Parker County Today August 2015 | Page 59

A perfect game, as defined by Major League Baseball, occurs when a pitcher – or combination of pitchers – pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings with no opposing player reaching base. The pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen or any opposing player to reach base safely for any reason. In Major League Baseball only 23 pitchers have a perfect game on their record in the over 100 years of America’s favorite pastime. But this year’s Aledo Orange All Star Team 12U accomplished the rare feat against the Burleson Bombers during the Richland Youth Association’s 2015 Invitational Tournament June 30 in Richland Hills. “The boys were so excited,” pitcher Devin Turner’s mother Angela Johnson said. She said this is the first year the team has played together because most of the boys have moved up from the Mustang to the Bronco league this year. All the team members are from Aledo and attend McAnally Intermediate School.  “It’s really unheard of at this age. It’s just unbelievable,” Johnson said. “[The win] was a team effort. You can’t have a perfect game unless the outfield plays the entire game and is there for every pitch.”  Team head coach Shawn Jenkins is a first year all-star coach. His son Jackson was the catcher for the entire six innings.  “I wasn’t thinking about the perfect game part of it. I was trying to win the game,” Jenkins said.  In fact, Jenkins and the other coaches didn’t even realize they played a perfect game until they were talking with the boys post winning, and one of the fathers mentioned it.  “It didn’t sink in until afterwards.  A no hitter, no runs, no errors,” he said. “For 11-to-13-year-old kids, it’s an unbelievable accomplishment.” The game ended late, so most of the players just headed home; however, they will be having a team party soon to celebrate the end of their all-star season. Asked if his team could score another perfect game, Jenkins said, “There is so much talent out there. To have one like that is a once in a lifetime accomplishment. That’s perfection these Aledo Orange All Star boys of summer will long remember.  “It’s a heck of an accomplishment.”   PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY 608 S. Main Street | Weatherford, TX 76086 | 817.727.8939 | alphagraphics.com AUGUST 2015 increase your reach H Sports Packages H Business Printing H Marketing Collateral H Signage H Large Format H Large Volume 57