Shenendehowa Vs. Mohonasen: Game Recap

April 24, 2015

Dan Cevette
Director, New York

Bobby Krogh
Capital District Scout

Shenendehowa Vs. Mohonasen: Malachowski's No-Hitter story of the day

If you're not from Upstate NY but you follow HS baseball, you've still probably heard of Shenendehowa's baseball program. Even more so their top-two pitchers LHP, 2015 (No. 25 in NY's 2015 class) Bryan Warzek, and RHP, 2016 (No. 2 in NY's 2016 class) Ian Anderson. Fact is they would lead 99% of High School rotations in the state. Yet what people around the greater Albany area know, and you may not, is there's another right-handed pitcher who has been very good - for a very long time. That man is our No. 63 ranked 2016 graduate Nik Malachowski.

I first saw Malachowski when he was only 13, as he was trying out for a select tournament over Christmas-Break. These are the notes from that day: "Nikolas is the best player in attendance. 5-foot-5 slender frame, but long legs and wide shoulders. Great attitude, and hustle, above average bat-speed and arm-strength. The only kid I broke out the radar gun for. Fastball had late-life, good arm-action, and a good feel for his curveball. He's young but very talented, could pitch and play SS on the 15u."

It's been a long time in baseball years since I quickly jotted down those notes, but Malachowski hasn't missed a beat. Right now the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Junior is 2-0 on the mound with 0.00 ERA in 13-innings pitched. He has struck-out 15 and only walked three in that time-frame.

In a brisk 46 degrees yesterday Malachowski took the mound against Mohonasen HS. It would be his first start since a brilliant six inning performance over Bethlehem on April 15th. A win in which he gave up only one hit. As Tough as it is to toss a one hitter, topping that is something some pitchers chase their entire careers. Today he was able to do just that, something that deserves this attention - on a team where he takes the back-seat to some other standouts.

In the bottom half of the seventh inning with two outs, Malachowski was able to record his 11th strikeout of the contest, for a complete game 87 pitch no-hitter. For the record, that makes it a mere one hit over the past 13 innings. His only blemish today if you can call it that, a five pitch walk in the fifth inning to Justin Cullam.

+ Malacowski's line for the day:
7 innings - 87 pitches - 0 runs - 0 hits - 1bb - 11k's

A coach told me last-night he just keeps getting better every time out. Well if that is true, his next outing is something you probably shouldn't miss.