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CAMP ZAMA, Japan – Troy Barnes became the second DODEA Pacific pitcher this season to throw a complete-game seven-inning no-hit, no-run game, allowing just three walks and striking out nine as his Yokota Panthers blanked Zama 1-0 in the second game of a doubleheader.

“That was a tribute to Troy’s ability to control his emotions and play the game one pitch at a time,” Panthers coach Steven Ferch said. “Not one time did he looked frazzled or stressed while being on the mound.”

Barnes, a junior right-hander, faced 26 batters and threw 100 pitches. In addition to the strikeouts, he got seven ground-ball outs and three flyouts.

The low-scoring affair was a far cry from the opener of the twin bill, which saw the Panthers rally from an early 4-1 deficit for a 14-8 win in which they outscored the Trojans 9-3 in the last two innings.

The only run of the nightcap came in the first inning when Nick Yingling scored from third on an infield error on a ground ball hit by Sean Caffrey.

Barnes and Zama starter and loser Josh Bayardo held their foes scoreless the rest of the way. Bayardo allowed five hits and walked six but struck out 13 Panthers.

Barnes came to Yokota as “an eager but coachable freshman in 2016 and he hardly played,” Ferch said, “but he kept grinding it out and when he did play, he proved himself to earn a spot on the (Far East) tournament teams. He is very unselfish and a team player.”

Barnes was more a position player than pitcher; he threw only 13 innings last season, which meant he was “a little under the radar,” Ferch said.

“But he’s always been consistent throwing strikes from the mound,” Ferch said, adding that he noted some huge improvements from Barnes during the course of Thursday’s game.

“His fastball velocity was the fastest I’ve ever seen from him,” Ferch said. “His curveball had teeth on it and he kept throwing them for strikes. He had the lineup off-balance most of the time. Velocity, location and movement are all unquestionably what coaches dream of from their pitchers, and last night, Troy was spot on.”

The other DODEA Pacific pitcher to throw a complete-game, seven-inning no-hitter this season was Kadena’s Jared Duenas in a 2-0 win over Kubasaki on March 10.

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