By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Donnie Moffatt went in search of redemption. The senior hurler found it in the shape of a complete-game effort Thursday afternoon.
One week after failing to get to the third inning against Webster Schroeder, Moffatt hurled seven complete as the McQuaid Knights downed the Warriors, 4-1 in non-league action at Frontier Field.
“It was a rough game for me,” Moffatt said recalling last week’s 12-10 loss to Webster Schroeder. “Probably one of the worst I’ve ever had. I’ve been thinking about this game the entire week, and I really wanted to get back at those guys and win.”
Moffatt allowed an unearned run on six hits in Thursday’s victory. The left-hander struck out four and walked none for his second win of the season.
“He’s been waiting a week to get back out there, and he proved why he’s the number one in the rotation,” McQuaid coach Tony Fuller said. “He answered the bell and was unbelievable.”
Working with a 3-0 lead, Moffatt retired eight of nine from the first to the fourth inning. He threw 90 pitches in all (60 for strikes) while getting nine ground ball outs and another six outs in the air.
“I think all my pitches were working today,” Moffatt noted. “My defense as well. They’re a sound defense. Even though we had a few cough ups here and there.”
Two of those miscues occurred in the sixth when a pair of two-out errors led to a bases loaded situation. Moffatt ended the threat getting a routine fly ball.
“I want to take everything off my infielders,” Moffatt said. “I know they think it was their fault, but I don’t want them to worry about that. Move on to the next play. I know that I can get the next guy out no problem. There’s no worries for me.”
“He wasn’t fazed,” Fuller stated. “He picked the guys up. He executed a pitch and got out of the inning. He realizes his stuff is good enough that things can go wrong and he can battle himself out of it.”
McQuaid took advantage of two Webster Schroeder errors to put a crooked number on the board in the first inning.
Nick Tomei reached when he was hit by a pitch to lead the inning. AJ Fina walked, and Jonathon Catapano loaded the bases on a bunt single. Tomei came around to score when Danny Maxwell‘s fly ball ball was mishandled in right field. One out later, Fina came home when Tyler Griggs reached on an error. Gerry DiMarco capped the inning with an RBI sacrifice fly.
Dimarco drove in Maxwell with a single to make it 4-0 in the third.
For Moffatt, the victory had more meaning coming one year after playing on a sectional champion.
“We beat this team last year, but now being able to beat them again just makes me feel great. If we can beat a team like them, we can beat anybody.”
Sean O’Neill singled and scored on an error for the Warriors only run of the day.
Catapano finished with two hits for McQuaid.
Justin Graham and Stephen Smith had two hits apiece for Webster.
Moffatt allowed eight runs (five earned) on eight hits in two innings of work when Webster-Schroeder beat McQuaid, 12-10 on April seventh.
McQuaid improves to 6-3 on the season. The Knights will play a pair of games in Buffalo on Saturday, one against Lancaster and the other versus Clarence.
Webster Schroeder meets divisional foe Webster Thomas Friday afternoon. A 4:30 p.m. pitch is scheduled at Basket Road Field.
Leave a Reply