Conestoga pitcher Angus Mayock shuts out Ridley on 3-hitter
Ridley >> Conestoga junior righthanded pitcher Angus Mayock hurled a three-hit shutout Thursday in a 6-0 win at Ridley.
The Pioneers (10-3 overall, 10-2 Central League) have now posted back-to-back shutouts – Thursday’s win came three days after Conestoga’s Mark Anderson threw a no-hitter against Lower Merion for a 10-0 victory.
“[Mayock] was awesome, impressive today,” said Conestoga head coach Kevin Pechin. “Our pitching couldn’t be better [the last two games]. And we’re fielding the ball well, which makes it easy for our pitchers to throw strikes.”
The 6-foot-4 Mayock did not walk a single batter Thursday, struck out six batters, threw only 68 pitches, and gave up only one hard-hit ball, a fifth-inning double by Ridley center fielder Jamie Fisher.
Ridley head coach Kevin Scott was impressed with Mayock too.
“He’s got a good fastball, and he really pounded the strike zone with it [today],” said Scott. “The way he pitched today, [Conestoga] could have gotten one run and that would have been enough. He’s strong – definitely a Division I pitcher.”
Mayock said, “I pretty much stuck with the fastball and curve ball today, they were both working well – my curve ball was [really moving].”
Conestoga broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning. Pioneer center fielder Alex Lee lined a single with one out, then with two outs, second baseman Tim Miller lined a single to left – then the Ridley outfielder made an error on the play, and Lee scored. Conestoga first baseman Tom Fogarty lined a single to right, scoring Miller to make it 2-0.
The Pioneers piled on four more runs in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Lee singled and stole second, then left fielder Percy Mottley cracked a double to right center to make it 3-0. Miller singled to center, then Fogarty dropped a bunt down the third base line. The Ridley pitcher fielded it but his throw to first base was high, and Motley scored. With runners on the corners, Fogarty got into a rundown between first and second, escaped, and Miller scored to make it 5-0. Conestoga right fielder hit a single to left to score Fogarty and give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
Conestoga has been getting some stellar pitching this season. After Thursday, Mayock (2-0) has 23 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched, and a 2.13 ERA. Anderson, author of Monday’s no-hitter, has a 5-1 record, 34 strikeouts in 26 innings and a 1.61 ERA. And Miller has contributed on the mound too – 22 strikeouts in 23 innings, a 3-1 record (his only loss was a 1-0 defeat to Springfield) and a 2.70 ERA.
The Pioneers have been swinging the bats well, too. For the season, Miller is batting .583 with a .944 slugging percentage and 1.611 OPS. Lee, who reached base three times Thursday, scoring two runs and stealing two bases, has been setting the table nicely, batting .475. Fogarty, batting out of the cleanup spot, is batting .417 with a .523 on-base percentage. Mayock is batting .400 with a 1.005 OPS.
Ridley’s loss drops the Green Raiders’ record to 2-11.
“I think our pitching was pretty solid today,” said Scott. “Ryan Downs held [Conestoga] to just two runs outside of the [fifth] inning, and Ryan Bollinger shut [the Pioneers] down for the last two innings.”
Conestoga 6, Ridley 0
Conestoga 002 040 0 — 6
Ridley 000 000 0 — 0
WP – Mayock. LP – Downs.
2B: Fisher (R), Mottley (C).