St. Ray’s 7 – Xavier 1
If St. Raymond’s 7-1 win over Xavier yesterday was any indication of what to expect from the Ravens this season, the rest of the CHSAA had better look out.
St. Ray’s (4-0, 2-0) hit the ball hard all day long, but in the early going just couldn’t seem to find right spots. The game remained a pitchers’ duel until the St. Raymond’s bats came alive in the fifth, with the aid of some erratic fielding by the Knights.
“We had them off balance,” said Xavier coach Richie Duffell. “We made a lot of errors. We can’t field like that. At the end, [pitcher Jonathan Tear] lost some zip. He threw a lot of pitches. We didn’t hit to help him, either.”
With the Ravens leading 1-0 in the fifth inning, Tear gave up singles down the third-base line and through the middle, making it 2-0. Xavier (8-7, 0-2) ended the rally when first baseman Layden Sleeper made a nifty catch as part of an inning-ending double play.
With the score 3-0 in the sixth, St. Raymond’s blew the game open when junior catcher Joey Rivisto (2-4, three RBIs) drilled a home run to left-center to make it 6-0.
“[Rivisto] fought off two strikes,” said Patnosh. “He took four or five pitches. That was the best at-bat for him all year.”
Rivisto, who struggled in the exhibition season, credits a change in holding the bat to his improvement. When asked about the shot that traveled well over 375 feet, Rivisto said, “I just wanted to get on base. I was looking to get the runners in.”
Senior pitcher Marc Perez wouldn’t need all those runs as he stayed in control throughout, shutting down the Knights for six-plus innings. Xavier would get to Perez after some sloppy infield play loaded up the bases for the Knights. Perez got out of the inning, however, giving up just one run.
“I’m only as good as my defense,” said Perez. “These guys played great. [Rivisito and I] were on the same page.”
The Ravens next face Iona Prep at home before traveling to Charleston, N. C., to compete in the Hanahan Invitational Tournament, a featuring a selection of 32 teams from New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.
The Ravens finished second to Iona last season and feel they have something to prove.
“They beat us twice last year,” said Perez. “We owe them. We should be ready to give it 100 percent.”
Patnosh didn’t have any prediction to make, however.
“If we played like we played today, maybe,” Patnosh said. “Our confidence level is up. It is way too early, though.”