Victor Prignano, the starter for Go The Distance, retired all six batters he faced.
By Sean Reilly
The game ended in a tie, but for Kelly Morgan, it was the equivalent of a win.
Morgan plays for Go The Distance 16U, and on Wednesday night at Diamond Nation, he took his biggest step yet in a recovery from shoulder soreness which resulted in a precautionary rest period.
Morgan threw 2⅔ innings of hitless relief, which allowed his team to come back and tie the Zoned RedHawks 15U Select, 6-6, in a Fall League contest in Flemington.
The RedHawks held a 6-5 lead until Chase Amaral hit an RBI double with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. The 1:50 game clock expired during the bottom of the sixth.
Morgan struck out five and walked three during his stint.
“It wasn’t anything major, but it was something I needed to rest,” he said of the injury. “I’m trying to do my best. I sat out for about a month, so this is a good way to get back in shape. This game was the first time going more than two innings.”
Go The Distance took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Morgan reached on an error to bring in Ben Moschella with the first run. John Michael Furphey was safe on a three-base outfield error which scored Kris Wilson and Morgan. Tyler Pakett followed with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The RedHawks rallied to take the lead by scoring all six of its runs in the third.
The first run scored when Liam St. John reached on an outfield error that scored Colin Wegeler with nobody out. A walk to Grayson Petronzi loaded the bases. After a strikeout, Joseph DeLucia, Daniel Ferro and Damian Maffetone drew consecutive run-scoring walks for a 4-4 tie.
Andrew Kolenski followed with a one-run single to left field and Parker Lorenzetti was hit by a pitch for the two-run lead.
Colin Wegeler scores first run for Zoned RedHawks after Liam St. John was safe on an error.
Go The Distance got one of those runs back in the bottom of the frame. Amaral led off by reaching on an error. He stole two bases before scoring on Wilson’s double to left field with one out.
Morgan came in to pitch with runners on first and third with one out in the fourth. He walked DeLucia to load the bases, but followed with a strikeout and ground out to second.
The right-hander from West Morris Central pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning before his team rallied in the bottom of the inning.
Victor Prignano reached on a bunt single with one out and stole second. Amaral was up next, and doubled to right field on a 2-1 pitch to deliver Prignano with the tying run.
Morgan struck out the first batter in the sixth, walked the next two, and then struck out the next two.
“I was locating my fastball and hit my curveball in my spot,” he said.
The game ended after the clock expired as Max Syryca retired the side in order for the RedHawks in the bottom of the sixth.
Each team is now 1-2-1 in the Fall League standings.
Wilson, who went 2-for-3 for Go The Distance, was the lone player in the game to finish with multiple hits.