Calhoun Loses Pitchers Duel to MacArthur

There's no better way to start out the baseball season than a good old-fashioned pitcher's duel. Joe Christopher tossed six shutout innings for the Colts yesterday, but he was matched all the way by MacArthur's Frankie Vanderka.

Not only did Vanderka throw eight shutout innings, but he also hit the game winning RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to claim the victory for Generals, 1-0.

"We wanted to win today, but Frankie Vanderka did a terrific job," Christopher said.  "We didn't win today but hopefully throughout the season we'll win a few."

It was a beautiful, sunny day at MacArthur High School, and perfect weather for baseball. However, the day was far from perfect for the hitters, who had to deal with two phenomenal pitchers all day.

Vanderka, who ended up with the victory, threw eight scoreless innings while only allowing three hits and surrendering no walks. He also struck out 13 batters.

On the Colts side, Christopher pitched six scoreless innings and allowed just three hits, one walk, and struck out eight. He was also aided by sensational defense. Leading off the sixth inning, third basemen Robbie Rosen made a spectacular diving catch-and-throw on a ground ball down the line to rob a MacArthur player of what looked like a certain extra-base hit.

"We would like to have won our first game," Calhoun coach Joe Corea said, "but it was a 1-0 game, and it was a really good game. Christopher pitched a super six innings, but Vanderka was also really good too."

Vanderka baffled Colts hitters all game long.  The only time Calhoun got a runner into scoring position was in the fourth inning, when shortstop Zach Goldstein hit a leadoff single. With two outs, he stole second, but was stranded when first basemen Frank Trimarco struck out to end the inning.

The hit by Goldstein was the first of the day for Colts. Also picking up hits for Calhoun were Rosen and Tom Viverito.

After six innings, Corea decided to make a pitching change, inserting Trimarco for Christopher. After pitching a scoreless seventh inning, Trimarco walked the leadoff hitter Jesse Tuozzo to start the eight. That set things up for Vanderka, who smashed a ball into the right-centerfield gap allowing Tuozzo to come around and score all the way from first base.

It may have been a tough loss, but the Colts will have an immediate chance for revenge when they play MacArthur again today at 4:45 p.m. in their home opener.