Photo supplied by Williston State College Baseball (Photographer: John K. Geyerman)

By Shane Clausing

no hitter for fredland

Former Grande Prairie Minor Baseball player throws no-hitter in U.S. college game

Apr 12, 2021 | 5:35 PM

Former Grande Prairie Minor Baseball player and resident Kobe Fredland threw a no-hitter for the Williston State College Tetons of North Dakota on Sunday.

The first no-hitter of Fredland’s career came in the second half of a doubleheader against Lake Region State College.

Fredland says pitching a no-hitter on Sunday was an unexpected and surreal experience.

“It was the second game of the day and we had just lost the first game 14-3 and we were kind of short on arms for pitching,” Fredland recalled. “Towards the end of the first game, our coach just asked me, ‘can you start?’ I said, if you really need me to I can.”

Just like that, Fredland ended up getting the ball and the start for the Tetons.

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Fredland is listed as a reliever for the Tetons, and prior to 2021, he only had one start as a pitcher in his college career. He tells EverythingGP his one and only start in 2020 didn’t go well and he was pulled in the first inning.

Fredland says what happened on Sunday was a complete shock to everyone on the team.

“I came out and just had a day, all of my pitches were just on. I was throwing my changeup for strikes, curveball for strikes, my fastball was moving, and I got up to 88 MPH (miles per hour). I just had one of the best days I’ve had.”

Fredland says his coaches were just as shocked as he was.

“After my appearance last year, I didn’t think I was going to get into a starting role this year. My velocity had gone up a lot during the offseason, so the coaches wanted me to be in a position where I could get in the game and throw max effort for 10-20 pitches. I ended up throwing 59 (pitches) that game, which is the most I’ve thrown in a game in close to two years.”

After his performance on Sunday, Fredland mentioned his coach is considering transitioning him into a full-time starter for the team.

Fredland is eligible to play two more years at Williston State College, as his eligibility was extended by a year last year because of the cancelled season because of the pandemic.

He’s hopeful by the end of his time at Williston State, he’ll be able to get an offer to play at a higher-level school in the United States.

Fredland grew up and played minor baseball in the Swan City for the Grande Prairie Reds until he was 14, his family then moved south to Okotoks.