Two games. Two wins. No hits. No walks.

That’s the essential stat line for senior pitcher Eric Worden two starts into the 2018 season. Worden followed up a no-hitter against Burnet on Feb. 23 in the Fredericksburg tournament with a second no-hitter on Thursday against El Paso Bowie in the AISD tournament.

His second no-hitter was more impressive because the game went the full seven innings.

Worden struck out nine and walked none as the Knights won, 2-0.

Against Burnet in his first start, a 14-0 Knights victory over former Mac coach Russell Houston’s new team, Worden pitched four innings for a run rule-shortened no hitter striking out seven and … again … walking none.

The only hitters to reach base in his 11 innings pitched have reached on Knight fielding errors.

Why has he been so effective in his first two starts?

His teammate, senior center fielder Koehler Vandament said that it’s not just one aspect of Worden’s pitching: it’s all of them.

“He’s just improved overall,” Vandament said. “His velocity on his fastball is up. His offspeed is more dirty, and he just pounds the zone … so many strikes.”

Against Burnet, Worden threw nine first-pitch strikes to the 14 hitters he faced. Against Bowie, he threw 15 first-pitch strikes to the 21 hitters he faced. That’s a first-strike percentage of nearly 70 percent.

Vandament predicted that Worden is going to have a great season on the mound and joked that he might not get many chances for web gems in center field on the days that Worden pitches.

“No one hit the ball hard enough off of Eric for me to have to dive for [any catches],” Vandament said.

While Vandament praised his teammate’s consistent excellence so far, Worden said that his success has been largely due to mental toughness.

“I’m just sticking to my game plan and just continually trying to outthink my opponent,” Worden said. “While on the mound, you just have to think no matter who’s up there, they don’t stand a chance against you.”

That may be doubly true when you consider his offensive production in the games he has pitched.

Against Burnet, Worden was 2-for-2 and drove in four runs including a three-run homer in the third inning, his third home run in the Knights’ first two games.

Against El Paso Bowie, Worden drove in the game’s first run on a fifth-inning single that drove in Vandament, who had reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on Cole Ross’s double.

For the young season, Worden, a switchitter who bats third in the lineup, is leading the Knights with in home runs (3), runs batted in (9), batting average (.438), on-base percentage (.609) and slugging percentage (1.000).

Ross, a newcomer to the team who has been batting second in the lineup, and Vandament, the team’s leadoff hitter, are just behind Worden’s offensive numbers. Ross is hitting .381 with seven runs batted in, while Vandament is hitting. 368 with 10 runs scored.

Ross pitched the Knights last game, a 8-0 victory over Regents to close the AISD tournament at 2-2 and bring the team’s season record to 4-3. Like Worden, Ross has pitched well, throwing 8 ⅔ innings, striking out nine and not giving up any earned runs.

Vandament, meanwhile, joined Worden on the AISD All-Tournament team for his timely hitting and excellent defense. Vandament made a spectacular diving catch in right-center field to end the first inning of Saturday’s win against Regents.

With two out and no one on, the 3 hole hitter for Regents laced a line drive into the gap in right center and it looked like certain extra bases.

“I saw the ball go up in the air,” said Worden, who was playing shortstop at the time. “I thought for sure it was a hit and then out of nowhere, he dove and caught the ball.”

Vandament raced about 50 feet to his left and in his words “Supermanned it,” sliding another 15 feet stomach first on the wet grass.

The Knights open district play tomorrow with a 7:30 p.m. game at Nelson Field against the LBJ Jaguars (2-6). The Jags defeated El Paso 5-4 on Sunday to close the AISD Tournament on a high note. The Jags and Knights had a common opponent Denison. The Yellow Jackets beat the Jags 8-0 on Friday morning then beat the Knights 5-0 in a noon game on the same day.

The Jags are led offensively by shortstop Harrison Lee who is batting .351. Catcher/first baseman Walker Kohler leads the team with four runs batted in.

Knights Coach Jacob Alvarez had not decided who his starter will be against the Jags.      

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