Mathushan Gnanasegaran has a great game at Sunnydale Park

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A 13-year-old baseball player pitched a no-hitter.

Mathushan Gnanasegaran, a pitcher with the Rexdale Renegades Pee Wee, 13 and under, tier 2, AA Division, threw a no hitter game at Sunnydale Park on July 24.

"I always try my best," Gnanasegaran said. "I felt so happy, really happy."

Gnanasegaran said he heard the crowd cheering including his mother.

"She was really happy," he said. "Everybody hugged me."

Coach Bob Szklar said this baseball feat only happens "once in a blue moon" and he was glad to be a part of it.

"He was totally excited," he said. "He was just beside himself."

Szklar said he took the time to explain the importance of the incident to the rest of the players.

"I explained to the kids at the end of the game just how important this whole development was," he said. "I told them that this might not ever happen again in their whole career to see something like this happen. This was a huge deal."

Gnanasegaran was "totally humble" about the incident, Szklar said of his pitcher who never misses a game or a practice.

Gnanasegaran said he also plays basketball and hockey, but added baseball is his favourite.

The final score in the game was 8-0 against Scarborough's Birchmount Bulldogs. Gnanasegaran walked two players. He pitched the complete game of six innings.

"It wasn't a perfect game, but he didn't give up any legitimate hits," Szklar said.

The games are played a maximum of seven innings or an hour and 45 minutes, whichever comes first, he said.

And there are strict rules to follow, he added.

"At their age level the Ontario Baseball Association will only allow a pitcher to go so far because they don't want a pitcher to damage his arm," he said. "So this was the very last batter he was allowed to face. This was the end of his pitch count. He just did it within the prescribed amount of pitches he was allowed to participate in."

Szklar said coaches can be fined for not following the rules, adding he was reading the rule book as the game was being played.

"I wanted to make sure I wouldn't get in trouble and wanted to make sure he was within his limits so I wouldn't jeopardize his arm," he said.

Gnanasegaran worked closely with catcher Nicholas Szklar during the game.

"It's between him and the catcher," he said.

Nicholas is Szklar's son who was thrilled to be a part of the action, Szklar said.

Even as the game went on, Szklar said Gnanasegaran didn't succumb to pressure.

"It didn't bother me," Gnanasegaran said. "It's fun."

"He's a very focused young boy who pursues whatever job I give him very well," Szlar said. "He's the nicest kid to coach. He's got great mechanics and great concentration. He works diligently and as well as he can. He's just a pleasure to coach."