By Nakeem Grant
St. Joseph’s Golden Eagles open up their 2016 season with a bang, defeating the Plattsburgh St. Cardinals, 8-1. Senior pitcher, Nick Girardi set the tone for the game on the hill while the offense gave him more than enough run support.
Last year’s Skyline Conference Player of the Year and named to Baseball on the Island‘s All-Long Island team, Girardi was in complete control to start the game. He struck out the first eight batters, showing complete command on the mound.
“He was always ahead of the hitters and he concentrated on pounding the strike zone today,” said St. Joseph’s head coach, Richard Garrett.
Girardi pitched into the fourth inning, striking out eight batters and giving up no hits on 56 pitches.
“We had a number that we wanted him to stop at and that’s what we kept all of our pitchers on today. We want to make sure that early in the season, they’re up to speed.”
Junior rightfielder, Anthony Bonilla smashed a three-run triple into deep center field during the bottom of the third. He then scored on a wild pitch in the ensuing at-bat to give the Golden Eagles a 4-0 lead.
“I think we worked the counts pretty good. We got the anxiousness out and then after that, they started driving pitches that they were seeing pretty well.”
They tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth highlighted by an RBI single from first baseman, Brendan Sullivan and a two-run double from leftfielder, Joseph Lynn. Second baseman, Mike Griffo also energized the team offensively, going 1-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
“He has really been a spark plug, last year off the bench and this year working his way to get on the field and being one of the top players.”
Junior pitcher, Josh Outsen came in relief and kept Plattsburgh’s bats quiet. He threw three and a third innings and allowed one earned run.
Girardi, Outsen, Lynn, and Sullivan were all members of the All-Skyline Conference Team in 2015 and they each played a role in today’s season-opening victory.
They also routed Plattsburgh in the the second game of the DH by the score of 11-2. Ryan Aloise recorded the win. Girardi and Joseph Lynn both drove in three runs. Lynn broke open the game with a three-run shot in the bottom of the fifth.
They will be back in action next Saturday hosting Ithaca in a DH.
