By JIM RUMBLE

It's been one heck of a week for the Avonworth baseball team, one that saw the Antelopes pick up three wins and improve their overall record to 4-2 and 4-1 in the section .

The highlight of the week came on Thursday, April 14, when senior Nick Hobbs, pitching in his first ever start, threw a no-hitter in a section game at home against Elderton while registering 10 strike-outs.

After the game, coach Phil Coffin said, "It's the first time all year and we've been working with him since he was a sophomore. He was able to come around with his curve ball."

The Antelopes dominated 18-0 in the contest that ended with the mercy rule in effect at the end of three and a half innings.

Offensively Avonworth took advantage of nine hits, eight walks and a handful of Bobcat errors as 11 Antelope players were credited with RBIs.

"We did everything right -- we hit the ball and we counted on him [Hobbs] to throw strikes," said Coffin.

As for Hobbs' survival as a pitcher Coffin added, "As we work on his off-speed stuff I don't see any reason why we wouldn't put him into the rotation."

Tyler Noethiger led the Antelope run production with three RBIs, followed by Coby Croft, Andrew Niklaus and Bryan Bartram with two RBIs and Jonathan Graham, Brian Vales, Mike Giampole, Jake Winter and Jack Rind each with one RBI.

Avonworth continued in section play at Spring-dale the next day and defeated the Dynamos 14-6.

The Antelopes struck early, getting seven runs in the first two innings while Croft, who picked up the win, allowed only one run over the first four and one- third innings.

Avonworth hosted Sewickley Academy on Monday April 18, and banged out 12 hits on their way to a 15-0 victory that lasted only three innings.

As of late, the Antelope hitters are knocking the cover off the ball and Coffin attributes that to his players not sitting back and letting fastballs go by, but trying to be more aggressive at the plate.

Avonworth's Hobbs picked up his second win on the mound, giving up just two hits while recording two strike-outs.

The Antelope offense was powered by Niklaus, who was 3-3 from the plate with four RBIs, including a home run in the third inning.

Croft had a great day at the plate as well, going 3-3 with a double and four RBIs. Bartram was 2-3 with three RBIs, Joe Galante 2-2 with one RBI, and Vales and Noethiger each picked up an RBI.