Hamden junior Trevor Brandi crosses home plate with the winning run in the Green Dragons’ 1-0 victory on Friday at Rochford Field. (Jimmy Zanor – The Middletown Press)
Hamden senior Ron Grant notched 17 strikeouts against Xavier on Friday. (Jimmy Zanor-The Middletown Press)
HAMDEN >> Hamden’s Ron Grant and Xavier’s Mike Peckham staged an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel Friday morning at Rochford Field. The senior lefthander’s delivered one terrific pitch after another.
In the end, Grant’s mesmerizing 17-strikeout performance was too much for the Falcons to overcome.
The Green Dragons got a game-winning single from Kwadir Delgado-McIntyre in the bottom of the eighth to edge Xavier, 1-0.
Hamden, which is ranked No. 6 in the Register/GameTimeCT Top 10 poll, remained unbeaten at 7-0. The Green Dragons also sit atop the Southern Connecticut Conference’s Quinnipiac Division with a 4-0 mark, which includes signature wins over Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame-West Haven.
“I wanted this game bad,” Grant said. “We’ve always had a bad reputation with our division and all the prep schools and I wanted to come in and just win. I love this team and I love the way we play together. It feels good.”
Grant, who is headed to Central Connecticut State, struck out 12 of the first 14 Xavier batters. He went seven innings and allowed just two hits with 17 strikeouts.
I wanted this game bad. We’ve always had a bad reputation with our division and all the prep schools and I wanted to come in and just win. -- Ron Grant, Hamden pitcher
“I don’t think I’ve seen a pitching performance like that in high school,” Hamden coach Chris Borelli said. “I’ve seen some guys go out there and throw the ball well but he was on point today. It was unbelievable. And exactly what we needed on a day like this.”
Peckham also went seven innings, leaving the scoreless battle after scattering six hits, walking only one and striking out seven.
“Mike was phenomenal,” Xavier coach Nick Cerreta said. “I’m so proud of Mike. He went pitch for pitch with them. He hit his spots and kept the ball down. We talked about that before the game and he did a great job. He’s come so far.”
Xavier got a runner to third base in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. But Grant had an answer each time.
Xavier senior Mike Peckham delivers a pitch against Hamden on Friday at Rochford Field. (Jimmy Zanor – The Middletown Press)
Falcons junior Tim Dickson led off the fourth by scorching a long double to left. Dickson reached third when the relay from the outfield was overthrown. Grant, however, struck out the next three batters.
With two outs in the sixth, Xavier loaded the bases on an infield error and a pair of walks. But Grant reared back and struck out designated hitter Matt Kyle.
“My off speed wasn’t working for me at all, which is a big disadvantage,” Grant added. “I just tried to keep pumping strikes and pounding the zone.”
Xavier also had a pair of runners in the seventh when Joe Vail was hit by a pitch and pinch-hitter Spencer Buckley’s fly pop was misplayed at first. Once again, Grant ended the threat with a strikeout.
“We haven’t hit,” Cerreta said. “Guys are scuffling at the plate. When you lead-off with a guy at third base you have to get him in. That’s been our Achilles heel. We had the bases loaded and you have to get something there too.”
Hamden’s run came against junior reliever Jack DePaolo-Boisvert. After Trevor Brandi drew a lead-off walk, Avery Shugrue moved Brandi to second with a sacrifice bunt. Delgado-McIntyre (2-for-4) then poked a single to right and Brandi raced home with the winning run.
“It’s what we’ve been preaching all year,” Borelli said. “As dominant as Ronnie was today, he can’t win a game all by himself. We’ve had guys step up at different times doing great things for us and Kwadir stepped up and got a big hit for us today.”
Xavier, which has dropped three straight, fell to 2-4.
“This was a heck’uva game,” Cerreta added. “This is something we can build off. We played with a lot of heart today.”
HAMDEN 1, XAVIER 0 (8)
(at Hamden)
Xavier 000 000 00 — 0 2 1
Hamden 000 000 01 — 1 7 4
Mike Peckham, Jack Dipaolo-Boisvertand Ryan Famiglietti; Ron Grant, Mike Ferrett (8) and Stephen Richetelli.
WP: Mike Ferrett (2-0). LP: Jack DiPaolo-Boisvert (). 2B: (XV) Tim Dickson; (HA) Andrew Kirschenbaum. RBI: Kwadir Delgado-McIntyre (HA);
Team records: Xavier 2-4; Hamden 7-0.
Comments: Kwadir Delgado-McInytre’s RBI single scored Trevor Brandi with the winning run in the eighth inning for Hamden. Ron Grant threw 7 innings and struck out 17 batters for Hamden.
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