Blaise Scerbo was the last Xaverian starter to pitch at St. John’s last year, closing out a city championship victory for the Clippers. So it was fitting that the 6-foot-4 right-hander got the team’s first start at Jack Kaiser Field this season.
“He’s been here before,” coach Lou Piccola said.
And Scerbo was just as good this time. The Seton Hall-bound ace tossed a complete-game three-hitter with seven strikeouts to lead top-seeded Xaverian to an 8-0 win over No. 8 All Hallows in both teams’ CHSAA Class AA baseball double-elimination championship round opener Wednesday night in Queens. It was the first time Scerbo, who missed a large chunk of the season with a sore arm, was extended for seven innings all year.
“I felt good,” he said. “I pitched the last game here, so it was nice to come back.”
Scerbo said he got tired in the heat Saturday during a seeding-round game against Fordham Prep. Piccola took him out after four innings to keep him fresh for the championship round. Between starts, the coach said, Scerbo was diligent about his long tossing and running with the aim to go the whole seven.
“He’s focused, he’s disciplined,” Piccola said. “He does his homework. He understands where we are.”
Xaverian (19-1) found itself in a scoreless game in the fifth inning when Keith Moore led off with a walk, igniting a four-run inning off All Hallows starter Jose Pacheco. Boston College-bound shortstop Gabe Hernandez had an RBI single and first baseman Sal Taormina crushed a two-run double.
Moore led off the sixth and crushed a home run, his first of the year, down the left field line to spark another four-run frame. Lanfranco had the big hit in that one, a two-run single.
“We just kept scoring,” Moore said with a laugh.
The Clippers hope to continue to do so Thursday night 6:30 p.m. against No. 4 Fordham Prep back at St. John’s. All Hallows (11-9) will meet No. 5 St. Joseph by the Sea at the same time Thursday at Fordham University. The Gaels had to beat St. Francis Prep, 1-0, earlier Wednesday at Archbishop Molloy HS to earn the right to face Xaverian. As a result, they went with a combination of little-used Pacheco and Lance Montano, a slugging third baseman, on the mound.
Xaverian, meanwhile, is all set up with its pitching. John Pena will go Thursday as the Clippers attempt to remain in the winner’s bracket, much like they did last year en route to the title.
“In a double elimination, the first game becomes a critical game,” Piccola said. “If you lose, you’re playing forever.”
Scerbo said he could potentially come back Sunday to close and then, if everything goes Xaverian’s way, he could start the final next week. There is still work to do before then, but the Clippers are a confident bunch.
“We thought if we get the first win, we can hopefully repeat what we did last year,” Moore said.
Added Piccola: “They’re focused on the mission.”