Exceptional six lead GSL

Maybe it’s a one-time cosmic alignment. Perhaps it’s the product of years playing on traveling baseball teams.

Greater Spokane League alumnus and Gonzaga University head coach Mark Machtolf says he can’t recall a year when there were such numbers and quality of pitching in the league.

“It’s usually an offensive league,” said Machtolf, a three-sport 1983 graduate of Gonzaga Prep. “I can’t remember when there were so many shutouts and no-hitters. The pitching numbers I’ve seen out of the league this year have been amazing.”

Six of the hurlers either are Division I signees or have made oral commitments. Three are expected to join Machtolf at GU.

Ferris’ Andrew Kittredge signed with the University of Washington and Central Valley’s Rusty Shellhorn at WSU. CV’s Trevor Shull signed with Centenary in Shreveport, La.

University’s Tyler Olson has signed with Machtolf’s Bulldogs at GU where a pair of juniors, Titan Billy Moon and Rogers’ Jake Partridge, made oral commitments.

This year, the sextet went 29-13 and was part of the league’s 28 shutouts, two no-hitters and four 2-1 decisions. Left-hander Shellhorn (6-2) struck out more than 100 batters in nine appearances with four shutouts, including a no-hitter. Kittredge (5-2) also had a no-hitter.

Moon (7-0) had five shutouts and only once allowed more than three hits in a game. Olson was 4-1 for the league champs.

Partridge nearly pitched a perfect game this year and struck out 17 in his last two starts. One of his losses was to Shull (3-3) by a 4-1 score.

All have played for as long as they can remember and each has an interesting story.