McGibbon, Skon hit home runs as Lindenhurst tops Whitman, 7-1

With his college choice already made before the high school baseball season began, all Jon McGibbon wants to do in his senior year is have fun.

The Lindenhurst first baseman will attend Clemson University, but there could be some added pressure now that many major-league scouts are calling to take a look at him.

"There are times where I think about it, but it's nothing too big for me," he said. "I just forget about it come game time."

Six major-league scouts watched McGibbon go 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and a walk for host Lindenhurst in a 7-1 win over Whitman Monday in a Suffolk League II opener.

McGibbon walked in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning and scored on a two-run double by Steve Skon (who went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs) to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. In the next inning, McGibbon crushed the first pitch he saw from Hofstra-bound Nick Kozlowski for a three-run homer to centerfield.

"It felt amazing," McGibbon said. "I was expecting him to come in on me and he did."

Lindenhurst coach Mike Canobbio said McGibbon hit a 430-foot home run in front of a scout at a scrimmage two weeks ago, and that helped him relax.

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"I had a long talk with Jon over the weekend about having fun," Canobbio said. "He has a tendency to be tough on himself."

Lindenhurst starter Tom Bammann allowed a run-scoring double to Nick Karalekas in the top of the first but struck out the next two batters and cruised the rest of the way. He threw a five-hitter, walked one, allowed no earned runs and struck out 10.

"The first inning was a little rough, but I got past it," Bammann said. "I had good command with the fastball and a good slider. My pitches were up early and I got them lower after that."