Moore Catholic conquers first playoff hurdle in 4-1 win over Mount St. Michael

The CHSAA postseason is filled with second chances, but you have to earn them. For the bottom four seeds that means winning a pair of single-elimination games just to get to a best-of-three series to get to the double-elimination championship tournament.

So it was only the season and his high school career on the line for E.J. LoCascio when he took the ball Saturday afternoon for No. 16 Moore Catholic. The only varsity season the senior got to play after Tommy John surgery erased his junior year.

“I felt confident,” said LoCascio afterward. “No pressure.”

The senior held No. 17 Mount St. Michael scoreless for the first five innings while his teammates built a lead on the way to a 4-1 win at the Richmond County complex in Travis.

LoCascio struck out just four, but worked efficiently and was rewarded with the support of a flawless defense, with shortstop Frank Savino standing out.

It was the fifth win in seven games for the Mavericks.

“We’ve been playing good defense, I would say the last five or six games,” said coach Nick DeFendis. “Guys are stepping up and feeling comfortable.”

KEY INNING

There was no huge inning for the Mavericks, who scratched out single runs early. But Joe Latona’s two-run homer in the fifth inning put Moore up 4-0. With LoCascio pitching a shutout to that point, it correctly looked like Latona had given the Mavs a very safe lead with two innings to go.

“I knew a fastball was coming,” said Latona. “I put a good swing on it and made an adjustment from my last at-bat. I knew it off the bat.”

Latona’s homer on a 3-1 count scored Savino, who had just singled.

“Everybody looks for Joe,” said DeFendis. “Sometimes Joe puts more pressure on himself. I thought today he relaxed a bit.”

ON THE MOUND

LoCascio scattered six hits over seven innings. Mount got its only run in the sixth on a lead-off triple followed by a sac fly.

“Lights out,” said DeFendis. “I thought all his pitches were excellent. I thought his location was good. He was spotting his fastball, so he didn’t have to throw too many breaking balls.”

This was the fourth straight complete game for LoCascio. Before Mount scored in the sixth he had thrown 26 straight innings without allowing an earned run.

“Threw strikes,” said LoCascio. “Get ahead of batters. First pitch strikes was my main concern.”

AT THE PLATE

Moore scored quickly as Jared Campione led off the first with a walk, moved to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball, and scored on Savino’s sac fly to right.

In the third Billy Mahoney scored from third on a wild pitch for a 2-0 Moore lead.

Chris Ghiraldi went 2 for 3.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Mavericks play No. 10 All Hallows at Archbishop Stepinac in White Plains at 1:30 p.m. on Monday. All Hallows finished fifth in the Bronx/Manhattan/Westchester division with a 9-9 record, beating St. Peter’s but losing to Monsignor Farrell.

Moore will likely start Mike Sebastiano. The senior was the Island leader with 50 1/3 innings pitched, allowing 33 hits and striking out 39. He posted a 2.09 earned run average and a 4-3 record.

If they win on Monday, the Mavericks will move on to a best-of-three series that begins on Thursday, with the winner there advancing to the double-elimination Intersectionals.

“I want to get into the double elimination,” said DeFendis, “and whatever happens after that, happens after that.”

Follow Tom Dowd on Twitter @TomDowd22