This was one for the West Orange High School baseball team to cherish, a game that won't soon be forgotten. Especially for senior right-handed pitcher Giovanni Loreto.
Loreto pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout to beat Seton Hall Prep 8-0 Thursday afternoon at the Mountaineers' field.
Loreto followed strong winning starts from teammates Adam Miller and Corey Feigenbaum with one against one of the better teams in the state and a rival in the Super Essex Conference Liberty Division. Loreto also went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and had an RBI single during a four-run first inning. Alex Bahia also had an RBI single in the frame as the Mountaineers gave Loreto a cushion he wouldn't relinquish.
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"It was a big help," said Loreto, who called the victory the biggest he's ever had.
Loreto walked none and struck out four as the Mountaineers raised their record to 4-1. Seton Hall Prep, ranked as high as 11th in some state-wide polls, is 3-2.
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"It means a lot, the team played well," said Loreto, who is 1-0, in addition to getting one save against Newark East Side. "There are three things you have to do to be successful — pitching, hitting and fielding. Everything was there today."
All nine batters in the Mountaineers' order had at least one RBI or run scored. Sophomore infielder Nick Mockabee went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a walk and two stolen bases. Senior Joe Boettinger had two RBIs and the Thomas Attamante and Matt Scalora had RBIs. Scalora had a triple and run scored.
Feigenbaum, who played third and scored a run, was proud to be part of a team that has come together.
"We have six seniors who have been playing together since we were eight," he said. "We're playing as a family and doing it game after game."
Like Feigenbaum did in his complete-game win against Bloomfield Wednesday, Loreto got ahead in the count. Loreto used a curveball and cutter to go along with the fastball.
"I was getting ahead with the fastball and that helped me out," said Loreto. "The key was staying ahead, throw strikes and let the guys behind me make the plays."
The Mountaineers will be back in action this afternoon when they play at Nutley.
