Syndey Blue Sox pitcher David Welch threw the first no-hitter in the history of the current-day Australian Baseball League, nine years ago today.
On Feb. 4, 2011, in Game 1 of a best-of-three playoff series, Welch no-hit the Adelaide Bite for an 8-0 win in front of 1,162 fans at Blacktown Olympic Park. The 27-year-old southpaw walked three batters while striking out 10.
Welch’s 2011 playoff performance was actually the third time he had been a part of a no-hitter during his pro career. On Friday, Aug. 5, 2005, Welch threw two innings of a four-pitcher no-hitter for the Helena Brewers during the Pioneer League squad’s 11-0 win over the Billings Mustangs. Welch followed that with a AA seven-inning no-hitter on June 2, 2008 — his 25th birthday — leading his Huntsville Stars to victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts.
But the Aussie right-hander never was able to take his no-no prowess to the show, and Welch returned to his home country after playing four games of the 2010 season in the Mexican League. He retired from the game in July 2011, five months after his ABL playoff no-no.
You can view our list of Australian no-hitters, and also check out some of our other international no-hitters lists.
