First baseman Nolan Stem takes throw from second baseman Joseph Grande to complete one of the three double plays turned by the DJacks.
By Sean Reilly
Timmy DeMatteo likes to throw a curveball, but the Out Of The Park Cyclones 17/18U Prospects pitcher realized something early in his start on Thursday afternoon at Diamond Nation.
“It wasn’t working,” he said.
With that, the fastball became his primary pitch.
DeMatteo, a Class of 2026 player from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, allowed two unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning, but went on to pitch a five-inning one-hitter as his team gained a 10-2 win over the Diamond Jacks Gold 17U in the final game for both at the 17/18U Super World Series in Flemington.
“The fastball felt good,” he said. “I recognized in the second inning that the curve wasn’t working, so I stopped throwing it and pivoted to the other pitch. It doesn’t happen that often, so I adjusted. The defense also gave me support, and it was a good team effort.”
The win completed a 2-2 showing at the tournament for the Cyclones, who overcame the early two-run deficit to prevail despite hitting into double plays in three of the five innings.
The DJacks opened the bottom of the first with the first two batters, Colin Newcomb and Chase Kishler, reaching on errors. Colin Ricciardi was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Andrew Schmieder of OOTP Cyclones Prospects rounds third to score on single by Lucas Gabriel.
Trey Garutti grounded into a fielder’s choice which scored Newcomb, and Trevor Wallace hit a groundout to shortstop to score Kishler.
After that, the game belonged to the Cyclones.
The Green Brook-based team tied in the top of the third inning. Michael Tafur led off by hitting a fly ball that was dropped. Andrew Schmieder followed with a ball that landed in center and took a bounce over the head of the fielder for an RBI triple. Kevin Pepe drove in Schmieder by singling on a slow grounder between the pitcher and first base.
The Cyclones gained a 4-2 lead in the fourth.
With the top of the order up, Aaron Dorr led off with a full-count walk. Alex Bolton moved him to second by hitting a single to left field. David DePierro walked on four pitches to load the bases. Mike Shipula followed with a one-run single to center, and another run scored on a double-play ground out.
The other six runs came in the fifth.
The inning began with walks to Tafur, Schmieder and Pepe, all of them on full counts. Lucas Gabriel hit a two-run single to center to score Tafur and Schmieder, and Pepe raced home on a wild pitch with Dorr at the plate with one out for a 7-2 lead.
Evan Carter of Diamond Jacks Gold 17U ducks to avoid incoming pitch.
Dorr and Bolton walked to reload the bases, and a walk to DePierro scored Gabriel. Shipula was hit by a pitch to score Dorr, and Bolton came home when Tyler Cardoso reached on a fielder’s choice which forced Shipula at second.
The DJacks got their lone hit when Evan Carter beat out a slow grounder to the third base side of the mound to start the bottom of the fifth.
DeMatteo retired the next three batters to complete his strong effort, which featured five strikeouts and no walks. He threw 60 pitches, 39 for strikes.
“I just had to commit to the other pitch,” he said of the winning performance. “It was a good way to end the tournament.”