One of the hot topics in Major League Baseball is pace of play. How can they speed the game up and keep the young fans interested?
One way is they can do exactly what Andrew Nagel did in today’s 3-1 victory over Nassau County Class A rival Manhasset. The senior LHP fired a 75 minute complete game that featured no errors, no pitching changes and no pinch-hitters. With his impeccable control, he forced many batters into first-pitch outs and uncomfortable at bats.
Final: Garden City 3, Manhasset 1
WP: Andrew Nagel (complete game, 6 K)Rich Marooney: HR pic.twitter.com/dZiLUXzA1x
— aXcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) May 1, 2017
“I normally work quick,” said the Amherst-commit. “It’s nice, it keeps the fielders on their feet, try to make everyone stay moving so that they’re into the game,” he added.
He traded zeros with Manhasset’s Jamie Weiss through the first couple innings but his Trojans got on the board first in the bottom of the third. Tommy Reifler ripped a one-out single to left field and he scored on a two-out double by Garrett Going, who was then thrown out by Rob Giovanelli trying to stretch into a triple.
Manhasset came right back with a run of their own with a two-out rally. Weiss helped himself with their first hit of the afternoon. After a walk to Doug Dryer, Freddy Giovanelli rippled an RBI single just inside the third base line to score Weiss.
The game wouldn’t stay tied for long as third-place hitter Rich Marooney launched a solo HR on a hanging curve to give the Trojans the lead for good.
They added another run in the fifth inning on another RBI infield hit by Going, to drive in Mark DiPierro, who led off with a single to center field.
Nagel was terrific. He allowed only two hits, struck out six and walked two.
Both teams played crisp games, converting all the plays on defense. In fact, it was very to close to being a 2-1 final as Rob Giovanelli attempted a Derek Jeter-esque jump throw on Going’s infield hit but the tie went to the runner.
Nagel won his fifth game of the season, as the Trojans improved to 12-3-1 while the Indians dropped to 10-7 overall.
These two teams will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at Manhasset, as they attempt to even up the series.
