(Luke Hunter (right) with catcher Landon Jones via Conestoga Baseball Instagram)
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA — While it has been Conestoga’s red-hot offense that has really led the way during their six-game win streak, it was the absolute brilliance from Luke Hunter on the mound today that kept that streak alive.
The sophomore (yes, sophomore) that stands at 6’6″ struck out 11 Marple Newtown hitters and walked just two en route to a no-hitter and a 2-0 win.
Before he even touched the turf mound, Hunter already had more hits on the day than all of the Tigers would have combined. His RBI single in the top of the first scored James Quici, who doubled to lead off the game.
The Pioneers would add another in the top of the third after James Quici walked, advanced to second on a ground out, then took both third and home on a wild pitch.
We aren’t here to talk about the offense though, we’re here to talk about the dominance of Luke Hunter. This guy may work faster than any pitcher you will ever see on the mound because he is so excited to go strike someone out that he almost can’t even wait until his right fielder runs back in from fielding a foul ball, which is exactly what happened during the final inning.
Hunter now has a 2.40 ERA on the year with a .333 average and .958 OPS to go along with it. He may be the betting favorite for the Delco Baseball Now “breakout player of the year”, won in 2024 by another sophomore in Haverford’s Jimmy Boyle.
Hunter entered the bottom of the seventh with a 2-0 lead sitting at 87 pitches. You can finish an at-bat where you go over 100 pitches, but you can’t start a new one. Hunter knew that he needed to get those first two outs in less than 13 pitches if he wanted a shot at this thing.
Striking out the first two hitters of the inning in seven pitches helps.
The final batter was Aidin Curran, and after a first pitch ball, Hunter got ahead 1-2. On the final pitch of the game, he painted the outside corner for a called third strike to pick up his eleventh strikeout of the day and capture the second solo no-hitter of the Delco Baseball season, joining Bonner’s Jack Redding who did so against Father Judge on April 2nd.
It is amazing to see how Head Coach Anthony Greco and these guys have turned this thing around. They were 6-10 last year and 0-5 in Greco’s first year, and they have now won six in a row since they lost 11-2 to Haverford on March 31st.
The Pioneers are now 5-4 in the Central League and will not have much time to celebrate this one as they will host Penncrest (2-7) Wednesday afternoon.
As for Marple Newtown, they as well are now 5-4 in the Central League. The departure of the majority of their starting lineup from last season paired with Aidin Curran being unable to pitch so far in 2025 has taken its toll, but they are still very much alive in the District 1 5A playoff bracket. They will head to Ridley (4-5) Wednesday afternoon for their next game.