Our @DigmiNation Player of the Game is Jack Gonzalez who fired a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts in Sachem North’s 5-0 victory. They need two more wins to qualify for the postseason pic.twitter.com/IwQlrkiC1N
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 1, 2018
When you’re in need of a big start against a league rival on the road with the playoffs in sight, you turn to your ace.
St. Thomas Aquinas-commit Jack Gonzalez was that guy today for the Sachem North Arrows, who entered the game needing three wins to qualify for a postseason berth.
The southpaw went out, struck out 7 over the first four innings, and wound up firing a six-hit shutout, with all six hits coming as singles. He worked quick, he threw strikes and needed very little offense on this day for his fifth victory of the season.
In the top of the first, leadoff batter Ryan Sullivan led things off with a single to center field, he stole second base, advanced to third on a single by Kyle Olson and scored on a wild pitch. Olson then advanced to second on a ground out and scored when the first baseman attempted to throw him out at third but it was airmailed to extend the lead to 2-0.
Gonzalez set the tone early with two strikeouts in the first inning and two more in the second inning, while allowing just an infield single to Larry Citrola.
The Arrows broke it open with a three-spot in the third inning on three hits. Sullivan was at the center of it again with a walk and a stolen base to get into scoring position. Olson ripped a single to center to bring home Sullivan and that was followed by a perfectly executed hit-and-run by Jake Lynott that sent Olson to third. A wild pitch scored Olson to open up a 4-0 lead and then Frank Arena hit an infield single to score Lynott for the fifth run.
Gonzalez made those runs stand up, most importantly firing a quick 1-2-3 inning in the third with two more strikeouts to bring his total to six on the afternoon.
The only inning he faced any sort of a threat was in the sixth when he allowed two singles but eluded any damage with a ground out by Anthony Mastroianni.
With the victory, Gonzalez brings his season total to five wins and Sachem North is only two wins away from a postseason berth but he noted they are taking it one game at a time. They have two remaining with Northport before they conclude their regular season with a big three-game set against Connetquot.
