Gonzalez Throws Second Straight No-Hitter For McCarthy

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For a team that has won four straight state titles, one would think there is not much this year’s team can do that Archbishop McCarthy squads of the past have not done. That train of thought, however, is exactly what drives the Mavericks year after year, the ability to do what others believe is unthinkable.

The latest chapter in the McCarthy title run novel that is quickly becoming more of a mini-series, came Tuesday night in a rematch of the district championship with Cardinal Gibbons. The game had been billed as a battle of two of the top pitchers in Broward County and served in most fans’ eyes as the first real threat to the Maverick dynasty.

Gonzalez, however, quickly put the upset talk to bed, striking out nine of the first 11 Chiefs’ batters he faced. The offense, who had trouble with Nowatnick in a 1-0 win back on March 25th, made adjustments this time around, and McCarthy came away with a 7-0 regional semifinal win.

“We knew this was going to be a tough game,” said Mavericks Manager Rich Bielski. “I told Mark (Nowatnick) after the game, he was by far the best pitcher we faced all year. Coach Hamilton did a great job with those guys this year, and they deserve credit for their season.”

Although the always humble Bielski was quick to point out his opponents strengths, it was Gonzalez that was the real star of the show on Tuesday. The Mavericks lefty finished the complete game shutout with 16 strikeouts, and just for good measure, he threw his second consecutive no-hitter. Gonzalez no-hit Suncoast in the regional quarterfinals, and now has given up only one hit in his last 21 innings pitched. Despite being unhittable, Gonzalez deferred the credit to his teammates.

“I was in a groove tonight, but the entire team played well,” said Gonzalez. “The no-hitters are nice, but what we do here is not about individuals, it’s about team. We have one goal in mind, and my job is to help us reach that goal. Tonight’s win is a big step in moving us closer to our goal of winning a state title.”

Trying to get Gonzalez to acknowledge the depths of his feats was tough, but when prompted that at some point he would have to recognize the tremendous nature of this zone he is in on the mound, he finally cracked a smile.

“At some point I guess it will all hit me,” said Gonzalez. “I don’t know when, or how it will hit me, but at some point it will.”

While Gonzalez was slow to point out his accomplishments, Bielski did not mix words when asked about his star lefty.

“No, I have not,” said Bielski, when asked if he has seen a better three-game stretch from a pitcher. “Not only have I not seen a better stretch in my Maverick career, but in my entire 20-year coaching career. He went out there and just said ‘boys, jump on my back, we’re winning this one tonight’, then he went out and dominated on the mound.”

While Gonzalez was putting up zeroes, the McCarthy offense still had to solve the puzzle of Nowatnick. The game stayed scoreless into the third, when Alex Rodriguez led off with a single to right. A Dylan Bautista double put runners on second and third with nobody out. Archbishop was able to get one run on a Michael Gigliotti ground-out, but Nowatnick then worked out of the jam, keeping the game at 1-0.

In the sixth, the Mavericks finally were able to break through with a big inning. Gigliotti singled to start the frame, and an Eddie Silva sacrifice bunt moved Gigliotti to second. Gonzalez then drove in Gigliotti with a single, and clean-up hitter Aaron Soto delivered the big blow of the game, a two-run homer to left, giving the Mavericks a 4-0 lead.

“He is such a good pitcher,” said Soto. “We knew we had our hands full tonight, but our coaches work so hard and did a great job of finding tendencies he had. I knew I had only the first strike, and then we were going to try and move the runner over. I was just lucky I was able to barrel one up.”

The Mavericks tacked on three additional runs in the inning, leaving Gonzalez with a 7-0 lead heading to the seventh. Showing no signs of fatigue, Gonzalez slammed the door as he had all night, with two punch-outs and a lazy fly ball to third to end the game. It also marked the fourth time Archbishop had shutout Gibbons this season.

The win capped a season in which the Mavericks went undefeated at home, another feat none of the previous four state champions had been able to accomplish.

Archbishop will now move on to face Rockledge on the road next Tuesday night.

“It’s back to work tomorrow,” said Bielski. “Enjoy this one tonight, and then wake up and start our routine all over again in preparing for the next game.”

For Gibbons, the loss capped a season in which they returned to prominence under Jason Hamilton, a former Chiefs manager who returned to the dugout this season after a few years away.

“We gave them everything we had tonight,” said Hamilton. “But when you have a guy throwing like that against you, there’s really not much you can do. I told these guys after the game that they put Gibbons back on the map, and although we lost tonight, they have a lot to be proud of with how this season went. It’s tough, because I’ve known some of these guys for so long, and it’s tough to see their careers end like this.”

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