Athlete of the Week

Chris Roth tossed the first no-hitter in the history of the Saxony Lutheran baseball program April 8.

Roth's effort led the Crusaders past Mounds Meridian 13-0 in six innings.

"Chris always works ahead in the count, but I don't think he fell behind more than one or two batters in the game," Saxony Lutheran coach Paul Sander said. "He was always ahead 0-1, 1-2. And when he does that, he has good enough stuff that he can dominate hitters. And that's what he did. He basically overpowered most of their hitters because he was always working ahead in the count and he could mix his pitches better and throw whatever he wanted to."

Roth struck out 14 batters. Only two batters reached base against him. He hit one of the batters and the other reached base on a dropped third strike.

Roth, who averages fewer than two walks per game and is in his third year starting, has won his first three starts this spring.

"I think from what I've seen so far that he's one of the top two or three or four pitches in all of Southeast Missouri because of his overall game," Sander said about Roth. "He's a complete pitcher, and he's a smart pitcher. A lot of kids are good throwers and a lot of kids have a good arm and they try to overpower you. Chris has a good arm and at the same time he's a smart pitcher. He knows when to throw the offspeed pitch, when to throw the curve, when to throw the slider."