Baseball: Panas adapts to getting everyone's best and runs streak to 10

Josh Thomson, Rockland/Westchester Journal News

May 10, 2022 at 9:58 AM·4 min read

MONTROSE - There were three pitching changes in one inning alone, not to mention double steal attempts and defensive shifts galore.

One batter even batted right-handed and left-handed — in the same at-bat.

"We're everybody's Super Bowl," Panas coach Anthony Fata said. "That's been everybody who we played against this year. They try to get under our skin, in our heads and throw us off our game. These kids, to their credit, they don't really get phased by that. I think that's why they've been showing these late game heroics. They get mad."

Monday at Sunset Park, Panas stay focused long enough to outlast Hen Hud 6-2 in eight innings and run their winning streak to 10 straight.

The Panthers — with five high-major Division I commits on the roster — entered the spring as a team to beat and have mostly lived up to that hype.

"It's definitely different," said junior Jackson DiLorenzo, a right-handed pitcher committed to East Carolina. "I think we had a losing record before the COVID year and then last year we kind of made a name for ourselves a little bit. Going into this year, every game's a Game 7 for the other team. It's definitely a different feeling, but it's great to know everyone's coming after us."

Walter Panas' Tony Humphrey makes a diving catch at Hendrick Hudson May 6, 2022. Panas won 6-2.

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On Monday, Hen Hud was the team in pursuit. The Sailors were aggressive early and scored off DiLorenzo on a throwing error. They led 1-0 until the third when Panas tied it on an unearned run. But the Panthers' bats were quiet until the eighth against a Hen Hud team carrying eight sophomores and just one pitcher who is an upperclassman (senior Josh Shea). With all that youth, coach Van Vourliotis tried everything to gain an edge, including rotating pitchers between outfield and the mound.

"It's something we believe in," Vourliotis said of the machinations. "It's something we talk about. We might not always be the most talented team -- the fastest, the strongest -- but we want to be the most prepared. I think they look at it as a challenge. I think it's something fun and something we can practice."

After Hen Hud ran up DiLorenzo's pitch count, sophomore Alex Enea pitched the final two innings to earn the win in relief. It was the latest dramatic win for the Panthers, who have played more close games than they'd prefer.

"We're trying not to," said senior Aidan Cohall, who is committed to St. John's. "With the team we have, we're capable of going deep into the games and finding a way to win. Going into the playoffs, we have to try and put teams away early. But we always find a way and that's what I love about this team."

What it means

Panas ended Monday as the winner of 10 straight. The victory also earned the Panthers a league title.

Player of the game

Jackson DiLorenzo, Panas: Although he didn't earn the decision, the junior right-hander pitched six strong innings, allowing no earned runs on just four hits, and striking out 11. He also launched a double to deep left center to lead off the eighth and spark Panas' decisive five-run rally.

By the numbers

Panas (16-1) — Cohall reached based three times, which included a pair of doubles. DiLorenzo went 2 for 3 with a walk and Danny Witters went 2 for 3 with a hit by pitch and scored what proved to be the winning run. ... Gavin Carlucci drove in the go-ahead run and Travis Carlucci also had an RBI single in the eighth.

Hen Hud (10-8) — Max Lipton pitched 5⅓ innings and allowed just one unearned run on five hits while striking out six. Josh Shea entered in the sixth and stranded a runner at third. ... Although the Sailors finished with just four hits, Tyler Moranaka reached base three times and scored a run on an error in the first inning.

Walter Panas' Aidan Cohall runs out a bunt during a game at Hendrick Hudson May 6, 2022. Panas won 6-2.

Quotable

"Like I've been telling the team, we've been living dangerously," Fata said. "I'm really proud that we are 16-1 and that we've found a way to win games, but I know the way it is in the playoffs. I've told them, 'If you keep living like this, you can be one and done.'"

Josh Thomson is the Sports Editor for The Journal News and Poughkeepsie Journal. He can be reached by e-mail at jthomson@lohud.com, on Twitter at @lohudinsider, and on Instagram at @lohudinsider.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Baseball: Panas beats Hen Hud in extra innings to extend win streak

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What it means

Player of the game

By the numbers

Quotable

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