Chaminade-Madonna On Wrong End Of Pitcher’s Duel In 1-0 Loss To West Boca

The Chaminade-Madonna Lions are typically an aggressive and lively bunch.

But against the defending Class 5A State Champion West Boca Bulls on Thursday, Lions coach Mike Moss noticed that they were timid and uncomfortable, and it affected their play as the Lions were shut out 1-0 in Boca Raton.

“We can compete with anybody,” Moss said. “We have a chance to be good if we relax and play as loose as we do in practice.”

The Lions failed to capitalize on any opportunities, managing four hits off of the Bulls ace left-handed starter Parker Danciu, but failing to push any of those runners across the plate. Yet Coach Moss understands that his team was in it until the end against a quality opponent, and they need only to improve on their weak spots to be ready when it really matters at the end of the season.

Senior Brandon Burgess went the distance for Chaminade (2-2), putting 45 of his 71 pitches for strikes while allowing only two hits and two walks. He finished with four strikeouts.

The lone run of the contest came in the bottom of the second, when junior Sean Kupchta crushed a Burgess offering deep to left field for a solo home run.

Neither team threatened much more as the two aces locked into a pitcher’s duel.

“We had good swings, but they got one over the fence,” Moss said. “We had some opportunities, but we didn’t come through.”

The Lions managed five hits in all, but were unable to come up with that one big hit that opened up an inning for them.

The Lions chased Danciu from the game after six innings, in which the Florida-signee notched 11 strikeouts, and the Bulls turned it over to sophomore Sean Gabel.

Julian Pino crushed Gabel’s first offering into the deep gap in left-center field for a standup double, giving the Lions the tying run on second base. But Pino was left stranded on the bases as the side then went down in order.

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