABA), Hart tossed a six-inning no-hitter against the Plum Warriors on May 14. He turned 39 that day.
“That was my first no-hitter,” said Hart, a former Slippery Rock University pitcher. “I’d thrown a couple of one-hitters in the league. I’m not getting any younger and it was beginning to look like a no-hitter would elude me.”
Hart threw 92 pitches, striking out 10 and walking two. He almost threw successive no-hitters as he allowed only one hit in his previous start. He threw a complete game that day on 70 pitches, striking out 10, walking one and allowing only one unearned run.
“The one hit was a little infield dribbler,” Hart recalled. “When something like that denies you a no-hitter, you figure you’re never gonna get one.”
Hart has never stopped pitching since his high school days, when he pitched for St. Anthony in New Jersey. He gave up pitching for The Rock in 2004 as “I had to start working.”
But he’s always pitched in adult leagues with various teams. This is his third season with Cranberry. Last year, Hart was named the NABA Class AA pitcher of the Year, going 6-1 with five complete games in 11 mound appearances, striking out 78 of the 224 batters he faced over 54.1 innings.
Hart’s earned run average was 0.94 and opposing batters hit just .174 against him.
“Jon is a physically fit guy,” Cranberry manager Andy Germani said. “He’s about 5-foot-10 and isn’t overpowering, but he puts the ball where he wants to. He has incredible control of all of his pitches.”
Hart described himself as a “change-up guy” with a good curve-ball. He’s been throwing a cutter this season as well.
He’s playing in a nine-team league where most of the players are in their low to mid-20’s, just coming off college baseball careers. While the NABA has a couple of players in their 40’s, Hart is the oldest regular pitcher in the circuit.
“I do take some pride in being able to strike out guys in the mid-20’s,” he admitted. “I think it helps me that I’ve never stopped pitching. My arm is in good shape. I rely on being able to change speeds and work the corners.”
Besides still pitching, Hart coaches a 12-under travel baseball team for Fennell Brothers Express baseball in Butler. He gives private baseball lessons to players of all ages.
He also coaches for the Steel City Ninjas and does a lot of traveling as a photographer. Hart also pitches batting practice to North Catholic High School hitters from time to time.
“He’s a busy guy,” Germani said of Hart. “When he’s able to get to one of our games, usually a few days apart, he’s my pitcher. We give him the ball and let him go.
“He’s fascinating to watch out there. He’s the best pitcher in the league.”
He’s also fearless, as Hart appeared on the the Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid show — a wilderness survival series — in 2019.
“I can still throw in the mid-80’s,” Hart said. “As long as I can get people out, I’ll keep on pitching.”
