By Drake Skleba

PERU – For six innings, La Salle-Peru sophomore right-hander Noah Lamboley had not allowed a hit in Friday's Northern Illinois Big 12 West battle with Streator. Given a 2-0 lead in the third inning, Lamboley needed just three outs to pitch his first varsity no-hitter.

Streator starting pitcher senior Mike Renner ended Lamboley's no-hit bid with a solid single. With one out, Streator catcher Nick Barichello singled and the Bulldogs brought the tying run to the plate. Lamboley (4-1) bore down and retired the final two Bulldogs and settled for a 2-0, two-hit shutout.

“It was good. I threw to my abilities. My defense was great behind me and we got the job done,” said Lamboley. “I didn't know I had the no-hitter going into the seventh. This was a great win for us and we did everything we needed to do to win.”

With the win, L-P (18-5; 9-1) opened up a one-game lead over Ottawa (!9-6; 8-2) in the NIB-12 West race. The Pirates were all gathered in the bleachers awaiting the 6:30 scheduled start time for their battle with L-P, at Peru's Veterans Park.

L-P scored its only two runs in the third inning. Upper Iowa-bound Cavalier catcher Cody Booker and junior Kyle Jenkins each had clutch RBI singles to plate the Cavalier runs.

“Noah pitched a great game for us. We got a couple of big hits and we got the job done,” said Cody Booker. “Noah spotted his fast ball beautifully today. I always try to get better. I felt I didn't do as well as I should have. I have another  game tonight. Maybe I can make up for it tonight.”

Booker and Jenkins had 2-for-4 days at the plate to lead L-P.

“We got enough timely hits tonight with Noah on the mound,” said Jenkins. “I did a good job at the plate tonight.”

Cavalier senior leadoff-man John Heister got plunked three times in the game. The third HBP was the 55^th in the Cavalier career of Heister. La Salle- Peru head coach Bill Booker believes that to be a state-record. Not official but a very painful way to get a state record. Congrats nonetheless.

Renner (4-3) went the distance for Streator (10-15; 4-6) scattering nine hits and allowing the two runs in the third.

“It was a nice win for us. Noah (Lamboley) pitched a great game for us,” said La Salle-Peru head coach Bill Booker. “Noah is just a sophomore and has a lot of upside. Noah is going to great things for us. Cody and Kyle have really been hitting the ball well for us. I have never had a kid in all my years of coaching get hit as much as John.”