By Five Boro Sports
There wasn’t anything scientific about Frank DiMaria’s strategy. The Monsignor McClancy senior right-hander wasn’t particularly overpowering — he had just four strikeouts. He just threw strikes, put the ball wherever he wanted it and, time and time again, made Christ the King batters pound the ball into the ground.
“I felt confidence in my defense,” DiMaria said. “I knew I could just put it over the plate.”
When it was over, he had a complete-game, two-hit shutout to lead McClancy to a 4-0 win against rival CK on Thursday afternoon in its CHSAA opener at Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village. DiMaria didn’t walk a single batter and induced 12 ground-ball outs, aided by the long infield grass, in his seven innings of work. He went to a full count just once.
“He pitched like a Division I pitcher today,” Crusaders Coach Nick Melito said. “We think he’s a Division I pitcher.”
DiMaria has flip-flopped between starter and closer in his four years at the East Elmhurst school. Last year and his freshman year, he was McClancy’s stopper out of the bullpen. This is his first season starting for the Crusaders since he was a sophomore, but he was still popping his fastball into catcher Brandon Ferguson’s mitt in the seventh inning.
“It doesn’t bother me,” DiMaria said. “Whatever it takes to win.”
Christ the King starter Frank Milito was solid, giving up three runs on five hits in five innings. It was just the second inning that hurt him. McClancy centerfielder Tommy Cloonen lined a two-RBI single that scored T.J. Fox and Andrew Powers and Alex Miden’s two-out hit drove in Andrew Stella to put the Crusaders (1-0 CHSAA) up 3-0.
“We’re looking for Cloonen to be one of our mainstays,” Melito said. “He really is the catalyst.”
The three tallies hardly blew the game open, but the Royals had the wind taken out of them on a blustery day. It seemed like scoring was going to be at a premium.
“Our kids were down,” CK Coach Billy Oettinger said. “I told the guys, ‘You can’t get down after [three] runs.’”
McClancy didn’t score again until Powers’ double off CK’s Steve Varela in the sixth inning knocked in Fox from second. That was all the Crusaders needed with DiMaria on the mound, though.
“He’s our ace,” Cloonen said. “We expect him to be like that every game.”
DiMaria hit Varela with a pitch in the first and Milito singled in the second, but it was erased by a pretty 5-4-3 double play. Those were the only runners on against him until the seventh when Christ the King (0-2) threatened briefly. After Varela grounded out to Vincent Primovic at third base, CK designated hitter Sal Ferrara blasted a long single over the head of Stella in left. Royals first baseman Tommy Vega then squibbed a roller that DiMaria couldn’t handle and runners were on first and second with one out.
The lanky righty got out of the jam, though. He got Milito to hit it right back to him on a comebacker and third baseman Jeff Durante lined out to Fox at second to end the game.
“To get a complete game was huge,” Melito said.
Christ the King has started off the season with two tough losses. Last week, the Royals were edged out by defending CHSAA intersectional champion Xaverian 4-3.
“I think we’ll be in every game,” Oettinger said.
The Royals don’t play another league game until April 17, when they visit Archbishop Molloy. McClancy, though, is right back in action Saturday as the Crusaders will host Holy Cross. Cloonen will head to the mound against the Knights.
