In fact, it was pretty much an extension of his outstanding showing with the 18U AAA Canucks this past summer in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League.
O’Reilly, 17, allowed a single hit and no runs over five innings of work as the Saints rolled to a 19-0 victory over the George Brown College Huskies on Sept. 26. Then, less than a week later, he was even better, carrying a no-hitter late into the game before taking another 19-0 win, this time over Centennial College.
In O’Reilly’s first start, the Windsor, Ont.-based Saints gave their freshman all the run support he’d need before he even threw a pitch, scoring nine in the top of the first inning.
And it didn’t take long for O’Reilly to show some of his tricks, either -- no sooner did the Vanier Collegiate grad surrender a two-out walk in the first inning than he’d pick the baserunner off first.
O’Reilly gave up his first hit in the fourth inning, a lead-off double, but retired the side in order. All told, he’d face only three batters over the minimum 15, striking out three and walking two.
That set the stage for St. Clair’s home opener on Oct. 1 and O’Reilly’s near date with history.
After once again surrendering a two-out walk in the first inning and once again picking the baserunner off, O’Reilly retired the side in order the next three innings.
His teammates, meanwhile, scored eight in the second and a 10-spot in the third to take all the pressure off as the game progressed.
It all led into the fifth inning with the mercy rule in play -- meaning if he could retire the side in order, O’Reilly would have a no-hitter. He recorded the first out, but the second batter of the inning hit a bloop single over the infield. Two batters later, the game was over, and the Moose Jaw Minor Baseball product had another one-hitter to his credit
It’s been a solid start to the season for St. Clair, as they’ve won eight of their first nine Ontario Colleges Athletic Association contests, scoring double-digit runs in eight of those showings.
The Saints are back on the field Oct. 8 for a doubleheader at Humber College.
