Ontario going onward

By Ted Allen

Published: July 25, 2008

A day after pitching seven innings in a 2-0 loss to the Long Island Titans in an NABF 17-under World Series opener, Ontario Blue Jays ace Chris Romaro went the distance once more against the HitMen from New Jersey in Friday’s first elimination game at E.C. Glass.

Romaro dug himself out of an early 2-0 deficit to earn a 4-2 decision, allowing just five singles and striking out nine, including the last five HitMen he faced.

“He kept us in the ballgame and he battled,” Ontario coach John Chadwick said.

Romaro experienced some pain in his right throwing arm, but his fastball picked up velocity and his breaking pitches had more movement on them by the sixth and seventh frames.

“In the middle innings, my arm started hurting (but) I felt really good from then on,” Romaro said. “I felt I was getting stronger as the game went on.”

“His curveball got better as the game went on,” added HitMen leadoff batter Rob Safir, who had two of his team’s five hits. “It was sharper. We had a tough time getting the bat on the ball.”

Chadwick plans to give Romaro a day off today but won’t hesitate to call on him on Sunday if the Blue Jays are in the consolation or championship games at City Stadium.

“He’s my No. 1 guy (and) he put it all on the line today, especially facing the adversity of being down 2-0 early,” Chadwick said. “He’s going to get a much deserved rest (today) and he’ll be 100 percent available on Sunday (if they need him).”

Ontario rallied to take the lead with three runs in the fourth on three walks, a single to center by seventh batter Josh Grassick, a bases-loaded error on a high chopper to third and a hit batter. HitMen southpaw starter Mark Lowy struck Chris Panagakos with the first pitch, allowing Grassick to score the go-ahead run with two outs.

“(Lowy) pitched a heckuva game, too, (but) he was in and out of the strike zone in the latter part of the fourth inning,” Chadwick said. “He kept our batters off balance for the first half of the game before he struggled a little bit and we took advantage.”

Ontario added some insurance in the fifth when Daniel Franceschetti reached on a two-out double off the glove of a diving Safir in center before Lowy walked Grassick, hit Greg Telford and walked ninth batter Christopher Mullen to force in a run.

“Walks killed us today,” Safir said.

The Blue Jays struggled to a 12-36 regular-season record playing in an 18-year-old league in Canada.

“All season, one aspect of our game has been missing, either hitting, pitching or fielding,” Romano said. “It’s starting to all come together now.”

Chadwick said most of his players hadn’t faced a high level of competition before this season, but they have matured over the past two months to put themselves in position to challenge for the title this weekend.

“I’m very happy with the way we’re playing now,” he said. “They all share the same goal and that’s to get to the championship game on Sunday and to win it.”

In Friday’s final elimination game at Glass, a duel between two left-handed pitchers, the Crystal Lake (Ill.) Cardinals rebounded from a 17-0 loss to the Long Island Tigers by scoring four runs in the fourth to break open a 6-2 victory over Franklin County Post 6.

Crystal Lake pitcher Josh Wruck went the distance, yielding just four singles, including three in the seventh — bloopers to right by Adam Sink and Josh Washburn and an infield hit by ninth batter Chase Hatchett that scored FC’s second run.

Wruck fanned eight, walked five and hit a batter. He benefited from double plays in the sixth and seventh before striking out Matt Searing to end the game.

The Cardinals advance to face Frederick (Md.), which Ontario beat 6-2 in its first game Friday, in today’s championship bracket quarterfinal at 1 p.m. at City Stadium. The Blue Jays must take on the Long Island Tigers in another championship quarterfinal at 10 a.m. at Heritage.