Oxford Pirates win 3 in huge week

High School baseball round-up

Photos and text by Steev Riccardo

Oxford - Junior Nick Cardoni (seen, left) started the first game of his career for the Oxford Pirates and turned in a gem, helping his team complete a 3-0 week with a 3-0 shutout victory over Hopedale Friday morning at Oxford High School field.

The Pirates, who toppled Blackstone-Millville and Grafton earlier in the week, completed the trifecta with some timely hitting and a solid performance from Cardoni, who allowed 3 hits against the defending District champions. 

Pirates manager Justin Richards praised Cardoni’s performance but was also impressed with the way his team fared against Hopedale ace Dan Mantoni. “He is a very good pitcher. He might the best pitcher we faced this year so far. We had really good at-bats, even some of our strikeouts went deep into the at-bats. We are quick enough, we are athletic enough that when we are in games like this, we can bunt, steal, and run and try and manufacture runs like we did today.”

Manufacture runs they did, using their five hits, including two by junior Tyler Barrie, to score the runs they needed to get the job done.

One of these rallies came in the bottom of the fourth inning, which featured a Cardoni single, a sacrifice by Mike Cicero, and an RBI single by Barrie, which produced the third Pirate run.

Above: Cody Stone playing great two-way baseball

The Pirates also got a key defensive play from third baseman Cody Stone on a hard hit ground ball that he nearly muffed but ended up corralling in the fifth inning. Richards said jokingly afterwards, “He’s all about the show; that was probably intentional, knowing him.”

Ultimately it was Cardoni’s pitching that was the real story and the junior knew this was a big opportunity for him. “I was a little nervous getting into it, but once I started pitching it came easy.  I am not going to strike a lot of people out, so as long as I have a solid defense like these guys behind me, I am going to be all right. I am really good when I can hit my spots and walk as little people as possible. This was a big test, I guess I passed it.” He sure did.

The 7-1 Pirates are looking pretty solid these days. “Everyone is hitting the ball really well,” said Cardoni. “Everyone is making the plays in the field, and it’s coming easy right now.”

Pirates Batter Blackstone-Millville 17-6

Earlier in the week, the Pirates scored 10 runs in the sixth inning to dismember Blackstone-Millville’s pitching staff on its way to a dominant 17-6 win.  Nick Lemay was 5 for 5 and Mike Cicero went 3 for 4 including a homerun and 3 RBI’s

Lemay, Pirates Topple Grafton 16-0

The Pirates scored 16 more runs bringing their two-day total to 33 with a lopsided 16-0 win over SWCL rival Grafton on Tuesday. 

The Pirates used an 11 run 4th inning and a superb 5 innings no-hit performance from senior ace Lemay to silence the Grafton Indians bats.  Lemay, (seen in photo, left) who struck out ten batters and helped his own cause with a pair of hits, has yet to allow a run this season (3-0). Senior shortstop Nick Bruzios went 3 for 4 for The Pirates in the win.

Rams Get Crushed 11-0 by Shrewsbury
The Shepherd Hill Rams could only muster 7 hits including a pair of hits by Brady Ravenelle in an 11-0 loss to Shrewsbury last Thursday. Adam Darling took the loss for the Rams.

Indians Edge Worcester Tech 4-3

The Bartlett Indians rebounded from a trouncing at the hands of the Auburn Rockets earlier in the day and edged Worcester Tech 4-3 Tuesday in the consolation game at the Auburn Classic.

Indians’ sophomore right-handed hurler Evan Anderson pitched a complete game and also helped his own cause by going 3 for 4 at the plate. Tyler Mandeville had a key RBI single in the top of seventh for the 3-2 Indians in the win.

The win helped soften an 18-1 loss they suffered at the hands of the Auburn Rockets earlier in the day.

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