Commack's Sparacino four-hits WM

Mike Sparacino is hitting his stride at the perfect time.

The Commack righthander had his troubles early on, but the junior has improved since then, and it showed Thursday with his best outing.

Sparacino threw a four-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk to lead Commack to a 3-0 road win over Ward Melville in Suffolk League I baseball. He also lined a two-run double to centerfield in the first inning.

"Before the game, I knew I had good stuff," Sparacino said. "I had a rough start to the season. I had very good seasons the last two years. Hopefully, this will get me ready for the playoffs."

Sparacino faced a one-out, second-and-third jam in the first inning and struck out the next two batters. He allowed the leadoff batter to reach in two of the next three innings and came away unscathed.

"I was having trouble getting the first guy out," he said. "I've always been able to persevere throughout the innings my entire life. I had everything, especially my off-speed pitches. I was able to control the ball well and throw strikes with every pitch."

Sparacino retired 12 of the final 13 he faced, with the lone baserunner reaching on an error. Commack's Greg Andrews, who had two doubles, said of Sparacino, "He got stronger as the game went on. He had command of everything."

SEE PHOTOSCommack 3, Ward Melville 0

Andrews led off the game with a double, Rocco Pepe singled and Charles Galiano singled home Andrews before Sparacino's two-run double made it 3-0.

"Sparacino pitched a great game," Ward Melville coach Lou Petrucci said. "He had our hitters off stride. It's like we never played baseball before."

After allowing three runs and four hits in the first, Ward Melville's Brandon Perkins gave up two hits, walked one and struck out seven the rest of the way.

Ward Melville (9-8, 8-7) needs to win two of three from Patchogue-Medford (11-4) to make the playoffs. The regular season is over for Commack (15-5, 13-5), which still can win the league title.

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"That would be awesome for us," Sparacino said. "That's our ultimate goal. To win the league title would be a great achievement for us."