On a blustery, but warm and sunny April day, the Pirates began their 2015 baseball season at home with a thrilling, 7-6 victory over the visiting Northern Burlington Greyhounds.
With ace Ryan Hanratty on the mound, Cinnaminson was in good hands to start the season.
Hanratty was dominate for most of the day, pitching 5.1 innings before sophomore Dom Cicale relieved him in the sixth.
Hanratty had not pitched much during the pre-season due to the practice schedule, the weather and the senior trip, but things worked out well on Thursday.
“He (Hanratty) looked very sharp, very sharp early on. He hasn’t thrown a lot this pre-season. He really hasn’t thrown a whole heck of a lot. For him to come out and be as sharp as he was is incredible,” Head coach Kevin Merrill said following the win.
The Pirates jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when third baseman Nick Mahoney launched an opposite-field home run to left that got caught up in the jetstream.
The Greyhounds answered with a lone run in the second, but Cinnaminson opened it up with three in the third, making it 5-1.
In the inning, the Pirates extended their lead with RBI hits from shortstop Jimmy Cicale, first baseman Adam Berenato and designated hitter Tim Profy.
“We’re a very deep team. I had to make a couple tough decisions today. There are going to be guys in the lineup on Saturday who weren’t in it today. We found a way to beat a very, very good team. I couldn’t be happier for the guys. They worked their butts off and their attitude was great. Their plate approach today was outstanding. That’s a great win against a great team.”
The score remained the same until the top of the sixth. The Greyhounds finally got to Hanratty, scoring four runs to tie the contest at five.
The Pirates regained the lead for good with two in the bottom of the sixth on another RBI hit from Jimmy Cicale and an RBI fielder’s choice from Mike McAndrews. Sophomore reliever Dom Cicale picked up his first varsity win despite allowing a run in the top of the seventh.
“I was thinking the whole time, all the years I played the game, about where I came from. All those years playing sandlot ball, I kept thinking, just pound the strike zone,” Dom Cicale said.
“It’s easier having him (Jimmy Cicale) around because we have chemistry. I grew up watching him and all these guys. So it’s just fun for them to be behind me.”
The Pirates travels to the Rohrer Baseball Classic on Saturday to face St. Joseph Hammonton at 9:30am at Recchino Field. The Championship/Consolation games will be held at 12:30.
