John Carroll strikes out final batter with tying run at third to lead Chaminade
Chaminade's John Carroll throws a pitch in the first inning against St. Anthony's during the Corey's Promise baseball tournament on Tuesday at the Moriches Sports Complex. Credit: Bob Sorensen
The shutout had just gotten away from John Carroll. But the victory? No way was that getting away from the Chaminade lefty on opening day in the NSCHSAA.
Potential tying run on third for St. Anthony’s. Two outs. Last of the seventh. Fastball at the knees. Strike three.
The Flyers beat the Friars, 2-1, Tuesday at Moriches Athletic Complex, part of the league’s opening day honoring Corey Phelan, a Greenlawn native and former Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguer who died in Oct. 2022 after a six-month battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
“Awesome,” Carroll said of the feeling after that final pitch.
Awesome was also the best description for his performance — four-hitter, one walk, nine strikeouts.
“He’s the one pitcher on our staff that’s got a lot of experience,” coach Mike Pienkos said. “The kid knows how to win. He’s just a real competitor.”
The Navy-bound senior is this baseball team’s ace after being a third starter and reliever last season.
He looked the part in this first start.
Carroll, who was especially pleased with his changeup, retired the final three batters after a dropped fly and a single was followed by a pitch that eluded the catcher and allowed the Friars’ run to score.
“Even when I wasn’t like technically the (No.) 1 pitcher in the rotation, I still had an expectation for myself to go out there and get the job done,” Carroll said.
Chaminade lost in the championship series to Holy Trinity last season, then lost two starting pitchers and all but two regular position players. Carroll still believes the Flyers can contend again.
“It really all depends on pitching,” Pienkos said. “I think we can play good defense . . . Listen, anyone in this league can contend. There’s no favorite this year.”
The Friars, who fell in the semis to Holy Trinity and then lost their two best pitchers, could take inspiration from this game.
“When you play a team like Chaminade, if you’re not going to roll over, that means we’re going to be in this to the end, just like the rest of these teams,” coach Paul Parsolano said.
The Flyers nicked starter John Didden for a run in the first on a leadoff double by Sean Sweeney, an infield hit by Peter Beisel and a sac fly by Mike Cervoni.
They scored again in the fourth against John Parpis on a single by Sweeney.
“He can swing it,” Pienkos said.
Didden worked three innings and Parpis the final four, and they combined to strand 11. But Carroll stood out the most.
“Their guy was special today,” Parsolano said. “He did a great job.”
