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Rebel ace ties state record for Ks
McDonough whiffs 21 against Campbell
By BRIAN DZENIS
EAST FAIRFIELD
Crestview senior Michael McDonough turned in a scorching start on Opening Day, striking out 21 batters in the Rebels’ 2-1 extra-innings win over Campbell on Saturday.
McDonough tied the state record for most strikeouts in a seven-inning game. He shares that mark with five other pitchers, one of them South Range’s George Rohan, who reached that total against Mineral Ridge in 2003.
Like a typical pitcher, McDonough went through the game unaware that he was nearing history and spent most of his dugout time in solitude.
“I didn’t know about it. My teammates knew, but didn’t tell me until after the game and I’m glad they did that,” McDonough said. “The win was more important.”
Through seven innings, he threw 97 pitches and gave up two hits and four walks. From the second through fourth innings, he struck out nine consecutive batters. McDonough used his fastball and curveball against the Red Devils and his location was so on point that he didn’t need to use his off-speed stuff.
McDonough had all the numbers, but it was teammate Andy Gorby who got the win in the eighth. After Campbell took a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch, Crestview’s Jake Wick hit a sacrifice fly to score Tyler Fitzsimmons and Caleb Hill scored the go-ahead run after a wild pitch.