5/23/09 Atlantic City Press: DeCecco hard-luck loser in Middle Twp. baseball loss
Scott DeCecco excels on mound and at plate, but Middle Township loses playoff game in 9 innings
By AARON BRACY, For The Press | Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2009 12:45 am
CINNAMINSON – Scott DeCecco gave new meaning to the term “hard-luck loser” on Friday.
The Middle Township High School ace was sensational, fanning 16 and allowing Cinnaminson just five singles in nine innings, but the lanky senior left-hander and the fifth-seeded Panthers lost to the fourth-seeded Pirates 3-2 in extra innings in the opening round of the South Jersey Group II tournament.
DeCecco’s tough fortune started even before the game, as he warmed up to be ready for the 3 p.m. scheduled start time only to have to wait 25 minutes for an umpire to arrive after a miscommunication with school officials. Not loose, DeCecco walked two of the first three batters before escaping a first-inning jam with just one run allowed.
The misfortune continued as the Panthers couldn’t solve Pirates ace Trevor Sottell or reliever Mike Cooper. DeCecco accounted for all three of the Middle hits, including two doubles and an RBI, but even that excellent effort came with frustration. His third-inning double would’ve driven home the go-ahead run, but it one-hopped the low fence in left for a ground-rule double. The rest of the Panthers went 0-for-23.
The capper came in the ninth and final inning when DeCecco struck out the side, but Cinnaminson still scored the winning run. His second strikeout victim of the inning reached first when the third strike got past the Middle catcher. Another strikeout followed before three straight walks (one intentional) gave Cinnaminson the win and sent DeCecco walking off the mound in disbelief.
“That’s a hard way to lose,” Middle manager Chuck Dougherty said. “All we had to do was hit the ball a little bit and we would’ve won.”
Said DeCecco, “It’s a shame. We’ve been hitting lately, but I can’t really explain it. (Sottell) was a good pitcher. All of us looked off balance.”
True, but not nearly as off balance as the highly regarded Pirates (19-5), who couldn’t catch up with DeCecco’s flaming fastball or wait on his knee-buckling curve.
Of the Pirates’ five singles, only two were solidly hit as DeCecco just had his way with the batters all day.
“He did a great job and just does a great job every time he goes in,” Dougherty said of the South Carolina Upstate-bound DeCecco, who finishes the season with a 5-2 record.
Dougherty also pointed to Friday’s performance as an answer to people who question whether DeCecco is one of southern New Jersey’s best hurlers.
“They underrate him and people say he’s not that good because we haven’t thrown him against good programs,” he said. “This is a good program. Moorestown (when DeCecco struck out 19 and allowed one hit in a 1-0 win) was a good program. He’s a tremendous pitcher. There aren’t many pitchers out there like that, I’m sorry. I think he’s going to go away (to college) and do some nice things.”
DeCecco certainly would’ve liked to have continued his senior season with the Panthers, but he left Friday’s outing feeling confident as he heads to Carpenter Cup competition and summer preparation for his college career.
“They’re a good hitting team and I guess they couldn’t catch up to my fastball, and they were chasing bad curveballs,” he said. “I’m going to take out of this that throwing strikes is the key to success.”
And, of course, a little luck sometimes doesn’t hurt, either.
Middle Township 100 001 000-2 3 3
Cinnaminson 100 010 001-3 5 2
2B: DeCecco (2) M.
WP: Cooper. LP: DeCecco (5-2).
Records: Middle 12-9; Cinnaminson 19-5.
Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2009 12:45 am Updated: 12:53 am.
