Clint Druckenmiller

For a few games, the lefty did have trouble finding the strike zone and getting batters out.

The Saints got off to a bumpy start themselves, losing five straight games after winning their season opener on the road.

They were 2-8 when they embarked on a team-best 11-game winning streak to improve their overall record to 13-8 heading into Sunday's games.

And the early-season struggles appear to be over for the 23-year Druckenmiller as well.

He threw a no-hitter in his last start, striking out 11, and lowered his earned run average to 2.50 while improving his record to 3-2. Lee Rodney also pitched a no-hitter the next day.

Including a brief relief appearance two weeks ago when he fanned two batters, Druckenmiller has now chalked up 47 strike outs in just 36 innings of work.

Druckenmiller has been a pitcher since little league, and was a starter for Ellsworth as a freshman (the Lancers don't have a junior varsity program). He also played at first base and the outfield.

Ellsworth's best season came in Druckenmiller's senior year, when the Lancers reached the regional final before being eliminated.

A Northern Lakes All-Conference First Team selection all four years of his high school career, Druckenmiller was also named to the All-District Team his junior year, and All-District and All-Region Teams his senior year.

Following high school, Druckenmiller played two years at Northwood University before taking a job at a machine shop in Bellaire.

The Saints recruited him as a pitcher in 2002, but after just two years with the team he was injured and missed the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

While he was sidelined, Druckenmiller served as an assistant coach with the Ellsworth High School team and began to throw again in 2006.

Despite sitting out two years, Druckenmiller says he's pitching better now than he did in high school, college ... or his first two seasons with the Saints.

"I'm throwing harder, and a little more consistent,"

Druckenmiller said before a recent practice. "Trust me, I wanted to keep playing all the time. But, I think it (the layoff) did help a little bit.

"Right now, probably my best pitch is my changeup. It has a lot of movement. Now it does.

Never had it in high school, or college. I've been trying to focus a little bit more on getting my velocity up. I'd like to get to the next level up. I have to get my velocity up to do that," he said.

Druckenmiller has been throwing harder with every start. At beginning of the year, he was only throwing at about 77 mph.

While mowing down the Cardinals two weeks ago, he hit 86 a few times, and that has given him incentive to keep throwing harder.

"I'd like to get in the 90s," Druckenmiller said. "I don't know if that will happen. I'd like to average high 80s."

Pitching against teams with rosters filled by a large number of college players has helped Druckenmiller's confidence.

Especially striking them out consistently. "I'm throwing about what the average college player throws," Druckenmiller said. It's helped me develop out pitches, or staying ahead of batters, because they're better hitters having played college ball."

Druckenmiller usually drives his own car to the Saints' games. Manistee plays in the Muskegon Stan Musial League on Wednesday nights, and the Gratriot County League on Sundays.

A few non-league doubleheaders are sprinkled on the schedule as well.

The Saints are getting it done with defense and pitching, since their offense still struggles to score runs.

Entering last Sunday's games at Lakeview, they only had four players batting .300. They've left several runners stranded in scoring position.

Yet, they had won a team-best 11 straight games. Much of the credit goes to the pitching staff.

Druckenmiller is one of four pitchers with earned run averages under 3.00 a game. James Ledford has a 4-0 record, and Lee Rodney is 5-3.

Maturity and experience are the driving forces behind Druckenmiller's turnaround this season, Saints' manager Phil Kliber said.

"He was a good pitcher right from the get-go," Kliber said. "From the first year we recruited him, he's just gotten a little older, a little more mature and a little more experienced.

"He had good stuff (when he pitched the nohitter), although he'll say he didn't. But, I thought he did. He threw real well. Had a good breaking ball, and pretty good velocity. He's throwing harder.

"But, there again ... age, strength and maturity. He's a much better pitcher now then before, when you're a thrower. He's doing a nice job for us."

If the Saints continue their hot streak, Druckenmiller might just be pitching in the post-season.