McGrody masterful as Ryan nips Carroll
There is an unwritten rule in baseball that says teammates should never let their pitcher know when he is throwing a no-hitter.
There is an unwritten rule in baseball that says teammates should never let their pitcher know when he is throwing a no-hitter.
Sometimes, they will go to extremes and not sit near him for fear they may break his concentration or rhythm.
No such rule exists, however, for the opposing team.
In the fourth inning of Archbishop Ryan's 1-0 win over Archbishop Carroll in a chilly Catholic League contest Thursday, a player in the Carroll dugout let Shane McGrody know he was on the verge of a masterpiece.
"He's got a no-hitter, baby!" the voice said. "He's got a no-hitter!"
Undeterred, McGrody blew through the first two batters in three pitches before Nick Zambella ripped a single into left field and Rich Melito flipped a blooper to right.
"I said, 'He jinxed me,' " McGrody recalled thinking. "He jinxed me."
Unfortunately for Carroll, the hits were precisely the pressure-release McGrody desired.
"Kind of wanted the no-hitter off my shoulders, actually," McGrody said. "Kind of wanted them to get a hit so I didn't have to focus on that. Just kept my composure and focused."
Ryan catcher Matt Romano picking off Melito at first certainly helped. McGrody then deftly negotiated another jam in the sixth en route to a two-hit shutout.
The Chalfont resident finished with six strikeouts and zero walks, and needed just 72 pitches.
"This means a lot for us because it's our first win," he said. "Struggled in the first few games and just had to battle it out. Not a lot of offense, but it was a tough win."
A Carroll throwing error in the first inning allowed Anthony Fratanduono, who singled to start the game, to score from third. The Raiders (1-3 overall, 1-2 conference) finished with just four hits. Joe Iannacone had two and Shane Smith also singled.
For Carroll (2-4, 2-2), Chris Altopiedi was also impressive. He struck out five and and scattered four hits in defeat.
McGrody, however, simply couldn't be rattled. Midway through last year, McGrody transferred from Ryan and pitched at Philadelphia Academy Charter in the Public League. He returned to Ryan, in part, for better baseball competition.
McGrody hit Mike McCarthy in the back to start the sixth, but he got two ground-ball outs and a strikeout in the next six pitches.
"I had a backdoor slider that was coming in handy, and I actually located pitches better," McGrody said. "In my first (start), I was a little wild. Just had to get my composure down, focus better and work my mechanics."
Archbishop Carroll 000 000 0 - 0 2 1
Archbishop Ryan 100 000 x - 1 4 0
WP: Shane McGrody. LP: Chris Altopiedi.
