Ronnie Voacolo shows the form that allowed him to throw a complete-game five-hitter with seven strikeouts in Nottingham’s MCT win over Lawrence Saturday. (Photo from twitter).
By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
May 6: Tournament season has arrived, which means it’s time for ace pitchers to prove their “ace-ness”, as we like to say here at Fish4scores.
Ronnie Voacolo did just that Saturday in hurling 3rd-seeded Nottingham’s baseball team to a 7-0 win over 14th-seeded Lawrence in a Mercer County Tournament second-round game.
Next up for the Northstars (14-6), who reached last year’s title game, is a quarterfinal home game against Hun. The Raiders topped Robbinsville, 6-1.
Voacolo threw a five-hitter with no walks and seven strikeouts, throwing just 96 pitches in the process.
“He did a great job,” coach Jim Maher said. “He got ahead of the hitters, didn’t allow any walks. He located his fastball really well and threw a complete game to save our bullpen.”
Nottingham got good mileage out of just five hits, with Josh Sikorski and David Scott picking up two apiece. But the game’s big blow came in the bottom of the first when Tommy Argiriou blasted a two-run double to score Tommy McParland and Scott. Bryce Fremgen, who had walked, later scored on an error to cap a three-run first.
In the third, Sikorski singled and eventually scored on a bunt by Phil Rojek, The Northstars broke it open in the fifth. Scott singled and Nick Houghton walked. The two were on second and third with one out when Scott tallied on Argiriou’s ground out. Sikorski stroked a two-out single to plate the final two runs.
The Northstars and Hun (9-7) will meet for the first time this season.
With Muller facing early exit, Balke comes to Steinert’s rescue
Defending champion Steinert entered the MCT as the top seed, but high seedings don’t guarantee good health.
Starting pitcher Jake Muller was forced to exit today’s MCT opener with West Windsor-Plainsboro South after two innings due to a sore arm. Muller had allowed one hit and three walks during his stint.
Coach Brian “The Chef” Giallella turned to Maguire Balke, and the Montclair State-bound senior answered the call. Balke allowed one run on one hit and two walks with three strikeouts over four innings to help the Spartans to a 6-1 win over 16th-seeded WWPS.
Steinert (18-2) will host 9th-seeded Princeton Day School, which defeated Hightstown today.
Ryan Mostrangeli had a double, run scored and RBI for the Spartans, while Joey Sacco had a hit and two RBI, Alex Coleman had a pinch-RBI single and Tommy Blackwell and Brendan James each had a hit and run scored.
“We played well against a tough team,” Giallella said. “Maguire pitched four great innings, and our defense turned a big double play in the top of the first when they had bases loaded with one out.”
Balke evened his record at 1-1 and Sean Johnson pitched a scoreless seventh.
The Spartans play a PDS team (9-8) that is 2-2 against CVC competition this year.
Hornets ousted
Hamilton West suffered a first-round defeat as the 10th-seeded Hornets fell to 7th-seeded Pennington, 10-4. The Hornets (9-8) defeated the Red Raiders, 2-1, four days earlier.
