First League: Matěj Netopilík starred with eleven strikeouts
No one striked out more batters in first two days of the new season, neither in First League, nor in Extraliga, than nineteen year old Hippos Brno pitcher Matěj Netopilík. He sent 11 batter back to strikeout thanks to strikeout alone.
Netopilík faced 17 SaBaT batters and he only allowed 2 runs. Young pitcher started the game well, when he striked out the side, while adding 2 Ks in second and the third inning. He then started the fourth inning with a walk to Eduard Nosek, but came back with 2 Ks. However, Ondřej Hrdlička‚s double ment Nosek reached the home base. Netopilík’s last strikeout of the game came in the fifth inning against Antonín Veleta.
„I was feeling well,“ said young Hroši pitcher for us. „I twas the first game of the season, so you never know, how you gonna start, but I was able to locate my pitches where I needed them. I was feeling well and I’m happy for my performance.“
Unfortunately for Netopilík his teammates were unable to make use of his performance and Hippos lost 3-7, when SaBaT took advantage of a pitching change and scored 5 runs in the sixth inning. „Of course I’m disappointed. Unfortunately our offense couldn’t score against SaBaT pitcher, and you can’t win without runs,“ added Netopilík.
Fans could see the young pitcher playing in Extraliga for Hroši and Technika in the previous season. While he already has 21.2 innings, he is yet to show the same level of performance. In the previous season Netopilík threw 11 K in Czech Baseball Cup last year, when he dominated Nuclears batters in the semifinals. Back then he threw 9 innings and helped Hroši to 2-0 win, giving them the second win of the series and advancement to the finals.
