By Dylan Butler
But Tuesday at American Legion Field in Canarsie there was no missing Urgelis, who tossed a one-hit gem in a 3-1 win over Molloy.
Urgelis went the distance for the first time in his career at Xaverian and was four outs away from a no-hitter, but Rizzotti broke it up with a hard-hit single up the middle in the top of the sixth inning, which also ruined Urgelis' shutout bid.
“Actually I wasn't thinking about anything but throwing strikes,” said Urgelis, who had four strikeouts and two walks. “I was just ready to go. I knew I was going to do the job, and I was pretty confident with all my pitches.”
It looked like the Stanners were set to rally but Shaun Chang was thrown out trying to go from first to third by Xaverian centerfielder Sean Malone, ending the inning.
After struggling briefly in the sixth inning, Urgelis was untouchable in the seventh. Throwing his hardest stuff all game, Urgelis retired Molloy (11-3, 7-2 CHSAA) in order, striking out Pat Campbell to end the game.
“He brought his 'A' game today. His curve ball was really nice and our batters put the ball in play and they made the plays,” Rizzotti said. “He was a pitcher today.”
With a deceiving fastball and a breaking ball that almost always ended up in a first-pitch strike, Urgelis got ahead of just about every Molloy hitter and faced just four batters over the minimum on 83 pitches.
“That was the best I've ever seen the kid throw. He was an absolute bull,” catcher Rob Yodice said. “Usually he falls behind but he stepped it up today. He always had the talent to do it, but today he came out with a lot of first-pitch strikes and he was consistent.”
Lost in Urgelis' brilliance was another stellar outing by Rizzotti, who scattered seven hits and was hit hard only twice, on doubles by Yodice and Chris Garcia in the fifth inning that extended the Clippers' lead to 3-0.
“Anytime you beat Molloy it's a big win,” said Xaverian coach Dennis Canale. “Jack Curran always has a very sound fundamental team. They catch the ball, they throw the ball and they hit the ball. That's the way Jack teaches it.”
Xaverian (11-3, 8-1) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Yodice scored on a Rizzotti balk.
“I took the sign and that's what I wanted to throw, and I went to go up and I guess I just had (a mental lapse) and I just stopped,” Rizzotti said. “I went to go back and he caught me.”
St. Francis Prep 11, Christ the King 6. P.J. Gorynski went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored and Kevin Benway was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored for St. Francis Prep (10-3, 6-3 CHSAA) Friday at Juniper Park. Christ the King fell to 0-7.
Molloy 20, Holy Cross 6. Rizzotti was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Shaun Chang was 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Stanners Friday. Holy Cross fell to 1-8.
Xaverian 14, McClancy 4. Keith Christensen tossed a three-hitter with six strikeouts and Curtis Lovelle went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, including a three-run homer in the Clippers nine-run fifth inning.
St. Franics Prep 8, St. Edmund Prep 4. Peter Loeb went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs and Bobby Schnurr struck out five for the Terriers last Thursday.
Molloy 4, Holy Cross 2. Brian Duffy went the distance, striking out 10 and Pat Campbell hit a three-run triple in the bottom of the fifth for the Stanners last Thursday.
Bishop Ford 5, Cathedral Prep 3. John Gioberti went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Matt Piland struck out nine for Bishop Ford (8-4, 4-0 CHSAA B) last Thursday.
Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
