By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
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Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Beau Garufi hangs on to the ball for an out in the Whalers' 9-1 loss to Mashpee last Saturday.
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Tomas Smaliorius broke up a no-hit bid in the fifth inning as the baseball team fell to Mashpee at home on Saturday 9-1.
Friday’s home game against Provincetown was postponed due to inclement weather and rescheduled for Saturday, May 19. The Whalers, who fell to 2-3 overall on the season, were scheduled to host New England Christian Academy yesterday, too late for this edition of Sports.
The baseball squad will travel to Mashpee on Sunday for a rematch against the Falcons’ number-one hurler, Joseph Ruo.
“Facing better pitching, we are going to struggle. As the season progresses, we will show some progress against the better pitching,” head coach Art Crowley said.
On Saturday, Ruo cruised through the first four frames before getting into trouble in the fifth inning. Ethan Bell was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on the passed ball. Smaliorius laid down a bunt in an attempt to score the run, but reached first when the pitcher failed to make a play.
“The play is designed to have the kid on third score on the throw to first base. The pitcher ate the ball. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want to give up the run,” Crowley said.
Mashpee scored the at-bat as a fielder’s choice, while Crowley scored the play as an infield single since no one was put out and the runner on third was not given a chance to advance.
Jamie Viera broke up the shut-out bid on the next at-bat by laying down the bunt to plate Bell on the sacrifice play.
Despite the run-scoring inning, the Whalers struggled to hit the Mashpee hurler. Players estimated that he was throwing his fastball in the mid-80s and had a decent curveball, Crowley said.
“We ran into some good pitching. He is their number one and we will be seeing him again on Sunday when we go there,” Crowley said. “It was probably a combination of some decent pitching and some struggling hitting.”
Smaliorius got his first start of the season on the mound for the Whalers and despite giving up a number of hits to the Falcons’ line-up, the junior pitcher provided a strong showing in his debut.
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Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Jamie Viera settles under a fly ball in Nantucket's 9-1 loss to Mashpee.
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“We have seen the other three throw. This was his first outing and we needed some production out of him, something quality, and I believe he gave us that. It is something to look at for the rest of the season to depend on,” Crowley said.
Smaliorius threw four innings, allowing six runs and three walks, two of which came in the first inning. He also struck out three batters.
“We told him we needed four innings out of him. That was his goal. His goal was also to be in the strike zone and not give up a lot of walks. He was a little rocky in the first, but settled down,” Crowley said. “Especially where he had struggled in the preseason. He has been working, and he seemed to be a little more relaxed and more confident.”
Anthony Valero came in to close out the game. He threw three innings, allowing three runs while striking out two.
Reach Allison Goldsmith at sports@inkym.com
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