Glenns Ferry High School sophomore Taylor Martinez pitched a no-hitter against Notus on Tuesday, May 02, 2023.
Until the final inning of the game, Taylor was on track to pitch a perfect game. She said she started to think about the possibility of pitching a perfect game too soon.
“It was perfect until I jinxed it,” Taylor said. “I started thinking about it and then I got nervous.”
Martinez’s father and GFHS baseball coach Casey Martinez said mental toughness is a major component of baseball and softball.
“The mental part of these sports is the biggest factor that makes a difference between winning and losing,” he said. “Keeping your head in the game is so important to getting a no-hitter. It is very tough to do.”
Casey said teammates do what they can to help a pitcher who is pitching a perfect or no-hit game.
“That is a quiet dugout,” Casey said. “When a pitcher is having a game like that, no one talks about it.”
A couple walked batters and a fielding error allowed a runner to cross home plate. The final score was 19 to 1. An error is not counted as a hit because the runner would not have made it to base if the ball had been fielded correctly.
Taylor struck out nine of the batters she faced, taking the perfect game possibility through the third inning.
“It is hard to explain how rare it is to pitch a no-hitter,” said Casey, “This does not happen a lot. Most pitchers will go their entire career never pitching a no-hitter.”
While it may be rare in the larger softball and baseball world to pitch a no-hitter, it is not rare in the Martinez household.
Taylor’s brothers, Tanner and Parker, have pitched no-hit games. Their mother, Kelly, said she is glad Taylor has joined the Martinez No-Hitter Club.
“There is a lot of trash talking around the dinner table, but this topic suddenly stopped being a button the boys could push,” Kelly said.
Taylor is taking a classic sibling position.
“Now I think ‘I can do it too. You’re not so cool,’” she said.
“It will be very interesting to see what happens if she can pitch a perfect game,” Kelly said.
Neither Tanner or Parker a pitched perfect game in high school.
Taylor was having a strong season heading into the state tournament in Caldwell on Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19. She had several one- to two-hit games during the regular season.
Kelly said she is excited for her daughter’s accomplishment, but it seemed inevitable.
“She has had several one- and two-hit games this season. It seemed like it was just a matter of time,” Kelly said.
“Every parent wants their children to be successful,” Casey said. “It makes a parent so proud to see your child do something like this especially when you know just how rare something like this is.”
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