Butler's Fleeger flips no-hitter for Bucks
YOUNGSTOWN — One hit.
That's all Brandon Fleeger has allowed.
Not in one game. Not even for one team.
For all season — spanning three separate appearances for the Butler High School graduate, Butler Iron Bucks right-hander and incoming Seton Hill sophomore.
“I only threw two innings (for Seton Hill) in the spring,” Fleeger said. “I wanted to pitch more, but I get it. I was a freshman.”
Those two innings were hitless ones as opposing hitters were 0-for-5 against Fleeger.
In his first outing with the Iron Bucks in the Tri-State Collegiate League, Fleeger allowed one hit and one run in five innings against the Allegheny A's. He struck out seven.
The ultimate occurred Saturday. Pitching on the road against the Creekside Crocodiles in Youngstown, Fleeger tossed a seven-inning no-hitter, striking out 12.
He has 19 strikeouts, two walks and one hit allowed in 12 innings for the Iron Bucks so far this season.
“His pace was phenomenal and he beat up the strike zone,” Iron Bucks manager Dan Helgert said. “Brandon threw 92 pitches and 85 percent of them were for strikes.”
Fleeger got just enough run support. The Iron Bucks pushed across a run in the third inning for a 1-0 victory.
“I get most of my outs with my fastball, but my curve was really dropping in against the left-handed hitters,” Fleeger said.
“I'm just happy to be pitching. Hopefully, I can keep this going.”
Luke Chutko, an Allegheny College player, was Fleeger's catcher Saturday.
“We were in synch with each other the entire game,” Fleeger said. “I don't think I shook him off once all day.”
Fleeger walked one batter Saturday. Another reached on an error.
Besides that, it was smooth sailing for the 6-foot-1, 210-pound right-hander.
“He didn't have any issues all day,” Helgert said. “It was fun just watching him pitch. I didn't have to do any coaching in that game.
“He had command of everything. He used his fastball to set up his off-speed stuff. He was moving pitches in and out. He had their hitters woefully off-balance the entire game.”
The Iron Bucks won three of their four games over the weekend, improving their record to 6-4.
“You just don't see no-hitters pitched in these summer college leagues,” Helgert said. “The competition is good in all of these leagues and our league is very even.
“Pitch count comes into play all the time, too.”
But not in Fleeger's case.
“Get to 100 pitches and they'll take a pitcher out,” Fleeger said. “I told the coaches I can go longer. I want to pitch as much as I can.
“I'm hoping to be a starting pitcher at Seton Hill and I want to go back there prepared to do that.”
