By PAUL GOTHAM
Tommy DiFranco followed his usual routine during Tuesday’s team practice. That is until the Penfield junior found out about a late change of plans.
With teammate Gage Ziehl needing another day to recover from being hit by a pitch, DiFranco was moved into the starter’s role for Wednesday’s Monroe County Division II matchup with Brighton.
The 5-foot-10-inch right-hander responded with six complete innings and the win…in his first varsity start.
“I found out yesterday at the end of practice,” DiFranco said after Penfield’s 6-5 victory over Brighton. “It was ‘you have to throw a bullpen today because you’re pitching tomorrow.’ I was like ‘okay!’”
He struck out three without issuing a walk and allowed two runs (both unearned) on eight hits.
Tommy DiFranco ends the 6th with his third K of the day. Right-hander has retired 12 of 14. Penfield 6 Brighton 2 pic.twitter.com/dgilvY6WSK
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 12, 2021
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE.
“He got into a rhythm,” Penfield head coach Nick Marcin said. “He started to mix his pitches well, change of speeds well. He was in the zone. When hitters know you’re going to be in the zone, they have to open up their approach a little bit and maybe you get them to start swinging at pitches a little in or out. They can’t quite barrel it up.”
DiFranco’s defense also delivered when needed.
Shortstop Peyton Pace threw out a runner looking to advance from second to third on a ground ball in the first. One inning later, the infield turned an inning-ending double play to escape a bases-loaded situation.
Tommy DiFranco helps his own cause with a 2-out, 2-run single. Penfield 4-2 in 5th. pic.twitter.com/SMbDLF2zHB
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 12, 2021
“When Tommy pitches, we know there’s going to be contact,” Marcin noted. “We have to play good defense behind him.”
From there, DiFranco retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced.
“The curve-ball and change-up were really at it today,” he said. “They hit a couple fastballs early pretty hard. I really found a groove with the curveball and change-up and kept working those.”
Another defensive play provided a spark for the Penfield offense.
With one out in the top of the fifth and a runner on second, Brighton’s Troy McPherson sent a fly ball to center that Penfield’s Dom Porto tracked. Porto fired a strike to teammate Nick Ianniello at third for the final out of the inning.
“Right before I threw it, we locked eyes,” the Penfield centerfielder said when asked how the play unfolded. “I was thinking if this guy goes, I’m getting him. When he went, I grinned. I was like ‘perfect.’ I trusted my stuff and I hosed him. It felt great.”
The Patriots responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
“We just needed a spark,” Porto said. “We were a little dull before that. This is a great group of guys, and we can pick up that momentum quickly. We just used that to get going.”
With runners on second and third, DiFranco connected on the first of three straight two-out hits for Penfield.
Tommy DiFranco helps his own cause with a 2-out, 2-run single. Penfield 4-2 in 5th. pic.twitter.com/SMbDLF2zHB
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 12, 2021
“I saw a fastball first pitch,” he said. “I was looking to put a ball out into the field and I did that. I was really happy with that.”
Pinch runner Drew Heinze and Robbie Wing scored on the play to give Penfield a lead it did not surrender. DiFranco stole second and scored on Brady Ventura’s single. Porto capped the outburst with a single to bring home Ventura.
“I worked hard in the off-season, and I knew I could hammer a fastball,” Porto said. “He gave me one, so I just put that over the second baseman.”
Brighton scored three runs in the seventh. Starting pitcher Troy McPherson brought home two with a double to left field.
Troy McPherson cuts the deficit to one with a 2-run double. O outs. Runners on second and third. pic.twitter.com/QA9WWwKwID
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 12, 2021
Penfield’s Zach Kaper came on with bases loaded, no outs and retired the side on a strike out, infield pop up and line drive back to the box to register the save.
Wing finished the game 2-for-2. Ventura was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Pace was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Zach Kaper grabs the line drive for the final out. Penfield 6 Brighton 5. pic.twitter.com/IjZqNLRCHq
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 12, 2021
Brighton’s Ellis Einbinder went 4-for-4 in the game.
Penfield (6-0) will host Rush-Henrietta on Thursday. The game will feature the pitching matchup of Ziehl (University of Miami) and Chris Sleeper (West Virginia University).
Ziehl was hit by a pitch during Penfield’s game on Monday.
“He got hit on the forearm with a pitch,” Marcin explained. “It was still a little tight. We asked him if he wanted one more day.”
Brighton (1-3) plays at Fairport on Friday.
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