Almost a perfect Slate

by1 BY STAFF REPORT
The plan was for Kyle Slate to not a complete game Thursday.
However, Christian Brothers Academy coach Marty Kenney's plan went astray in a good way. Slate, a senior right-hander, hurled a no-hitter and Scott Micallef stroked a two-run double with one out in the top of the seventhw as the No. 2 Colts (1-0, 1-0) opened their season with a 2-0 victory over No. 9 Freehold Township (1-1, 1-1) in a Shore Conference Class A North game.
"We were only looking to get five innings from him (Slate),'' Kenney said. "But, he only threw 75 pitchers.''
Kenney, who is in his 33rd year as CBA's coach and picked up career win No. 583, said he believed it was the first no-hitter thrown by a CBA pitcher since Mike Sclafani fired two in 2000.
Slate, who went 6-1 last year, almost had a perfect game. Freehold Township's only base runner came when came when Brian Cooney led off the bottom of the first by reaching on an infield error. Slate retired the final 21 batters and struck out 10.
"He had velocity on his his fastball,'' Kenney said. "He also throws the split finger, which moves quite a bit. He can throw that pitch for strikes and he had a good change-up. But, it was the fastball that kept them honest.''
Kenney said he did not even realize until after the game that Slate had not allowed a hit.
"I knew he had been dominating them,'' Kenney said.
Freehold Township pitcher Matt Grajek allowed just three hits through six innings before the Colts broke through. Dave Laufer led off with a single and Steve McSherry walked with one out before Micallef doubled down the right field line to score Laufer and McSherry.