The Midland Explorers added veteran flame-thrower Don Scott to their squad this season in part because they wanted a big game pitcher.
Scott was every bit of that Sunday as he carried a perfect game into the seventh inning and struck out 15 batters in a 5-0 Explorers' victory in its 2012 ISC World Tournament opener against the Cortland (New York) Bombers at Currie Stadium.
The Explorers next play at 6 p.m. today at Currie Stadium against the Saskatoon Diamondbacks.
Scott, who was the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the 2011 ISC World Tournament for the winning Jarvis Travelers team, set down the first 19 batters he faced before giving out consecutive hits with one out in the top of the seventh inning.
Cortland's Jeff Karr hit a bloop single into shallow left-center field that dropped as the diving attempt by Explorers centerfielder Shea Bryant came up just short. The Bombers added another hit in the seventh, but Scott dialed it in, striking out the final two batters to end the game and finish with a two-hit shutout.
Midland Explorers manager Gregg Sauve said that it was the type of performance that he were hoping to get out of Scott.
"It's nice when you are a big dog pitcher out there," Sauve said. "He kept them off-stride all night. That's what we needed. We needed a pitching performance to lift us up.
"This is what we've been looking for from Donnie. From the opening week (of the season), we've been building up for this one. We think everyone is healthy and that should help us. Donnie looked healthy tonight."
Scott, who has had a nagging back injury throughout the season, said after the game that Sunday's ISC opener is that hardest he's pitched all season.
"You kind of go through the year with the arm strength and work on a few things, but when you come here, it's time to play," Scott said. "That'll be the hardest that I've pushed for this year. This is ultimately the big (tournament) for everyone. So this is where you try and save yourself for this."
The Explorers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Steve Horning and Adam LaLonde walked and Dale Levy moved them over on a swinging bunt, Horning scored on a passed ball and Eddy Ketelhut added an RBI single to leftfield.
"Eddy Ketelhut got the big hit to get us going and once you score early it takes the pressure off everybody," Sauve said.
The Explorers added to the lead in the third inning as after LaLonde walked, Levy tripled to the fence down the rightfield line, scoring LaLonde to make it 3-0.
LaLonde's big day didn't stop there, as he scored for a third time when he hit a two-run homer over the fence in rightfield in the fifth to give the Explorers a 5-0 advantage. Horning also reached base three times and scored twice. Levy had two hits in the game for the Explorers.
Justin Krenzke, a newcomer to the ISC, recorded his first ISC hit in his first at-bat of the tournament, when he hit a liner off Cortland pitcher Shawn Samson.
It was a good start for the Explorers, which hopes to continue moving on the winner's side of the tournament bracket.
"We have to keep hitting the ball and I'll try and keep them off the board," Scott said. "We have Grant (Patterson) as well, so with the two of us, we'll see what happens.
"As long as we put the ball in play, we have a shot, just like everyone else."
"It was a really good opening night for us," Sauve added. "The guys are kind of pumped. We are hoping that Midland comes out and supports us because we have a pretty good ball club."
