By PAUL GOTHAM
IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. — The Webster Thomas bats gave starting pitcher Connor Smith plenty of run support.
Not that the senior right-hander needed much.
Smith hurled five shutout innings before allowing a pair to cross home in the sixth, and the Titans (2-0) defeated host Irondequoit (1-1), 10-2 in Monroe County Division II action from Ken Slater Field, Monday afternoon.
“He did an outstanding job,” said 12th-year head coach Kevin Neenan. “He gets ahead of hitters. He usually has pretty good control and pounds the zone for us. It’s good to see when you have a senior who’s willing to step up.”
Smith struck out seven and allowed two runs on five hits in his first outing of the season. He retired nine of 10 to start the game.
Last season, he made 11 appearances in relief. He finished the year throwing 16.2 innings.
“Last year, he was more of our closer. He’s worked in to become one of our starters.”
On a day when the temperatures hovered in the low to mid-40s and the sun rarely appeared from behind the clouds, Smith’s most important statistic might have been that he limited his numbers of walks issued to one.
“These days are tough if you’re not throwing strikes, and guys are standing around,” Neenan said. “It’s tough to make plays. Cold day, he got on the mound and was ready to go.”
Thomas sent nine to the plate (six with two outs) and pushed across five runs in the third.
Leading 2-0, Owen Zimmer reached on an error to start the inning, Drew Rosa singled and put runners on the corners. Two outs later, Cameron Guffey beat out an infield single to bring in the first run of the frame.
Charlie Sciortino followed with a two-run double, and AJ LaLoggia delivered a an RBI triple to highlight the outburst.
“They had a couple mistakes, and I thought we did a good job of taking advantage,” Neenan said. “When the other team makes mistakes, we keep saying we got make it hurt. I thought we did that today.”
LaLoggia (2-for-4 with a walk) was one of four to account for two hits on the day joining Tyler Estelle (2-4 with a HBP), Rosa (2-5) and Guffey (2-4).
Sciortino went 1-2 and reached base three times. He added an RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth and scored twice.
Parker Carley singled, walked twice, had a sacrifice and scored two runs.
Thomas returns 12 players from a team that won 13 games a year ago, but whose season ended with a loss to Athena in the Class AA quarterfinals.
“We got a good group of seniors and a lot of kids back. It’s nice to have that going into the preseason. All fall and winter we have had high expectations for these guys. These guys are ready for it. We got a lot of good teams we have to play against. We know we’re going to get the best for sure.”
Irondequoit’s Colby Mroczek had two hits including an RBI single. Teammate Landon Bryan tripled and scored a run.
Charlie Sciortino plates two with a two-out double and then scores on an AJ LaLoggia oppo triple. @TitansBBall18 7-0 over Irondequoit middle of the third. pic.twitter.com/G1mcFRJ6A6
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 7, 2025
Cameron Guffey brings in a run with a one-out single. @TitansBBall18 9-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth. pic.twitter.com/5TQ7TXlo10
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 7, 2025
Colby Mroczek and Max Spitz combine on a 3-6-3 GDP for @WItown_Baseball pic.twitter.com/gAWdaFeNVJ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 7, 2025
Colby Mroczek plates Max Spitz with a one-out single. pic.twitter.com/7nJtiM7WPg
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 7, 2025
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