Quick Start for Indians Baseball

It has taken just two games for the Manchester High School baseball team to show its rivals in the CCC North that it has the talent, depth and versatility to compete for the division title. The Indians have tapped into their pitching, hitting and defense to open the 2011 season at 2-0.

Coach Marc DiDominzio, in his second year, isn’t assuredly predicting that Manchester will threaten to win the CCC North but he is confident that the Indians are headed in the right direction to qualify for the CIAC Class LL state tournament in June. If the pitchers live up to their potential, it could be a special season. DiDominzio can call on seven pitchers – three starters and four relievers – and all are ordinarily tough at-bats for most hitters.

“We have a lot of depth in our pitching, and that’s a huge plus if you’re playing three games a week,” said DiDominzio, whose team finished 14-9 last year with a quarterfinal loss to Shelton in the LL tournament. “I want to get some guys some work and hopefully they’ll throw strikes the way [the others] have been doing.”

Max Dougan, a junior right-hander, Hall 2-0 in the season opener on April 6. He walked six batters but struck out nine and really didn’t have a ball hit off him that was close to a hit. The following day, the Indians’ bats showed their potency with 13 hits in a 7-3 win over Cromwell, clinched by a four-run ninth inning. Matt Webber had four hits and drove in two runs.

Manchester, which finished third in the CCC North last year at 9-5, was able to win in extra innings on April 7 because it received solid pitching. Jeff Cate, a senior righty, started and pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and two walks and striking out three. Nolan Cardwell relieved, retired all six batters, striking out two, and earned the win.

DiDominzio plans to start junior Zack Mack on Monday at E.O. Smith. Mack did not play last year. The Indians’ three other relievers are seniors Chris Montanez and Charles McComber, a lefty, and junior Brendan Jordan, who worked out of the bullpen in 2010.

Manchester began the season having lost key performers from last year’s team but with DiDominzio knowing there was young talent ready to step in. Thus far, that’s what’s happened.

The less-experienced players are showing what they can do. They are showing the poise necessary to be a reliable fielding team. All together, Manchester has committed two errors in two games. Against Cromwell, shortstop Heriberto Resto – a defensive replacement against Hall – came up with three or four sparkling fielding plays. First baseman Miles Spencer turned a double-play, started by snagging a line drive down the foul line.

“We lost about half our starters from last year,” said senior captain Travis Mistretta, a two-year starter in left field, as well as a CIAC Division III All-State hockey center. “We had some good talent, we had some good experience and some good leadership. I feel that some of that experience has rubbed off on the younger players. They definitely have some maturity on them.”

They’ve contributed at bat and held their own in the field.

“Physical errors are going to happen,” DiDominzio said. “You just try to limit the mental errors. I’d say we’ve only had one of those in the first two games. We’ll take that.”

An area that needs improvement, DiDominzio said, is coming up with timely hits. “Early on, we haven’t gotten the big hits to score runs. We’re getting guys on base, we’re just not getting them in all the time,” he said.

Manchester’s winning rally at Cromwell, in a non-conference game, was aided by an error and a fielder’s choice. But it began with Mistretta being hit by a pitch, then Cate singled to put runners on first and second for Mike Spencer. Spencer’s single to right-center field made it 4-3. Brian Nessing’s fielder’s added another run. Following a Cromwell error, Evan Rodrigue doubled to right, then Miles Spencer’s fielder’s choice gave Manchester a 6-3 lead.

“They’re a good team," Hall coach Jeff Billing said after his team's loss. "They’ve got two good pitchers.”