Chaminade's John Downing strikes out 14 in win over St. John the Baptist

The start was anything but what Long Island baseball fans have become accustomed to seeing from Chaminade ace John Downing. But the finish proved exactly why he’s one of the top pitchers in the area.

Downing surrendered back-to-back walks to St. John the Baptist’s Kyle Chase and Nicholas Petrelli to open the contest. Chase stole home later in the inning for the game’s first run. But the 6-3 lefthander settled in, controlled the game from there and finished with 14 strikeouts as Chaminade defeated St. John the Baptist, 4-2, in CHSAA baseball at Cantiague Park in Hicksville.

“I knew after getting through that first inning I’d be grooving,” Downing said. “I’d be good.”

Good is an understatement as Downing scattered three hits with two walks, one hit batter, and the 14 strikeouts in a complete game. Downing was incredibly consistent, striking out two batters in every inning.

“My offspeed was working great today, changeup, slider, curve everything’s been working and I felt awesome,” Downing said. “I feel like there’s no one up that who can hit me once I throw all my pitches right.”

“He’s the backbone of our staff,” coach Mike Pienkos said. “We rely on him heavily and he performs for us. He’s a horse.”

Nolan Nawrocki tied the score at 1 for Chaminade with a home run to left-centerfield to leadoff the second inning.

“I was just looking to be aggressive and I got a pitch I could hit and I put a barrel on it,” Nawrocki said. “The goal was just to get our team back holding the momentum.”

Chaminade (8-0) scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 4-1 advantage. Michael Giammona scored on a throwing error by the pitcher after a ball put into play by Vincent Roman to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. One batter later with runners on first and third base, Brady Steinert delivered a first-pitch, two-run double to left-centerfield to drive in Nicholas Ungania and Roman to take a three-run lead.

“I knew I needed to extend the lead,” Steinert said. “I got a curveball out in front of the plate and I attacked it first pitch. I’m glad I was able to get the team some runs and help my team out.”

“That broke their back,” Pienkos said. “That base hit was key. Getting those two runs in gave us a little breathing room with John on the mound and we feel confident with him and a three-run lead.”

Chase went 1-for-2 with a walk and Nicholas Mirabile went 2-for-3 for St. John the Baptist (4-4).

Even after a slower start by his standard, Downing, committed to Seton Hall, retired six of the final batters in the victory.

“He’s always been like that,” Steinert said. “He doesn’t let starts get out of hand. He always plays his game.”

“We have no doubt in him,” Nawrocki said. “He goes in there (and is great) every game and if we make the plays, we’re not going to lose behind him.”