Little League Pitches Perfect Game

June 6 -- When the umpire yelled "Yer Out!" the final time, a pint-sized pitcher in Michigan had struck out all 18 batters he faced, leading his team to a perfect game and a 7-0 victory.

Robbie Knight, a 12-year-old seventh-grader, hurled the gem Monday night for his Harper Woods Little League team.

"The team reacted like we had just won the World Series," said Robbie's coach, Mark DiMambro. "Even the losing team said, 'Well, we're part of history.'"

The 5-foot-3, 100-pound athlete almost folded under the pressure. Robbie tossed three balls to the final batter before recovering from the 3-0 count to strike him out — and get swamped by his teammates who charged the mound.

Indeed, striking out all 18 hitters in a Little League perfect game is one for the books. Though Little League Baseball, the national organization, does not log stats, director of media relations Lance Van Auken agreed that striking out every batter is rare. Van Auken compared it to a golfer with three straight holes in one.

"Eighteen strikeouts in six innings; you can't get more perfect than that," said Van Auken.

Coach DiMambro said he has never seen anything like it in his 13 years of coaching.

Unfortunately, neither have Robbie's parents, and they will likely never get the chance — since both missed the game.

Robbie's dad, Keith, was driving his son Ryan to his baseball game, while his mom D'Ann was playing softball. His family made it up to him by taking him out for an ice cream celebration Tuesday night.

Robbie may not be fielding any major league offers for at least the next five years, but for now he can relish his perfect accomplishment.