Full Press coverage of Monsignor Donovan's first SCT win in seven years
Griffins down Braves behind Gannon's bat and arm
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
LAKEWOOD - Paul Murray, Monsignor Donovan High School baseball coach, tossed Saturday's game ball through the drizzly air to winning pitcher Andy Gannon.
""Here you go, kid,'' said Murray
Gannon thought for a moment about what he might do with the souvenir from the school's first victory in the Shore Conference Tournament since 2000.
""Maybe I'll put it on my mantle, mount it up there,'' said Gannon.
The junior held a potent Manalapan lineup to three hits, struck out seven, walked none, and also drove in three runs to lead the Griffins to a 7-2 SCT first round victory over the Braves (16-9) at FirstEnergy Park.
Monsignor Donovan (12-10), seeded 21st, will visit fifth-seeded Wall (17-5) in a Round of Sixteen Game tentatively set for Wednesday.
Gannon (5-4) said pitching at the spacious home of the Lakewood BlueClaws, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, was much different than pitching at his long ball friendly high school field.
There, Manalapan defeated him a few weeks ago in a nondivision game, 5-2.
""He was in total command today with his fastball, changeup, and curveball,'' said Murray. ""He got strikeouts on every pitch.''
""Fly balls here are routine outs,'' said Gannon. ""I can focus on my pitches and be aggressive.''
Saturday Gannon focused on his hitting as well with a pair of doubles.
He blasted a long two-run double to left field in the first inning and in the third a two-run single by Adam Murray helped make it 5-0.
Manalapan appeared to receive a break with two down in the fourth. Two runs scored when a Jay Goldheimer fly ball was dropped in right field and Ryan Harvey then lashed a single to center.
But junior Ken Ouimet's laser throw to the plate cut down Goldheimer trying to score.
""The kid (Ouimet) has big time arm,'' said Murray. ""Normally something like that (error) is deflating to a team. But to come back and throw the kid out at home switched the momentum in our favor.''
In the fifth Gannon pulled an RBI double inside third base and Chris Khoudary's RBI single made it a five-run game.
According to Asbury Park Press records Donovan's last SCT appearance before Saturday was in 2001 after it defeated Keansburg, 3-1, in 2000.
Murray said Mark Poinsett (2-1), a sophomore left-hander, will have the assignment against the Knights.
""Winning this is a good feeling,'' said Gannon. ""We just want to keep it going. Hopefully we can have a good game against Wall.''
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
LAKEWOOD - Paul Murray, Monsignor Donovan High School baseball coach, tossed Saturday's game ball through the drizzly air to winning pitcher Andy Gannon.
""Here you go, kid,'' said Murray
Gannon thought for a moment about what he might do with the souvenir from the school's first victory in the Shore Conference Tournament since 2000.
""Maybe I'll put it on my mantle, mount it up there,'' said Gannon.
The junior held a potent Manalapan lineup to three hits, struck out seven, walked none, and also drove in three runs to lead the Griffins to a 7-2 SCT first round victory over the Braves (16-9) at FirstEnergy Park.
Monsignor Donovan (12-10), seeded 21st, will visit fifth-seeded Wall (17-5) in a Round of Sixteen Game tentatively set for Wednesday.
Gannon (5-4) said pitching at the spacious home of the Lakewood BlueClaws, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, was much different than pitching at his long ball friendly high school field.
There, Manalapan defeated him a few weeks ago in a nondivision game, 5-2.
""He was in total command today with his fastball, changeup, and curveball,'' said Murray. ""He got strikeouts on every pitch.''
""Fly balls here are routine outs,'' said Gannon. ""I can focus on my pitches and be aggressive.''
Saturday Gannon focused on his hitting as well with a pair of doubles.
He blasted a long two-run double to left field in the first inning and in the third a two-run single by Adam Murray helped make it 5-0.
Manalapan appeared to receive a break with two down in the fourth. Two runs scored when a Jay Goldheimer fly ball was dropped in right field and Ryan Harvey then lashed a single to center.
But junior Ken Ouimet's laser throw to the plate cut down Goldheimer trying to score.
""The kid (Ouimet) has big time arm,'' said Murray. ""Normally something like that (error) is deflating to a team. But to come back and throw the kid out at home switched the momentum in our favor.''
In the fifth Gannon pulled an RBI double inside third base and Chris Khoudary's RBI single made it a five-run game.
According to Asbury Park Press records Donovan's last SCT appearance before Saturday was in 2001 after it defeated Keansburg, 3-1, in 2000.
Murray said Mark Poinsett (2-1), a sophomore left-hander, will have the assignment against the Knights.
""Winning this is a good feeling,'' said Gannon. ""We just want to keep it going. Hopefully we can have a good game against Wall.''
posted by Tony Graham at 3:15 PM
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