Prep baseball | Palmetto's Hunter Finner tosses five-inning no-hitter in season-opening win against Southeast

PALMETTO -- Hunter Finner knows he's not going to be able to overpower hitters with a 90-mph fastball or a disorienting curveball diving from an awkward angle. The Palmetto ace needs to keep everything simple to get the most out of his 5-foot-10 frame.

He spent the offseason trying to strengthen his legs, but his biggest focus was on becoming a smarter pitcher. He took the mound for the Tigers on the first day of the regular season Monday and for five innings he confounded Southeast. In a mercy rule-shortened 12-0 win against the Seminoles, Finner opened his senior season with a five-inning no-hitter.

"I felt like I was hitting my spots and that's really all I was trying to do," Finner said. "I wasn't trying to blow it by guys. I wasn't really try to get them out of off-speed type stuff. I was just hitting my spots."

Finner struck out the first batter of the game and finished with six. He didn't allow a baserunner until a two-out walk to Miclayne Powell in the fifth inning at Palmetto High School. PHS (1-0) quickly handed him a five-run lead by batting around in the first inning then tacked on four more by batting around again in the second. The Noles (0-1) struck out in five of their first nine trips to the plate.

Finner only throws in the low 80s, so he emphasizes command and pitch selection. Still, only three balls left the infield against the starting pitcher and all six of his strikeouts came swinging.

"I didn't want to outgrow myself. I didn't want to try throwing 90 or anything," Finner said. "I wanted to be the best that I can be. Not try to put my name out there. Just be the best person that I can be."

Finner was also one of the Tigers' most productive players at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs. Jacob Josey also reached base three times, scoring each time and driving in a run with a double. Daniel Urbina went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs.

Kevin Lyons took the loss for Southeast after allowing eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings.

"It was good to see us come out and swing the bats," PHS head coach Rich Glass said. "It was great to see Finner hit spots and change speeds, and come out with a 'W.'"

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Prep baseball | Palmetto's Hunter Finner tosses five-inning no-hitter in season-opening win against Southeast ."