14 strikeouts in 5 innings? That’s ‘ridiculous’, Deven Sheerin

Ridiculous.

That’s how Exeter baseball coach Justin Freese described Deven Sheerin’s performance Wednesday in the Eagles’ season opener.

The 6-5 right-hander struck out the first 11 batters he faced and fanned 14 over five hitless innings in a 10-0, five-inning non-league victory at Cedar Crest.

The Mount St. Mary’s recruit struck out every batter in the Falcons’ lineup at least once and needed just 75 pitches to get it done.

“The first 11 batters, there might’ve been one foul ball,” Freese said. “He was lights out. He was like a man amongst boys today. It was incredible.”

The Falcons had three baserunners and none until the fourth inning when Sheerin hit Nolan Groff with a pitch. The next batter, Caleb Dorshimer, popped out to shortstop; he was the only batter to put the ball in play. Sheerin walked a batter and hit another in the fifth before ending the game with a pair of strikeouts.

Freese, who has coached the Eagles for 29 seasons, called it “one of the most dominating pitching performances I’ve seen.”

He said he had never seen a game begin with 11 consecutive strikeouts.

“He was ridiculous,” Freese said. “Crazy.”

Sheerin was throwing a 92-93 mph fastball and a slider; the Falcons couldn’t hit either.

“The home plate umpire said his slider was unfair,” Freese said.

Sheerin was backed with plenty of offensive support. Catcher Chase Cupitt had a double and two RBIs. Alex Kelsey reached three times, stole two bases and scored twice.

Sheerin played on the Eagles’ basketball team, which didn’t see its season end until Friday in the PIAA Class 5A championship game.

However, he has been working out with the baseball team and throwing on a regular basis since the start of practice. Many days he practiced with each team.

He accompanied the baseball team on its spring training trip to Florida March 16-21 and pitched three innings in a scrimmage against Mount St. Joseph’s of Baltimore on March 18. He struck out six over three innings.

“In two games, he’s had 20 strikeouts in eight innings,” Freese said. “That’s unheard of at the high school level.”

Sheerin was Exeter’s top pitcher last season, when it reached the PIAA Tournament. He struck out 84 over a team-leading 56 2/3 innings, with 47 hits. He went 6-2 with a 2.59 ERA.

The major league record for consecutive strikeouts is 10, set by Tom Seaver and matched by several others, including Aaron Nola. Jacob deGrom and Jim Deshaies share the record for strikeouts to open a game, with eight.