Woodrey, Cardinal Gibbons Hold Off Pine Crest

A district win always feels good.

Cardinal Gibbons will be getting to know just how many they’ll see in the coming weeks as the Chiefs opened a stretch of 12 consecutive District 4A-13 games on Saturday.

University of Miami signee Thomas Woodrey sparkled on the mound and came up with some crucial hits for good measure to give the host Chiefs a 6-3 win against Pine Crest at Brian Arnold Memorial Field.

The 6-foot-3 senior cracked a home run to left-center field to lead off the third inning, laced an RBI single in the first and also walked in the sixth for the Chiefs (3-4 overall, 1-0 in District 4A-13).

As the starting pitcher, Woodrey (2-1) retired the first nine batters in order. In doing so, he got ahead in the count on all the batters but one and struck out four. He finished by getting through four innings while striking out six and only walking one.

“I think he pitched phenomenal,” Cardinal Gibbons second-year coach Frank Pisani said of Woodrey. “The only mistake that he really made was the home run. After that, there were a couple of infield singles, and then they got the big base hit with the bases loaded. The ball just squeaked in the line. I think he pitched great. He had a great performance.”

When asked what specifically Woodrey has above all else, coach Pisani pointed to his leadership qualities.

“The kid is just a tremendous teammate,” Pisani said. “He is the leader of the team by far. He leads by example and he leads vocally also. He’s always in the dugout and talking up and encouraging the younger kids. I just love him.”

A few of those younger players had a direct impact in the game. There was sophomore right-fielder Craig Olson, who had three quality at-bats, including a scenario in which he faked a bunt and then swung away once he saw Panthers’ third baseman Matt Rothenberg drawn in.

Catching Pine Crest a bit off guard, Olson ripped a single through the right side of the infield to drive in first baseman Michael Anderson. In the following inning, eight-hole-hitter Olson came through with an RBI on a groundball to third base. He walked in his final at-bat.

Freshman left-fielder Nathan Pawelczyk went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and an RBI, and sophomore leadoff hitter Tyler Norris went 1-for-3 with a single, stolen base, run and sacrifice RBI on a ground-out.

The Panthers (3-3-1 overall, 1-2-1 in district) trailed 5-0 early but were able to draw closer in a three-run fourth inning.

Sophomore left-fielder Alex Perez began the inning by belting a solo home run to left-center field.

After a strikeout, Zack Kone reached on an infield single, Sam Kava walked and Rothenberg also reached base on an infield single.

Left-handed designated-hitter Michael Pozzuoli drove a ball just inches inside the third-base line to knock in two runs and make it 5-3. A fielder’s choice at home plate and a strikeout closed out the inning.

“We started slow,” Pine Crest coach Glen Pierson said. “Their pitcher did a dynamite job keeping us off the bases. We got a young team, and I don’t know that this is the character. But we have been down a few games, but we just fight back. We don’t quit. We’ve shown tremendous fortitude for sticking with it. I really believe our guys are confident even down. And that’s why in the fourth inning, we were successful.”

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