By Mitch Vareldzis

McClintock lefty Danny Gorman was shaken up but didn’t get knocked out.

He surrendered a run in the first inning but showed some character during a scoreless, nine-pitch second inning. He continued to dominate, keeping the McClintock Chargers (13-6-2 overall) in control during their big 4-1 win over Cactus Shadows Falcons (16-7-1 overall).

“McClintock has always been a if-you-go-down-you-come-back-and-you-punch-again program, and we came back and we put two up on the board and then we scored another two in the next inning and never looked back,” Gorman said.

Gorman’s final line: seven innings, one run allowed on four hits, five walks, two strikeouts. He also provided two singles and an RBI in four at-bats.

“It was awesome,” Gorman said, “finally got my stroke back after a bit of a slump, but it feels good to get it back. More importantly just good to get the win.”

The Chargers scored their runs in the first and second innings off of Falcons’ starter Jacob Horn. In the first inning, Chargers’ leadoff hitter George Lopez walked, Gorman singled and Sergio Jimenez hit into a fielder’s choice to put runners on first and third. After a Jimenez stolen base, third baseman Mario Muñoz drove both Lopez and Jimenez in on a single two take the lead, 2-1.

In the second inning, a crucial error by Falcons’ first baseman Tanner Knoop allowed Chargers’ designated hitter BJ Murillo to reach first and subsequently score on a sacrifice fly by Gorman. Chargers’ center fielder Andrew Scheidecker singled, stole second, and then after reaching third on Gorman’s sacrifice fly, scored on a pass ball making the score 4-1. That turned out to be the last run of the game, as Falcons’ reliever Carter Robinson came in with one out in the second and shut out the Charger lineup for the remainder of the game.

Falcons’ coach Gaetano Gianni said his defense struggled a little bit, and if it had made those plays it probably would be a 1-1 game.

“We didn’t swing the bats as well as we have been and that pitcher did a good job,” Gianni said. “It happens. It’s high school.”

The falcons had opportunities in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the game and even take the lead. Ben Musser singled to right field with one out in the eighth, but a 5-4-3 double play ended the inning two pitches later. In the ninth, a leadoff single by DH Joe Palanzo and a one out single one batter later from center fielder Matt Sill gave the Falcons an opportunity to score.

A flyout and a groundout to second quickly ended the Falcons chances and the Chargers came away with the win.

“We will always be excited and ready to play,” Gianni said. “We’re having a good year and we just have to continue. We know we are a good team. This happens.”

The Falcons will return home to take on the Westwood Warriors (13-7-0 overall) on Monday at 4 p.m. 

Mitch Vareldzis is a sports journalism student at Arizona State.