Leading off today: To the surprise of no one, pitching was the big story in a slew of first round games Thursday in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association baseball tournament.
A few examples:
• Seniors Danny Madden and Nate Gorges combined for a one-hitter and each drove in a run to lift Corning to a 3-0 win over Kingston in a Class AA opener.
Madden gave up one hit, struck out nine and walked eight in 5 1/3 innings. Gorges struck out two and walked to wrap up the win.
• LeMoyne-bound right-hander Chase Borowitz threw a two-hitter with seven strikeouts and four walks as John Jay Cross River beat Maine-Endwell 6-0 in Class A.
• Ryan Flansburg improved to 6-0 with a three-hitter as Queensbury beat Massena 16-0. Flansburg struck out 12 in the Class A contest.
• East Rockaway returned to the state tournament this week for the first time in four years == but did so by default as the only Class C team in Section 8.
The Rocks entered with only a 9-9 record, but they're in the quarterfinals now after a 3-0 win over Southold for the Long Island championship.
Senior Ryan Kelly, a four-year varsity player, threw a one-hitter. He struck out five and walked six.
• Nick Mongelli pitched a two-hitter with five strikeouts to lead Marlboro over Keio Academy 5-2 in Class B. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth before it was broken up on a bunt single.
More Long Island baseball: Wheatley won the Long Island Class B title for the second time in four seasons despite managing only two hits, beating Center Moriches 4-2 to reach the state quarterfinals.
After allowing two runs and four hits in the first two innings, John Ryan retired 15 of the final 16 hitters, including 13 straight.
Center Moriches' Liam Pulsipher didn't allow a hit through five innings, but he walked three and hit a batter in the third inning for Wheatley's first run. He was lifted in the sixth after hitting back-to-back batters to load the bases, and Wheatley took a 4-2 lead on walks by Corey Seader and Eric Beierlein.
More baseball: I'll have a blog note later regarding a strong reaction to a 138-pitch performance in other Thursday action.
