McCarthy Starts Title Defense With 4-0 Win

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Archbishop McCarthy has won games many different ways over their four-year playoff unbeaten streak. On Tuesday night, they went back to the formula that has worked most consistently during their run, hand the ball over to their ace, watch him throw a gem, and get a few timely hits.

Brian Gonzalez and Aaron Soto combined on a one-hit shutout, and Alex Toral hit a first inning two-run home run to carry the Mavericks to a 4-0 5A-16 semifinal win over Pompano Beach, and move McCarthy one game from their fifth straight district title.

“We’re very happy with our pitching performance tonight,” said Mavericks Manager Rich Bielski. “Brian was amazing on the mound, just overpowering, dominant. He had everything working. He’s our horse, that’s what he’s out there for. He put us in a great position to win, and then Aaron came in and was dominant to close the game.”

The two Maverick lefties allowed only one hit, a AJ Marcantonio double to lead off the fourth inning. Gonzalez set a school playoff record with 14 strikeouts, and when Soto struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh, the pair had a new team record for strikeouts in a game with 17.

“The record is great, but really this is all just about us doing what we need to do to win a championship,” said Gonzalez. “Individual awards are fun, and they will be there in the record book, but at the end of the day our goal and focus is only to win a state title.”

Pompano had played the Mavericks tight in two regular season match-ups, and Archbishop seemed intent early on making sure the Golden Tornadoes had no thoughts of an upset. In the first, the Mavericks scored three runs on four hits. Eddie Silva, Ryan Sinzenich, and Alex Rodriguez all had singles in the inning, but the big blow came from Toral, who drove a two-run home run to right.

“I was just trying to hit a line drive,” said the Mavericks freshman. “He left the pitch in a spot I like it, and I was able to drive it.”

The runs in the first came despite an interesting defensive twist from Pompano to start the game. With lead-off hitter Michael Gigliotti at the plate, the Golden Tornadoes played a pull shift, with their shortstop in the second base position, and four outfielders. They left the shorstop hole completely open.

During Silva’s at-bat, they switched the shift to the left side, leaving the second base side open. Silva was able to find the second base hole, countering the shift strategy.

“Coach Walker and I had talked before the game about doing something different,” said Pompano Manager Ryan Combs. “We had their scouting report, and we figured we would try the shift and then pitch into the shift. More than anything, it was just to give them a different look, and get them out of their comfort zone. When you are facing a team like this, you sometimes just throw things at the wall and hope they stick.”

After the three run first inning, Pompano starter Phillip Kniskern settled down, allowing only one more run in six total innings of work.

“Phil was fantastic on the mound,” said Combs. “We threw him today because we knew he had the heart to go after these guys. He gave us every opportunity to win on the mound.”

Despite the loss, Combs is excited to get right back to work for next year.

“These guys are going to have to turn the page pretty quickly, with summer ball less than a month away. We only have two seniors, so we knew it was going to be a tough task this season. With a majority of returners, we now have to get better and get over that hump next year, and that preparation starts pretty soon.”

For Archbishop, it was the first of what the Mavericks hope will be another long playoff run.

“We take each game one game at a time,” said Bielski. “We got the first one, and now we have to focus and get ready for Thursday. Gibbons is a good team, that is well coached, and they will be ready. So we will have to be ready as well.”

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