DeWitt Clinton coach Dennis D’Alessandro (r.). (denis gostev)
As DeWitt Clinton’s quarterback, Joaquin DeJesus plays with a chip on his shoulder. He meets tacklers head on, yearning for contact.
He had that same fire and steely glare on Thursday, although DeJesus traded in a helmet for spikes and a glove as he shut down powerhouse James Monroe in a 2-1, eight-inning loss at Taft in The Bronx.
“They tell me to be the cocky quarterback I am on the mound,” he said. “And I’ve taken that into my mind.”
The junior left-hander was brilliant, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits in 7-2/3 innings. He fanned five and walked only one, keeping the powerful Eagles off balance with a 12-to-6 curveball, tailing fastball, and deceptive changeup.
Remarkably, it was only DeJesus’ second start of the year. He is blessed with a very strong arm, but struggled with his command during the preseason.
After Clinton’s entire pitching staff virtually fell apart in a recent three-game losing streak, it gave DeJesus another crack. He has adjusted, by letting up on his velocity to emphasize location. He was solid in his debut, allowing two hits and one runs in 5 1/3 in a 4-3 loss to John F. Kennedy, and even better against Monroe.
“I feel better and my mentality on the mound is different,” he said.
True to form, DeJesus was at his best when he was in trouble, treating Monroe’s power hitters like blitzing linebackers. He navigated the bind as he would the pass rush, relying on his breaking ball when he fell behind in the count and fastball up in the zone when he was ahead.
“He pitched better today than I’ve ever seen him,” D’Alessandro said. “That’s no secret; you can’t do much better than you saw him today. He’s throwing free easy now. He thrives on the more pressure you give him. We’re going to keep trying to put him in the fire.”
Monroe was already impressive. Coach Mike Turo said he had been told Clinton lacks quality arms, but he saw one in DeJesus. So did Jesus Vasquez, DeJesus’ counterpart.
“We have a lot of talent, a lot of hitting, and we’re known for our sticks, and he performed well against us,” said Vasquez, who called DeJesus’ effort the best against Monroe this year.
When told DeJesus is also the quarterback for Clinton’s football team, leading the Governors to the quarterfinals last fall, Vasquez smiled.
“He’s an extreme athlete,” he said.
DeJesus, however, couldn’t pitch the Governors (8-4) to a win over Monroe (13-0), their bitter rival. Wander Almonte scored the game-winning run on a Frailyn Paez single to left with two outs in the eighth. Leftfielder Oscar Gonzalez seemed to have a shot at Almonte – he was just getting to third as fielding the ball – but bobbled it and lost control. Clinton had runners on in five of eight innings against Vasquez, Monroe’s ace, but could only push across one run, driven in by third baseman Shaniel Rivera in the fourth.
“One little thing costs us the game, and that’s what’s been happening,” DeJesus said. “These games we’re supposed to win, but we don’t.”
Once Almonte crossed the plate with the winning run, Clinton’s baseball team lined up parallel to the plate, a look of dejection and disappointment written on their faces. The Governors have grown used to this routine. Thursday’s loss to Monroe was The Bronx school’s second straight loss by a single run and third by two runs or less.
Yet, D’Alessandro was pleased with his team’s effort. They played well behind DeJesus. Shortstop Melvin Mercedes combined with second baseman Hansel Reinoso to turn a double play deserving of a web gem in which the shortstop flipped the ball with his glove from behind the bag. Rivera made several fine plays on the hot corner and centerfielder Kevin Hernandez and Julian Burgos ran down balls in the outfield. In 13 previous league games, all wins, Monroe had scored in double figures seven times, but managed just two on Thursday.
“This is a good feeling,” D’Alessandro said. “We would’ve liked to come out on top, but I’ll take it.”