Athlete of the Week: Kyle McPherson, Bradenton Marauders

When did you realize that you had a no-hitter going (in an eventual 4-1 win over the visiting Brevard County Manatees on May 31)?: I guess somewhere around the third or fourth inning. The catcher (Ramon Cabrera) and I were trying to get more in-depth on the hitters we would be facing the next couple of innings. I noticed the pitch sequence we were using turned out to be pretty effective in getting some early contact, and the defense was there behind me. Some quick outs that just carried on throughout the ball game.

Did you ever throw a no-hitter growing up? If so, how many?: I've never thrown a complete game no-hitter. I went seven innings of no-hit baseball (with the Pirates' South Atlantic League affiliate) in West Virginia, but the pitch count was elevated and I had a lot more strikeouts in that game. Strikeouts usually elevate your pitch count pretty quickly. Due to the starter's pitch count, I had to come out of the game.

Did the bullpen finish up that no-hit bid?: I think we ended up giving up one hit in the ninth inning.

Is there more pressure when you have a no-hitter in the works or are you just focused on the next hitter?: There's a lot of pressure. You feel the intensity of it after awhile. It's a great accomplishment, but at the same time I knew that I needed to go out there, get quick outs and keep the team in the ballgame because you can't take any team for granted especially with the rough streak we've been on the last couple of weeks. I didn't want to come out of the ballgame until my job was finished. I really wanted to be out there to see it through.

Did you make it clear that you wanted to stay in the game?: I came in after the eighth inning and I had pretty much reached my max pitch limit then. I guess they could just sense that I really wanted to go back out there, which I did. Mike Steele, the pitching coach, told me that I had the ball and to go out there and get it done.

What was it like when the no-hitter was broken up?: I guess I was a little bit mentally confused. I didn't think that (a home run by Sean McCraw with one out in the top of the ninth) had a chance to get out. (Robbie) Grossman makes a lot of great plays in right field. He makes good reads and gets good jumps on the ball. Off the bat, I didn't think it was getting out of here. I saw him breaking for the ball and have to stop and break again. Eventually, he just ran out of room. After that, I realized that I wanted to stay in the game and finish it. I just went back into attack mentality.

You grew up in Alabama. Were you an Alabama fan or an Auburn fan growing up?: Alabama.

Who were some of the big leaguers that you looked up to growing up?: I grew up watching the Braves. That's probably the closest team to where I'm from. Family members were Braves fans. I watched them — Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and all those guys. Watching them was what really intrigued me to the game as a kid and kept my interest up. I got to high school and was going to the same school (St. Paul's Episcopal in Mobile, Ala.) that (2007 NL Cy Young winner and current Chicago White Sox right-hander) Jake Peavy went to, so I started to look up to him with his pitchability that he has out there and the success that he has had coming out of the same hometown. I actually realized that you can achieve a dream.

Who were your role models growing up?: I would have to say predominately family members. My mom and dad, both my brothers and both my sisters. With me being the youngest, I always looked up to them. It was even 'yes, sir,' and 'yes, ma'am,' with my brothers and sisters growing up just because they were older and the respect in the family. That's the environment I grew up in.