By Laura Amato
Jack Turner just wanted to connect.
The Archbishop Molloy senior third baseman knew his team needed something to jumpstart the offense Tuesday afternoon and he was more than happy to deliver. He did just that, connecting on the game-winning hit to lift the Stanners to a 2-1 victory over Xaverian.
“I was kind of looking off-speed, but [Xaverian pitcher Chris Allegretti] was tricking with the fastball also,” said Turner, who drove in both runs with the hit. “I sat back on that last one and I was just looking to put it in play. That’s the best thing you can do with runners on. Then they’ve got to make the play.”
Turner’s game-winning hit came at the perfect time, snapping a frustrating early-game streak at the plate for the Stanners. Molloy struggled throughout the league matchup to turn base runners into runs and left a handful of players stranded, including bases loaded in the bottom of the third.
Still, the squad never lost hope and Molloy knew something had to give.
“We always want to get runs across the plate as soon as possible,” Turner said. “This team always goes as hard as it can all seven innings and I had faith the whole time we’d come back and win this game.”
It wasn’t an easy hit for Turner – with two strikes to his name and two outs on the board – as the ball deflected off Allegretti’s glove as he tried to field it. The miscue was just enough to let Turner get down the first baseline and, more important, enough time for the Stanners to cross home.
“In a game like this, it’s one little play,” said assistant coach Brother James Vagan “The pitcher deflects the ball and it’s an inch. If he fields that ball, it’s an out. If the second baseman fields that ball, it’s an out. We get no runs and we lose 1-0, instead of winning 2-1.”
Turner’s hit sparked the offense, but Molloy wrapped up the victory on the mound as senior Ruben Jimenez notched a stellar performance.
The Stanners ace tossed a complete game and while he gave up six hits and one run in the third, he never lost his focus. Instead, he simply locked in, determined to throw first-pitch strikes and grab early leads in the count.
“The whole game, I was just trying to get outs,” Jiminez said. “They scored that one run and I just wanted to get into the next inning and forget about that. I wanted to go straight into it.”
Jimenez made sure every pitch counted, including his last one. He was just a few throws away from reaching his pitch limit when the potential final out of the day came up to bat. Jimenez threw just one pitch and got Xavier Vargas to pop out in foul territory – it was just enough.
“He’s going to be great all year, has been,” Turner said of his teammate. “When he settles down and zones in, he’s almost unhittable.”
It was a much-needed victory for the Stanners, who have struggled to stay consistent this season. This, however, could be a turning point for the squad.
“It’s big,” Jimenez said. “We were struggling and I think this win, especially with the past history we’ve had with Xaverian, is going to put us ahead.”
