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Photo Vincent Guadazno
PHS pitcher Alex Rokicki pumps up for the throw. |
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Photo Vincent Guadazno
PHS catcher Derek Menangas fields a pop up by the Nantucket dugout for an easy out. |
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Whalers, weather snag Fishermen
By Michael Iacuessa
BANNER CORRESPONDENT
When it comes to pitching battles, there is little room for error and that proved true Monday for the Provincetown baseball team.
The Fishermen allowed three runs on four errors in an ill-fated fifth inning as their seven-game win streak came to an end in a 3-1 home loss to Nantucket.
In a game marked by bitter cold and a stiff wind blowing in from the outfield, a pitching dual was not unexpected. For the first three and a half innings, the only hit was Adam Hobbs' pop fly that Nantucket pitcher Grayson Liebowitz misplayed in the wind.
"That was one of the worst days I've ever put on that field weather-wise. It was just a nasty day to play baseball," said Provincetown's 12-year coach John White.
Liebowitz did little else wrong on the day, striking out nine batters while walking twice at the plate. He also reached on an error to lead the fifth inning, scoring the game's first run.
Liebowitz was the same pitcher the Fishermen hit well against last week on the island.
"His curveball was moving much better than it was in Nantucket," said White. "This is probably the first game since the beginning of the season that offensively we didn't do it."
Provincetown lefty Alex Rokicki was just as dominant on the mound, not allowing a hit until the sixth inning. He struck out seven and walked five.
Early on, both teams tried to capitalize at the slightest opportunity. After Hobbs led off the first, reaching on the misplayed fly ball, he tried to take second, noticing the second baseman and shortstop were out of position. He was thrown out.
In the second, with Liebowitz on first base, Provincetown catcher Derek Menangas took a ball to the groin causing the game to be halted briefly. Liebowitz took off for second on the next pitch. In what was probably the defensive play of the game, Menangas threw him out.
In the fifth, with Liebowitz on again, Nantucket laid down two successful bunts, squeezing in the first run. A stolen base, a walk and errors allowed the Whalers to stretch the lead.
"The one inning that we needed to make the plays in the field, we didn't. That's just high school baseball," said White.
Provincetown had runners on first and third with one out in the sixth inning but failed to score. The Fishermen left two more on in the seventh.
In the final inning, Bronson Zawaduk led off by reaching on an error, stole second, moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored the lone run on a passed ball.
Despite the loss, Provincetown, now 9-3, is just one victory away from qualifying for the state tournament.
Entering the game, the Fishermen were coming off their most exciting home victory of the season, a 5-4 extra-inning win over Martha's Vineyard. Jake Morris bunted in Menangas in the eighth inning to end the game.
Hobbs started the game on the mound, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out six. He also chipped in two hits and scored a run.
Earlier in the week, Provincetown polished off Sturgis for the second time this season, 23-2, in Cotuit. Mike Locke started, allowing one hit, while collecting three of his own at the plate. Menangas had four hits and six RBIs. Morris added four hits and three RBIs.
"The last three games we've gotten a tremendous performance from our pitching staff," said White.
The coach said over the final eight games, the goal is to first qualify for the state tournament and then to try to get a good seed, hopefully leading to a home game.
The team travels to Cape Cod Tech Thursday and then hosts South Shore Christian at home Saturday in a game that was re-scheduled. The Saturday game has a 10 a.m. start.
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PHS Sports
Nauset Sports |
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May 12th, 2005