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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Xaverian starting pitcher Andy Sigismondi knew he had a few extra miles per hour on his fastball in warm ups.
The junior righty noticed the zip, which only makes his curveball and changeup that much more effective. It translated into a dominant performance from Sigismondi in the first place Clippers’ 2–0 win over host Monsignor McClancy in Brooklyn-Queens Class AA baseball on Monday.
“His fastball was starting to get a little bit of giddy up on it, and we went to it a little more often as the game went on,” Xaverian coach Frank Del George said.
In addition to throwing all three pitches for strikes, Sigismondi, kept the ball down, something he struggled with earlier this season. He allowed just four hits, walked two and struck out six. Sigismondi left two McClancy runners on in the first inning and two more with one out in the fourth to show a toughness his teammates appreciated.
“He’s surprised the [heck] out of me as a junior,” senior Matt Muller said. “He’s a very good pitcher, bringing a lot and we expect a lot from him.”
Sigismondi got all the runs he needed in the fourth inning of a pitcher’s dual with McClancy senior Mike LiBasci. Andrew Schillaci scored from third on a double-play ball to make it 1-0. The Clippers (11–2) got an insurance run when Muller delivered a pitch hit RBI single with one out in the top of the seventh to extend their advantage to 2–0 over the Crusaders (8–5).
“I knew he was going to throw one fastball and that’s the pitch I was looking for,” Muller said. “It was right there.”
Xaverian’s defense played a major role in preserving that lead — especially shortstop Charles Misiano. He handled six chances cleanly and made a charging barehanded throw on a groundball to get an out at first and had a full-extension leaping grab in the fifth. McClancy coach Nick Melito called them “major league plays” and Sigismondi appreciated the help.
“He’s always solid,” Sigismondi said of Misiano. “Today he was special and saved me a couple of times.
The Clippers, after a slow start, have saved their best baseball for the right time of year. They are expecting to come away with the division title, leading Archbishop Molloy by a game.
The Stanners visit the Clippers on May 14 in a game that will likely decide the crown and bye into the league’s championship tournament. The teams split the first two meetings.
“This team is really fired up to play Molloy,” Del George said.
Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.