Mark Williams is doing well.
Currently, the former Marietta College right-hander, who helped the Pioneers win the 2011 NCAA Division III national championship, is pitching for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Class A Midwest League.
The Rattlers' parent MLB club is the Milwaukee Brewers.
This season, the 22-year-old Williams, who is throwing mostly in relief, owns a 3-4 overall record so far with a 2.31 ERA. In early May, he combined with teammate Chad Thompson to hurl a no-hitter in a 5-0 Rattler win over the host Clinton LumberKings.
During the no-no, Williams relieved winning pitcher Thompson in the sixth inning, and closed out the game with three strikeouts and one walk.
At Marietta College, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Williams never threw a no-hitter, but did have one as a prep player at Perry High in Fayetteville, Ohio.
Perhaps ironically, Williams is now pitching in Grande Chute's Fox Cities Stadium, the same place where the Etta Express won the 2011 (and 2012) D3 World Series.
In the World Series, Williams was the starting and winning pitcher in the Pioneers' 5-1 triumph over Buena Vista (Iowa).
Little did he know at the time that one day he would be playing professionally in Grande Chute, which is not far from Appleton, Wis.
At MC, Williams was 8-1 with a 1.59 ERA in his senior season. He was a member a powerhouse pitching staff that also included Brian Gasser and Austin Blaski, who was recently drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Will Williams and Blaski be teammates once again?
Wouldn't be too surprised if they do.
Williams signed a free agent, minor league contract with the Brew last August after spending most of the summer with the Washington (Pa.) Wild Things in the independent Frontier Baseball League. He then reported to Helena (Montana), a Milwaukee Brewers rookie affiliate in the Pioneer League where he finished out the season.
Late last month, Williams was honored and earned the Midwest League's Pitcher of the Week award for his performance during the week of May 14 through May 20. During that period, he was 1-0, hurling nine scoreless innings, allowing one hit, walking four, and strucking out seven.
Yes, indeed, the former Pioneer ace is performing quite well at the professional level, thank-you.
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor, and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com
