Mike Schellinger didn't even have the time to introduce himself to his new teammates before he made his debut on the mound with the Washington Wild Things.

A right-handed pitcher, he was signed to a contract May 31, about 90 minutes before the Wild Things played host to the Florence Freedom at Consol Energy Park. Starting pitcher Alan Stidfole lasted only one inning that night, and Schellinger was eventually called on to make a relief appearance.

He made an immediate impact.

He pitched three scoreless innings and picked up the win after the Wild Things rallied from a 6-0, first-inning hole to beat the Freedom, 10-6.

"That was definitely a memorable night," said Schellinger, 25. "I didn't know most of the guys, and I was thrown right into the fire."

A little more than a month after that first game, Schellinger has become one of the top pitchers in the Frontier League. Through Tuesday, he was 5-2 with a league-leading 1.56 earned-run average. Schellinger, who has since moved into the starting rotation, has allowed just six earned runs in 34²/₃ innings. He has struck out 27 with only nine walks.

Schellinger last pitched Sunday, when he threw a seven-inning complete game in a 6-2 victory at Chillicothe in the first game of a doubleheader. He allowed five hits, two walks and struck out seven. He was next scheduled to start this past Friday at home against the Freedom.

"I came in here and had high hopes to do well," Schellinger said. "My goal has been to keep my walks down because I've got a good defense behind me.

"I've made people earn their way on base, instead of getting free passes, and it's worked out well so far."

Schellinger, a native of Fayetteville, N.Y., played college baseball at the State University of New York in Oneonta. He started his professional career in 2005 after signing as a non-drafted free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.

That season, he pitched for Class A New Jersey and recorded a 5.23 ERA in 10 appearances.

After sitting out the 2006 season, Schellinger played last year for another Cardinals affiliate, Class A Quad Cities, where he went 6-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 33 games.

Schellinger was released by the Cardinals organization just after the 2007 season and signed for 2008 with the Joliet (Ill.) Jackhammers of the independent Northern League. He was released by Joliet on May 27 and signed with the Wild Things four days later.

Schellinger's prior professional experience made him attractive to the Wild Things.

"That's one of the reasons we brought him in," pitching coach Larry Wayman said. "We needed some stability, and Mike has supplied that for us.

"He's shown great poise and veteran presence on the mound, and has had complete control of his pitches."

Schellinger was driving from Joliet, which is about 50 miles southwest of Chicago, back to his home in upstate New York when he was contacted by the Wild Things. He finished his trip to Fayetteville, located just outside Syracuse, before driving to Washington.

"It was a long couple of days," he said.

Schellinger, who throws four-seam and two-seam fastballs in the upper 80s to go along with a changeup and curveball, said he isn't concerned with trying to get signed by another major-league organization.

"Most guys here, including myself, are trying to get back into affiliated ball," he said. "But I'm not thinking about impressing the scouts. If that happens, great, but I'm just thinking about winning games. That's my main goal this summer.

"I'd like to win a championship at some level. I'm pitching with that goal in mind."