Lakeland junior Lee Chepil couldn't find anyone to talk to during or after the game, but that didn't stop the righthander from doing some talking on the field. Chepil tossed what is believed to be the first perfect game in Lakeland history and the second in as many weeks, retiring all 21 Maranatha Baptist hitters he faced in a 10-run-rule shortened 18-0 victory in a NAC doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Muskies completed the sweep hours later with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory in the second game.

Chepil was ignored in the dugout by teammates in the last few innings of the game, as is customary when a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter. Following the game, he was unable to get a hold of his parents to inform them of the feat. Nevertheless, Chepil, who had to borrow a teammate's glove for the contest after leaving his on the Lakeland campus, was ecstatic after his second win of the season.

"I don't know how to describe it," said Chepil, who struck out eight in the game. "I was nervous because the guys weren't talking to me at the end, so I had to seek them out to talk to someone. "It was crazy when it was over ... there was so much elation and it was just unbelievable. This ranks at the top of my career."

Chepil said he realized he had faced the minimum and was throwing a perfect game in the sixth inning. "I knew I was throwing a no-hitter, but I didn't realize it was a perfect game," Chepil said. "I tried not to think about it."

Throwing primarily fastballs and cutters, Chepil overpowered Crusader hitters and located the ball extremely well.

Lakeland coach Chris Thousand, who has been a part of two other no-hitters as a player and a coach, ranked Chepil's performance right up there with his other experiences. "Lee was awesome, and the defense behind him was great," Thousand said. "I told our guys to soak it in after the game, because it's such a rarity to be in a situation like that."