D'Orsi Tosses 1-Hitter As Indians Blank Fermi

Defending a state title is no easy task when 11 players graduate from the championship team.

The Northwest Catholic baseball team has experienced some growing pains since capturing the Class S banner last spring. With just one returning starter from that team, the Indians dropped their first four contests this year, heading into Monday's game at Fermi.

Luckily for the Indians, that returning starter, Matt D'Orsi, was the winning pitcher in last year's championship game. With that kind of horse taking the mound, it was inevitable that the team would turn the corner.

D'Orsi delivered in a big way Monday, allowing just one hit and striking out six, leading the Indians to a 10-0 victory.

"He's throwing strikes, he's ahead of the guys and he's throwing three pitches. He's very tough to beat," Northwest Catholic coach Cory Carlson said. "Today he threw his best game of the year so far, and we definitely needed it."

A leadoff single in the fourth inning by Joe Bowker proved to be the only hit the Falcons would manage off D'Orsi.

The Indians scored the only run they would need in the first inning. Aaron Wilson led off with an infield single off Fermi starter Jeff Kraucunas, and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Fox.

Northwest Catholic added another run in the fourth, when Fox walked and later came home on a sacrifice fly by D'Orsi.

Fermi had its best scoring chance in the fourth, loading the bases with two outs, but D'Orsi struck out Andrew Roy to end the threat.

A five-run fifth inning broke the game open for the Indians. Matt McGoldrick scored on an infield error, Mac Crispino came in on a bases-loaded walk to Fox, and Dan Errico scored on a throwing error. D'Orsi then provided himself with some insurance by cracking a two-run single, scoring Fox and Mike Wine.

Northwest Catholic tacked on three more runs in the sixth, all with two outs off reliever Travis Smith. Fox singled in Crispino, then Wine's bloop single knocked in Errico and Alex Mortillaro.

"We've probably just seen the toughest part of our schedule," said Fermi head coach Connell Clark, whose club dropped to 1-3. "Hopefully we can turn things around, starting Wednesday with a conference game at Tolland."

Northwest Catholic hosts New Britain Wednesday at 3:45 p.m.