A storybook ending to the regular season (Zimmermann named NL Player of the Week)

A no-hitter is thrown by the pitcher, so he gets most of the attention for his well-deserved accomplishment.

Jordan Zimmermann's name is plastered everywhere across the sports landscape today - newspapers, Web sites, national highlight shows. The right-hander pitched a gem yesterday, recorded the first no-hitter in Nationals history, and did it in grand fashion, on the final day of the regular season.

But everyone on the Nationals' roster got to experience the joy of Zimmermann's no-hitter yesterday, and everyone felt privileged to be a part of it, whether they actually appeared in the game or not.

Drew Storen was out in the Nats' bullpen, knowing he wouldn't pitch in the game at any point because of his workload the previous day. He was so uneasy in the late innings that he was playing matchups in his head, trying to figure out how Zimmermann should attack certain hitters or what moves Marlins manager Mike Redmond might make.

"When you don't have any control over the situation, it just makes you so much more nervous," Storen said.

Wilson Ramos had never caught a no-hitter before at any level - youth baseball, minor leagues or in the majors. He got to finally check that off the top of his baseball to-do list.

"I think every catcher want to do that. I did it today," a grinning Ramos said afterwards. "I wasn't caring about my at-bat, 0-for-3 with groundballs into double plays, I don't care about that. I was concentrating on just calling a good game for all of the time.

"I feel happy. I can't explain to you guys how happy I feel right now for what I did behind the plate today."

Steven Souza Jr. has gotten just 23 big league at-bats. The rookie won't be making the Nats' postseason roster. But he entered the game in the top of the ninth as a defensive replacement, and he was well-aware of the stakes. He was willing to do whatever it took to help Zimmermann walk off the field with his no-hitter intact.

"I was going to put my body on the line for him," Souza said.

He did. And he caught Christian Yelich's screaming line drive. And he tumbled to the ground. And he leapt up to his feet, screaming and jumping and full of energy. He had made the catch of his life.

After Zimmermann was mobbed by his teammates, the group went out to meet Souza. Zimmermann hugged him, patted him violently on the back, and the two teammates shared enormous smiles.

"I love you," Souza recalls Zimmermann saying. "Great catch."

Steve McCatty embraced Zimmermann on the field, laughing about what he had witnessed out of the right-hander who he has coached for the last five years. Bryce Harper, who had played just four innings before being replaced by a pinch-runner, was one of the first out of the dugout to celebrate with Zimmermann. Doug Fister, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark - Zimmermann's fellow starters - all reveled in their rotation-mate's accomplishment.

"All-in-all, that's probably the perfect baseball day," Matt Williams said.

Said Storen: "If somebody wrote that as an ending to the season, I don't think people would believe it."

The regular season couldn't have been capped any better. Now, the Nationals turn their attention towards the postseason, where they will meet either the Pirates or the Giants in the National League Division Series. Those two teams will meet Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

The Nats have earned a few days off, and at least for last night and today, they can revel in what they accomplished this season and what Zimmermann accomplished yesterday. He pitched the game of his life, and everyone around him got to enjoy being a part of it.

Update: Zimmermann has been named the National League Player of the Week. Here's more information.