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Flyers rebound after first loss of season
Following a tough loss Monday to much-improved league opponent Tonawanda, the Maryvale varsity baseball team took out its frustrations on Starpoint Tuesday with a focused performance in a 10-0 win.
Maryvale (4-1 overall, 2-1 in Erie County Interscholastic Conference- III) was shut down offensively Monday in a 3-1 loss to Tonawanda.
However, senior Shane Latshaw fired a one-hitter on the mound while striking out a whopping 13 batters in the rout over Starpoint, which finished last season as tri-league champions along with the Flyers and Cheektowaga Central.
At the plate, senior Jake Nowak led the way for the locals with a 4-4 performance, while fellow seniors Eirik Moore and Nick Law each slammed home runs.
The Flyers edged non-league opponent Lancaster last Wednesday, 2- 1, earning the win despite the absence of Nowak.Lancaster did get 5 2/3 innings of work from pitcher Ryan Bonn, who struck out seven batters and threw a whopping 118 pitches.
Senior Ryan Domkowski was limited to four innings to keep him fresh, but he was solid, allowing only three hits and no earned runs, while striking out two in the contest.
Coach Kurt Hansen used the game to get some innings for Latshaw and allowing several juniors to play.
Maryvale placed a scare into Lancaster in the bottom of the first. Shane Latshaw was hit by a pitch, and Moore took advantage by hitting a single on a hit-and-run with two outs, advancing Latshaw to third. Law was unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position.
The fifth inning begun with Maryvale making changes, as Latshaw replaced Domkowski at pitcher. Domkowski moved to first base, and junior Jamie Quigley took over for junior Scott Jarmusz in right field. Moore was pulled from the game to allow Latshaw to bat.
Latshaw struggled at first, walking the leadoff hitter before settling down. He struck out the next two batters, and senior catcher Matt Bunting threw out the runner, who was trying to steal second base.
Junior Pat Cannon replaced Domkowski to start the sixth, but the inning would become a groundball nightmare. After causing the first batter to fly out, he walked the subsequent hitter. Bonn ripped a groundball single through the left side, followed by a groundball single through the right side to score a run. Another single loaded the bases. However, Latshaw would get out of the inning, using his off-speed pitches to strike out the next two Redskin hitters and limit the damage done.
The high pitch count took a toll on Bonn, who appeared to tire. After coaxing Cannon into a popup, he walked Law, with senior Nick Nolder stepping up to the plate. A passed ball allowed Law to advance to second. Nolder then smashed a double, scoring the runner to tie the game at one apiece.
Bonn responded by striking out senior Nick Hughes. However, junior Brooks Estarfaa took advantage of the outdoor elements at the plate. He popped up to first base, but the wind took the ball and it dropped in. Nolder hustled home to give Maryvale a 2-1 lead. Bonn was finally pulled from the game, and a reliever got Lancaster out of the inning down by one.
Latshaw got through the seventh by only allowing a single.
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