Jordan Obercon put all of the pieces together to put on a pitching clinic on the Majors field against Vellano Brothers. Jordan Obercon took the mound against VB on the coldest night of the season. He faced only 19 batters to record 18 strike outs in under 80 pitches. Jordan faced a line up that included 7 players with CLL All Star experience. He was within 1 ball of pitching the most perfect of games... 18 batters and 18 strike outs.
This is a great story for a young man who is in his seventh and final season at Colonie Little League. When Jordan prowled the lower fields he was known as a great catcher and a power hitter. Coach Angela Shufelt used to call him "Jorge" after her favorite catcher. When Jordan would take the mound he could throw as hard as anyone, but batters could at least pray for a walk.. which was not uncommon.
Last year Jordan served notice that he was one of the most powerful hitters in the league, though he seldom got a chance to pitch. Finally in the last game of the season he was give the ball to face the future City County Champions Vellano Brothers. To everyones amazement he was the only pitcher in the league to shut down that juggernaut. Was it a fluke performance, or was it the real deal.
It took a full off season to find out. In the meantime Jordan continued to grow, and he made the modified baseball team at Lisha Kill.
On May 8th the showdown was set. Again it was Vellano Brothers who would send their ace Jimmy Morrison to the hill. Jimmy was set to pitch the game of his life, allowing only one earned run against a powerful offense of Gazette. Gazette boasts 3 players returning from the 2 time district champion 11 year old all star team.
Once Jordan got on the hill, and got past the first batter he was like a big train rolling down hill. He built speed and force in a way that left the opposing hitters completely defenseless. Cheers actually arose from the Vellano dug out in the 4th inning when Nate McCarroll fouled a ball off.
Jordan would start with a strike down the middle.. blazing fastballs that dared the hitter to take a swing. Then with a 0-1 count it was like surgery. He would slam the corners, inside and out. Pitches that were not hittable, but were guaranteed to be called strikes if the hitters were silly enough to take them.
In the end the game was over in 75 minutes. 19 Vellano hitters up, and 18 set right back down. One of the veteran league officers shook his head and said "that kid is just too strong to pitch at this level."
Jordan Obercon has made his name known throughout the league. He has always been a great sportsman and a great team mate. Now Jordan will also be known as the kid that threw 18 strike outs in a six inning game. Nobody will ever beat that number.
