By Mitch Abramson
But last Thursday the sophomore from Long Island City gave his coach a reason to reconsider his role as a reliever, blanking division rival Bushwick 11-0 at home on five hits and four strikeouts and opening the debate that he should get more starts.
“We tend to use Omar as a stopper, but with the way he's pitching, he really adds depth to our pitching staff,” said coach Harley Watstein, who returns four pitchers from last season's team that lost in the first round of the PSAL 'A' playoffs to eventual champion Monroe High School.
“This is the best-pitched game we've had all season,” he said. “The way he threw that sinker with that sidearm delivery made him tough to hit.”
Velazquez (1-1, two saves), who also went 2-for-4 from the plate, faced some rocky moments in the third inning when he gave up a double to Irving Dominguez and hit the next batter, Roberto Alfonso, on the forearm, then walked the centerfielder, Jose Gutierrez, on five pitches to load the bases.
But after a short chat with Watstein, Velazquez retired Steven Castro on a groundball to short stop for the third out. LIC led 2-0.
“I felt comfortable because my team was giving me run support,” Velazquez said.
After quelling the threat, the Bulldogs (14-4-2, 5-2-1 Queens West A) broke open the game in the third when Derek Ali hit a ground-rule double behind a wall in center field, scoring Velazquez and Wilson Villada to take a 4-0 lead.
Villada exploited Alfonso (1-1, one save) again in the fifth inning as he smashed a double to center field, moving Velazquez, on base with a single, to third.
The two picked up company when Derek Ali was intentionally walked to load the bases. First baseman Oscar Virella was hit by a pitch and Velazquez scored to make it 5-0. Jeffrey Almonte, batting seventh, doubled in two more runs and Bushwick (4-3, Queens West A) was staring at a 7-0 deficit.
“I've been playing Long Island City for a long time now, and this year they've improved a lot,” said Jennifer Jones, in her 16th year as Bushwick's baseball coach and a 10-5 loser to LIC last Tuesday. “They're much stronger this year. They're really hitting the ball well.”
She was referring to the power surge provided by Villada, a second baseman playing catcher for the second consecutive game.
The junior punched a ground-rule double over the 250-foot right field fence in the first inning, and he topped that feat with a home run in the sixth, driving a curve ball to center field with two men on base to end the game courtesy of the 10-run mercy rule.
Martin Van Buren 10, August Martin 4. Matthew Maharaj struck out eight in six innings, and Damon Valentino went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs for Van Buren in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at August Martin.
Martin Van Buren 18, August Martin 2. Valentino hit two home runs and drove in five runs for Van Buren (7-1, Queens South B) in the second game of the doubleheader. August Martin dropped to 3-5 in the division.
Grand Street Campus 12, Benjamin Cardozo 9. Michael Errigo struck out 13 in defeat at home Friday as Cardozo dropped to 6-2 in Queens East A and Grand Street Campus improved to 5-0 in Queens West A.
Grover Cleveland 10, John Bowne 7. Bobby Manzolillo drove in four runs, and Michael Goldberg drove in three for Grover Cleveland (5-3, Queens West A) at Kissena Park Friday. John Bowne dropped to 0-8 in Queens East A.
Richmond Hill 9, Newtown 3. Armando Wellington drove in two runs for Richmond Hill (5-2, Queens East A) at American Legion Field Friday. Newtown fell to 4-5 in Queens West A.
Aviation 9, Forest Hills 2. Steven Schlindwein struck out seven and gave up four hits in a complete-game win for Aviation (2-7, Queens Wesy A) Friday at Forest Hills, which dropped to 4-4 in Queens East A.
Townsend Harris 13, Hillcrest 1. Nikolas Kaloudis struck out 12 in five innings and gave up two hits for Townsend Harris (7-0, Queens Central B) Friday at Joe Austin Playground. Hillcrest fell to 1-6 in Queens North B.
Franklin K. Lane 10, Far Rockaway 0. Juan Roggiero drove in three runs for Lane (6-2, Queens Central B) Friday at home. Far Rockaway dropped to 2-6 in Queens South B.
Francis Lewis 10, John Adams 7. Jamaal Sedayao and Daniel Gomez drove in a pair of runs each for Francis Lewis (4-2, Queens East A) Friday at home. John Adams fell to 4-4 in Queens West A.
Reach reporter Mitch Abramson by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
