Padua Freshman Chase Martin pitches a perfect game on first varsity start

BY SPORTS EDITOR: KATE BECKER

Freshman baseball player Chase Martin may have had the best first varsity game in Padua History. Last week, the Padua Bruins baseball team faced off against Magoffin County (KY) on their spring break trip to Myrtle Beach. This was their final game of the trip and they were able to finish it with a 12-0 victory. During this game, Martin pitched a perfect game, pitching for 5 innings with a total of 14 strikeouts while not allowing any hits, runs, or walks. 

This game was a blowout from the start. In the first inning alone, the Bruins scored 8 runs. Because this was his first varsity start, Martin was very nervous going into the game but once his teammates got the lead, his nerves went away. Before he knew it, he was having an outstanding performance and hadn’t allowed any hits. 

“I was trying not to get in my head about it and just not worry about it,” Martin said when asked about his thoughts during the third and fourth inning. 

Though Martin was a huge part of the team’s win, he couldn’t have done it without his teammates who totalled 12 runs. Major contributors included seniors Williams, Schnell, Martin, Palange, Siedlecki, and Ziemba along with sophomore Grealis who all had one or more runs. 

Since the Myrtle Beach trip, the team has been off to a good start to the season. With many talented and experienced seniors on the team and promising freshmen like Martin, the Bruins hope to get to the state final four for the second year in a row and possibly even make it to the state championship.