From STAFF REPORTS | Photography by Dan Netz He isn’t the Maranatha ace, but Will Downing pitched like one on Thursday afternoon. The junior right hander allowed just two hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out nine as MHS earned a 6-0 victory at Bosco Tech. Downing was incredibly efficient and finished the deal […]
From STAFF REPORTS | Photography by Dan Netz
He isn’t the Maranatha ace, but Will Downing pitched like one on Thursday afternoon.
The junior right hander allowed just two hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out nine as MHS earned a 6-0 victory at Bosco Tech.
Downing was incredibly efficient and finished the deal on just 66 pitches.
He got through the first two innings in 16 pitches and in nearly 15 innings on the mound for the Minutemen in 2018, Downing has yet to give up a run.
The Maranatha bats weren’t exactly on fire, but they were able to bang out six runs on five hits.
Marco Martinez went 2 for 2, scored once and had an RBI.
Max Blessinger doubled, scored and drove in one run.
Charles Acker went 1 for 4, drove in one run and scored another.
Sal Tabullo drove in one run on a sac fly.
Ben Guess singled and scored twice.
Maranatha will play a Saturday doubleheader with Salesian and then they are back to the grind as it relates to the Olympic League pennant chase.
MHS will face off three times with Heritage Christian next week.
Quotable:
Maranatha coach Matt Shupper: “Will pitched one of the most efficient high school games I’ve seen. He pummeled the strikezone and executed the game plan, which was throw strikes and let the defense make plays. We’ve been trying to find pitchers behind Dawson and this week is giving us the chance to see what we have.”
Maranatha junior Will Downing: “Not getting behind in any counts and throwing strikes and going after them was key (in my low pitch count). I came into the school wanting to earn the No. 2 spot in the rotation. The command of my fastball at the bottom of the zone helped me get a lot of ground ball outs. I knew my defense would make plays behind me.”
Box Score:
M: 0-0-0-3-2-0-1-(6)
B: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-(0)
2B: Max Blessinger (M)
Records: Maranatha (12-4); Bosco Tech (4-13)
