It’s becoming a memorable season for the Waterloo Bucks and Monday night Iowa’s only Northwoods League team added more history to the record books. Jacob Stone, making his home pitching debut at Riverfront Stadium, threw the team’s first nine-inning no-hitter as the Bucks shutout the Thunder Bay Border Cats 8-0.
Stone, a product of Weatherford Community College in Texas, threw 121 pitches in his second start for Waterloo and allowed only three base runners on the night. The right-hander from Fort Worth, Texas, recorded seven strikeouts and walked two batters. The third runner reached base on an infield error.
The no-hitter was the first thrown at any level by Stone, who will be a junior at Arkansas this fall. Stone joins Bryan Tarajack as the only Bucks pitchers to throw a no-hitter. Tarajack’s occurred in a seven-inning game in 1998. The Bucks improved their season record to 37-11 last night after a 7-6 victory in extra innings over Willmar.
Stone says the Bucks have a special blend of talent and chemistry that has meshed very well. He says they all hang out together and they have fun together when practicing and playing.
Earlier this month, the Bucks clinched their first Northwoods League playoff berth by winning the North Division’s first-half championship. They are off to a 13-1 start in the second-half and recently set a team record by winning 12 consecutive games.
By Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Oelwein