Strong arm: Armstrong wins after Olesh’s first varsity hit


Mooney pitcher gets win

on Olesh’s first varsity hit

By STEVE WILAJ | sports@vindy.com

STRUTHERS

Andrew Armstrong, having just topped the 120-pitch mark, was tiring. Brennen Olesh — still searching for his first career hit — was “really nervous.”

However, each Cardinal Mooney player seized their moment on Tuesday, as the Cardinals defeated Ursuline, 2-1, in nine innings at Bob Cene Park in Struthers.

Olesh, a freshman, delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth for his first-ever Mooney hit. That came after the senior Armstrong — who earned a complete-game victory on 128 pitches — escaped a bases-loaded jam with one out in the top of the ninth by striking out consecutive Irish hitters.

“Never did a thought of losing come into my mind,” said Armstrong, who struck out four in nine innings. “I believed in my teammates and myself and I just wanted to throw strikes when they loaded the bases.

“My adrenaline got up and I started to throw a little harder.”

Olesh’s moment was set up when Aaron Wooderry reached first base on a passed-ball strikeout. Mike Williams then hit into a fielder’s choice, before Dom Pecchia’s sacrifice bunt advanced Williams to second.

Williams finally came around to score when the lefty Olesh lined a two-out single to center field off of Ursuline reliever Vinnie Lucente.

“The first hit couldn’t have come at a better time,” Olesh said. “I was honestly really nervous, but I was just figuring that everything I practiced through the years would come through and I’d hopefully get a hit.”

Jack Lynch had two hits for Mooney (3-2), which was stifled by Ursuline ace Joel Hake for seven innings.

The righty allowed an unearned run in the third inning as he gave up five hits and struck out six on 101 pitches. The first Mooney run came on a Bryce Richey RBI groundout after two Irish errors.

“Hake was able to mix his pitches up really well,” Cardinals coach Al Franceschelli said. “He wasn’t predictable at all. He kept us off-balance all day and had great velocity.”

Still, he was outdueled by Armstrong, who bounced back after Ursuline (2-2) tied the game in the sixth inning when Vito Petrillo scored on a passed ball. In all, Armstrong allowed just four hits and two walks.

“I felt comfortable with my two-seam fastball and my cutter,” he said. “I was just trying to keep them off-balance and mix it up. And Coach Al called the whole game, so credit to him.

“To beat a rival like this, it’s just a great feeling. We’ll celebrate tonight, but tomorrow we’ll be back at it.”

Drew Potesta notched two hits off of Armstrong to lead the Irish. But other than that, Ursuline head coach Sean Durkin was disappointed in his offense.

“Both starting pitchers pitched phenomenal games, but we have to hit it better,” Durkin said. “We’re struggling right now offensively.

“I thought, early, we were on [Armstrong] pretty good. Then he started throwing more breaking balls for strikes, was hitting spots and didn’t give us many free passes. He made us earn it and we didn’t do it, so tip your cap to him.”

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