By PAUL GOTHAM
EAST ROCHESTER, N.Y. — CJ Mangone hurled four no-hit innings, and Robert McCullough capped an impressive week at the plate as the Aquinas Li’l Irish won their fourth straight game with an 11-0 victory over East Rochester.
Mangone struck out 11 batters for his first victory of the season.
“We knew coming in that we had to play to our potential,” the senior right-hander said. “I had to throw strikes, and I knew the defense would make the plays behind me. Piece by piece, we put it together and that’s what happens.”
After issuing a one-out walk in the first, Mangone retired the next eight batters he faced.
“The fastball was definitely working today,” he said. “I was able to keep pumping it in there.”
McCullough finished 3-for-4 on the day with a double, triple, three RBI and a run scored. The senior centerfielder started the scoring with a two-run triple in the first inning.
“It’s a lot about our energy,” he said of the recent four-game streak. “We got our team energy up and that’s what’s got us winning.”
Mangone led the game with a base hit. Tré Walker followed with a base on balls. One out later, McCullough pushed across the first runs. Jake Wiepert doubled to bring home McCullough, and Will Scanlon added an RBI single to give the Li’l Irish a 4-0 lead after one inning of play.
Max Calleri and Mangone started the second with back-to-back doubles. Walker and Wiepert followed with run-scoring singles to give AQ a commanding 7-0 lead.
“It was great,” Mangone said of the early offensive production. “It helped me relax on the mound and throw strikes.”
With Friday’s performance, McCullough finished the week 7-for-13 with three doubles, two triples and a home run. He drove in eight over the three games and scored five more.
“My team is keeping me up with all the energy,” he added. “Just doing what I got to do to help the team.”
Walker reached base all four times he came to the plate going 2-for-2 with two walks and four runs scored. The ninth-grade shortstop also stole a pair of bases.
Lucas Leone was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
Max Calleri kept the no-hitter intact with a strike out and a walk in the scoreless fifth of a shortened game.
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