Baseball: Jack McLaughlin, Lane hand Taft first loss
Updated: April 18, 2012 8:30PM
Lane does not boast the gaudy overall record that Jackie Robinson North rival Taft does. But Lane has played a very strong schedule that has included some of the best teams in the area.
That preparation served the Indians well as they handed the visiting Eagles their first loss of the season with a 3-1 victory at Horner Park.
‘‘I think we had the edge today,’’ Lane coach Dean Stavrakas said. ‘‘I don’t think they saw the kind of pitching we threw against them today.’’
Pitcher Jack McLaughlin all but shut down the Eagles (18-1, 4-1). The junior right-hander worked six innings while striking out seven and allowing one run. The Eagles only serious threat against him came in the sixth inning.
‘‘I had my fastball and my change-up working today,’’ McLaughlin said. ‘‘My defense was real good behind me today.’’
Matt Griffith got on with a single and came around to score on Alex Rodriguez’s double down the left-field line. But McLaughlin (4-4) retired Elias DeJesus to end the inning. Jake Domsky worked the seventh for a save.
Lane (8-9, 5-0) may have caught a break before the game ever started. Taft first-baseman Ray Cekus was hit by an errant throw on the left side of his face in the pre-game warmup and was held out as a precaution. Cekus is the Eagles’ leading hitter.
The Indians did all of their damage in the fourth inning off of Lorenzo Aguayo. The frame started with a high pop-up off the bat of William Munoz that dropped for a double in left field. Alex Sheehan then blasted a long triple to left field on the fenceless diamond. The hit would’ve been a home-run on most high school fields. Munoz scored off that hit.
‘‘Alex is a leader and a captain for us,’’ Stavrakas said. ‘‘We have 28 kids on this squad and it’s a credit to them that we don’t have even one malcontent. They all cheer for each other.’’
Cody Davis brought Sheehan home with his own triple and came around to score on a groundout.
Aguayo (6-1) allowed only four hits in suffering his first loss of the year.
Lane has faced Mount Carmel, St. Laurence, Niles North and Brother Rice so far this year to prepare themselves for Public League play. Additionally, the Indians spent five days in Florida playing eight games and practicing three hours per day.
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