Remember When?: Kootsouradis dominates Monessen with no-hitter

By JEFF OLIVER

Sports Writer
Charleroi vs. Monessen baseball

J.J. Kootsouradis’ baseball career at Charleroi hasn’t always been fun. It always seemed like the righthanded fireballer either was suffering from a bad back or a lack of run support from his teammates.

All of that changed Wednesday in his mound debut against Monessen at Vets Field at Kootsouradis fired a no-hitter in a 14-0, five-inning Sec. 8 romp.

“I feel so good for J.J.,” smiled Charleroi coach Bruno Pappasergi. “Last year, it seemed like we had a lot of 2-1 or 3-2 games and he was always on the short end. And his back had been hurting him a lot. He really deserved this one.”

Kootsouradis was never in trouble as he only faced three batters over the minimum for the five-inning contest. He struck out six and walked one.

“This was my first outing and my back had been bothering me, but I feel good right now,” said Kootsouradis, who noted that the last time he threw a no-hitter was in PONY League. “My fastball was working pretty well.”

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