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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Anthony Sigismondi’s offseason work is noticeable to both the eyes and the ears.
The Xaverian ace right-hander added a few miles per hour to his fastball thanks to a weight-training program — and you can see the extra speed when the ball leaves the senior’s hand, and you can hear it in the pop when it hits the catcher’s glove.
Sigismondi isn’t a flamethrower, but pairing his low-80s fastball with his arsenal of off-speed pitches can create nightmares for opposing lineups. He gave Holy Cross a taste of it in a 10–1 road victory in Catholic League baseball on Wednesday. He tossed a five hitter, struck out seven and walked just two. Sigismondi allowed just one run in the third and got a double play to work around a first-and-second-no-out jam in the six.
“I’m not a power pitcher,” Sigismondi said. “I hit the corners, rely on the breaking ball. Every little bit helps.”
Clippers coach Frank Del George said his No. 1 starter has been superb this season and could add a bit more speed as the weather gets warmer. He has the utmost confidence in giving the experienced hurler the ball in big games.
“He’s one of those guys you just give him the ball, sit back, relax, and let him do his thing,” Del George said. “We just hope he can be like this down the stretch.”
The second-year coach is also hoping for a big second half from senior first baseman Brandon Torres. Del George said his bat has been quiet so far this season, but he was two-for-four with two doubles and three RBIs against Holy Cross, a game the Clippers needed to have to say in the thick Brooklyn-Queens division race.
“He really helps us out tremendously at first base,” Del George said. “We are just waiting for that bat to come along, and I’m hoping it’s coming around.”
Xaverian (6–2) broke the game open with a six-run fourth inning with some help from Holy Cross errors. Anthony Barbati delivered atwo-run double and Robert Amato, Nick Meola and Brian Watters each collected a RBI in the frame to make it 8–1. Torres chipped in an two-RBI double in the seventh to prove the final margin.
The senior-laden Clippers squad is starting to play well at the right time after losing to St. Francis Prep and Monsignor Farrell in the early season. Xaverian beat division rival Archbishop Molloy 3–1 in the completion of a rain-suspended game last week. Besting Holy Cross (4–4) was enough to keep Xaverian within a game of first place before contests against Molloy and St. Francis Prep.
“We are beating good teams,” Sigismondi said. “We have to get ready for the playoffs soon.”