San Diego Player of the Week : Second No-Hitter Puts Filter Closer to His Perfect Goal

Rusty Filter, a Mission Bay High School pitcher, sometimes gets over-protective when it comes to his domain on the baseball field--which he says includes the mound and the batter’s box.

“When the batter steps into the batter’s box, that’s my territory,” Filter said. “When they are in (the batter’s box) they are trying to get a hit off of me, and I don’t want them to do that.

“Every time I go out to the mound, I’m trying for a no-hitter.”

That may sound like too much to ask of any high school pitcher, but Filter, The Times’ Player of the Week, threw his second no-hitter of the season Thursday in a 2-0 victory over University.

Filter’s first no-hitter beat Chula Vista in the Hilltop tournament earlier this season.

Filter’s no-hit goal was something he dreamed up only this season, after spending most of the past two seasons in the infield. He was a second baseman on Mission Bay’s varsity team for most of his sophomore season, before pitching in three junior varsity games.

Because the Buccaneers had such a solid pitching staff last season, Filter again played second base, but he continued to work on his pitching.

“I always wanted to pitch, but I didn’t want to go to the coach and say ‘Let me pitch,’ ” he said. “I knew I had to play second base, and I decided to work on that.

“I always kept up with my pitching, though, because I knew I would pitch my senior year,” he said.

When he’s not pitching this season, Filter catches. It’s a position he doesn’t like to play too often--particularly the day before he pitches--but being behind the plate helps him keep an eye on the opposition.

“I know most of the guys around here and I like to pitch against them,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s easier, but it gives me an extra drive--especially when they are good.”

Rusty Filter

Mission Bay High School

Position: Pitcher.

Class: Senior

Last Week: Threw second no-hitter of the year in 2-0 win over University High.

Season: Is 7-1 this season.