WICKLIFFE—Wickliffe dominated all aspects of the game in its 16-0 five-inning win over visiting Brooklyn on Tuesday.
The Blue Devils opened the year 2-0, averaging 16 runs per game while adding a shutout to the ledger with the win over the Hurricanes.
“I like our focus from the guys,” said Wickliffe assistant coach Kevin Sharp. “They put in a good offseason, and we have a veteran group with guys that have been playing together for a while. It’s good to see them come together as a team. The pitchers are pounding the strike zone and we’re making good contact at the plate. It’s all we can ask for.”
Nunzio Zivnoska worked a leadoff walk in the Wickliffe third, stole second, and then scored on a Liam Widemire RBI single to get the Wickliffe offense off and running.
Dominic Porcello kept the train rolling with a run-scoring single, and Alex Aheimer crossed the dish on an error for a three-spot in the first.
The Blue Devils plated three more runs in the second, with the first coming from Blake Ludvik, who walked and scored on an error, which was eventually followed up with an Aheimer two-run double for a 6-0 lead after two.
Kaden Urban led off a four-run third with a single and scored on a Cole Vanatta RBI single. Vanatta later scored on Zivnoska’s groundout.
Ludvik scored with Frankie Bucar reaching on an error, who then induced an errant throw to third from the Brooklyn catcher, allowing himself to score for a 10-0 lead after three.
It was a six-run rally by the Blue Devils in the fourth to cap off the dominating win.
Gio Martinez, Wyatt Boehmer, and Mark Kish all walked to load the bases, then Ludvik took ball-four for an RBI walk, and Zivnoska cleared the bases with a three-run triple for a 14-0 lead.
Widemire added another RBI single to score Zivnoska, and Bucar crossed the plate on an error, putting up the final run for Wickliffe.
Zivnoska polished off the shutout by striking out the side in the top of the fifth.
Bucar worked the first two innings and struck out six Hurricanes while surrendering two hits and one walk, while Zivnoska went the final three with three walks and seven punch-outs.
In the win over Brooklyn, much like the 16-4 opening day win over Maple Heights, the Blue Devils are working on keeping their pitchers fresh early on in the season.
“It’s tough early in the season with the weather to keep our pitchers sharp,” Coach Sharp said. “We want to keep our pitch counts down early on so they can be available as often as can be. We want to keep our guys fresh and ready to go.”
Wickliffe is looking to compete in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division, which may shape out to be one of the tightest conference races across the CVC, but with the early results, the Blue Devils are building confidence at the plate and on the mound.
“Everybody knows those games are the most important ones that we play, so building all that confidence early on so when we get to those conference games, we’re ready,” Bucar said. “It’ll feel like we’ve been there just from all the confidence we’ve built.”
Widemire paced Wickliffe at the dish, going 2-for-4 with two RBI, followed by Zivnoska, who went 1-for-2 with four RBI, while both Porcello and Vanatta each went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Aheimer also went 1-for-2 and drove in two runs as well.
Bucar worked the first two innings, giving up two hits with one walk and striking out six, and Zivnoska earned the win with three innings pitched, three walks allowed, and seven strikeouts.
Brooklyn fell to 0-2.
The Hurricanes were paced by both Zander Rolon and Justin Lewis, who went 1-for-2.
Gio Garst got the start and took the loss on the mound, going 2 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs, 10 total, on four hits with four walks and one strikeout.
Brooklyn looks to get in the win column as they visit Open Door Christian on April 3, while Wickliffe hunts for 3-0 against visiting Chagrin Falls on the same day.
