Jack Walsh makes contact for Grit 15U North in the 15U Summer Bash.
By Sean Reilly
Alex Croce pitched his final game of the summer season on Sunday morning at Diamond Nation.
You might think a pitcher in that spot might take an experimental approach, especially since it was a pool play game that would wrap up the 15U Summer Bash tournament for his Grit 15U North team.
Instead, the right-hander stuck to the basics, and it resulted in a five-inning one-hitter as the Grit gained a 10-1 victory over the PA Shockers 2028 American.
Croce, who plays for Pine Bush High School in New York, struck out eight and walked five. He also hit a sacrifice fly and walked twice to account for two additional runs as the third batter in the lineup.
“I was just using fastballs and change ups,” he said of his strategy as the game unfolded.
Grit 15U North went 2-1 during the weekend at ‘The Nation,’ opening with a 5-2 win over the Staten Island Warriors on Friday before a 6-3 loss to USA Prime Northeast 15U Stars on Saturday.
It didn’t take long for Grit 15U North to score against the PA Shockers.
Troy Fontana led off the top of the first by reaching on an error when the shortstop, left fielder and center fielder all converged on a fly ball that was dropped. He stole second and advanced to third when Jack Walsh grounded out to shortstop. Croce followed with a sacrifice fly to right.
The RBI was one of many this summer for Croce.
“I had a couple of home runs, and a lot of doubles and triples,” he said.
Grit 15U North added another run in the second.
Maddox Miranowicz led off with a single to shortstop. He stole second with one out, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Jack Messing hit a sacrifice fly to left, the first of his three RBI in the game.
Grit 15U North broke the contest open with a five-run fourth that extended the lead to 7-0.
Croce led off with a full-count walk and was replaced on the bases by Walsh. Cole DeRanda followed with a single to left, and a groundout from Miranowicz moved the runners to second and third.
Alex Clotworthy was credited with an RBI after reaching on an infield throwing error which scored Walsh.
Messing followed with a two-run grounds rule double to left field, and he scored on Ricardo Pena’s single past third base.
Alex Croce pitched a five-inning one hitter with eight strikeouts for Grit 15U North.
After an out on the bases, Chris Luciano tripled to center field, and he scored on a wild pitch with T.J. Gloster at the plate.
The Shockers, whose lone hit was a two-out double by Henry Goldenberg in the first inning, scored in the fourth. Braydon Siegfried and Kaeden Kassel drew consecutive walks with one out, and Joey Colon was safe on an error which scored Siegfried with two out.
Grit 15U North scored its final three runs in the fifth.
Fontana led off with a hit-by-pitch, and was out on a force while Walsh was safe at first. Croce walked, and DeRonda hit a two-run double to left. He advanced to third on a throw, and scored on a single by Clotworthy.
DeRonda finished 2-for-3 while Luciano went 2-for-2 for Grit 15U North.