By: Daniel Lopes
MacArthur head coach Steve Costello speaks after MacArthur gets a 2-0 victory over Mepham. pic.twitter.com/lhR0PjPFFb
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 8, 2022
It was a pitcher’s duel throughout the game between MacArthur and Mepham on Friday, as both starting pitchers went the distance for their respective teams. However, it was Matt Sarni and MacArthur who came out on top, 2-0. Sarni was dominant for MacArthur, pitching a complete game, one-hit shutout, striking out seven batters and only allowing one walk.
Despite the great pitching, both teams had chances early on to get their team in the runs column. In the bottom of the first inning, Sebastian Loor hit a two-out double to give MacArthur a runner in scoring position. However, he didn’t score, as Ryan Labonte flew out to end the inning.
In the top half of the second inning, Mepham threatened, getting runners on first and second with one out after Leo Asta was hit with a pitch and Timmy Burns hit a single. However, the defense came up big, as Loor threw out Asta at third after a passed ball and Sarni got a strikeout to end the inning.
Both pitchers settled down and controlled the game until the bottom of the fourth inning. After getting runners in scoring position again, Chris Picarella got his lone hit of the day, a single to center field that drove Loor in and gave MacArthur a 1-0 lead. They continued to find their rhythm in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases. However, Mepham’s defense came up clutch, getting a 5-2-3 double play to get out of the jam and keep the game close.
In the bottom of the sixth, MacArthur strung together another rally and added another key insurance run. Labonte started the inning with a single and advanced to second on an obstruction call after a wild pickoff throw from Asta. He came across to score later in the inning on a single to center field from Ryan Castrillon.
Despite taking the loss, Asta was great on the mound for Mepham, pitching six innings and only allowing the two runs on six hits. He also struck out three batters.
After allowing Burns to reach base in the top of the fifth inning, Sarni reached another level on the mound. He got a double play on the next batter, and then retired the last six batters of the game. He saved his best for the very end, striking out the side in the top of the seventh to secure the 2-0 victory.
