Bethlehem junior Tate Kindlon prior to a practice on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Delmar, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Bethlehem junior Tate Kindlon prior to a practice on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Delmar, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Bethlehem junior Tate Kindlon prior to a practice on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Delmar, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
When Tate Kindlon took the mound for Bethlehem baseball during its Section 2 Class AA semifinal matchup against Niskayuna on Monday, he was only supposed to pitch a few innings.
Instead, the Eagles’ junior right-hander turned in a historic performance, firing a no-hitter to propel No. 8 Bethlehem to a 5-0 victory over No. 4 Niskayuna, securing a spot in the AA championship series.
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“Before the game, coach (Matthew Rehbit) said it was kind of going to be the kitchen sink, two innings each for everyone,” Kindlon said. “We actually had someone warming up in the second inning, for the third, but I was cruising, and he let me keep going.”
Kindlon needed 103 pitches to complete all seven innings. He struck out seven, walked three batters — all in the second inning — and twice hit Niskayuna’s David Sullivan with pitches.
In the second inning, Niskayuna loaded the bases on walks, but Kindlon escaped without any damage.
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“The second inning was probably the toughest, with the bases loaded,” he said. “It was electric to get out of that. The rest of the game wasn’t nearly as stressful as that inning.”
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Bethlehem junior Tate Kindlon prior to a practice on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Delmar, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
“There were a lot of ground balls and everyone fielded really well, but the one play that sticks out was in the first inning,” Kindlon added. “Our third baseman Oliverc Hosang caught a really hard line drive. That was probably the biggest play defensively.”
Kindlon said that he realized he had a no-hitter ahead of the seventh inning, hearing the buzz from teammates and fans.
“I realized it going into the last inning. That’s when people started talking about it. Then it was like, damn, I’m about to do this,” Kindlon said. “It motivated me. I was so close, I just had to finish it. I wasn’t nervous or anything, but it was moreso, I’ve come this far, so finish it.”
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Kindlon retired 16 of the final 18 batters he faced, with Niskayuna’s only baserunners coming on the two occasions when Sullivan was hit by a pitch.
“It was surreal. I went into the game with no expectations, just to pitch my game, and it ended up as a no-hitter,” Kindlon said. “It’s obviously something that’s really special, and for the whole team knowing that’s what we can do.”
“It was a really big moment for my team, and personally for my pride and confidence, getting the start in a game like that. We want to prove what our town can do, and that’s what school ball is all about. It’s a fight against towns, and you want to show that yours is the best. It gives me a lot of pride and it gives Bethlehem a lot of pride.”
Kindlon is about three years removed from surgery on his right elbow that required an ulnar nerve transplant. He suffered a baseball-related injury as an eighth-grader, and underwent the surgery as a freshman.
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“Basically, my nerve snapped out of place and they had to move things around to fix it,” Kindlon said. “I couldn’t play baseball my eighth or ninth grade year. My 10th grade year was my first year back pitching in like three years. I only threw about eight innings last year, and this year I’m upwards of 20.”
The road back wasn’t easy.
“It was just the love of the game that kept me going,” he said. “I had two years of my baseball life taken away, and you want to get that back, which is really what motivated me to get back.”
Bethlehem junior Tate Kindlon prior to a practice on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Delmar, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
At the beginning of this season, Kindlon’s goal was simply to be able to contribute, and improve on the season he had last year. Throwing a complete game was barely on his mind, let alone hurling a no-hitter.
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“It never crossed my mind, something like this,” Kindlon said. “Throwing a complete game is something I thought about before. Throwing a no-hitter definitely wasn’t in the cards.”
Bethlehem center fielder Jonathan Lazarek recorded the final out of the game and the Eagles’ berth into the championship series – which allowed the celebration to begin.
“My catcher (Scott Hutton) was right behind me. I turned around and he was right there, the first one I saw celebrating,” Kindlon said. “Really, I looked for my dad. My mom and my dad have been there throughout everything, during those rough times and they’ve been my biggest supporters. Not just through the surgery, but when I struggled a lot last season and they always tell me to keep going and believe in me.”
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The next time Kindlon takes the mound will likely be in the Section 2 Class AA championship series when Bethlehem (11-11-1) overall) takes on No. 2 Mohonasen (18-1). Game 1 of the best-of-three series is Friday at 4 p.m. at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
“We got off to a really slow start in the beginning of the year, and were the No. 8 seed in the tournament with a sub-.500 record,” Kindlon said. “So, making it to this point means the world to us, to show everyone and ourselves what we’re capable of.”