Published: May 08, 2008 12:52 am            

West puts away North in five

Gardner throws one-hitter, adds 4 RBIs in win

FAIRMONT — For all their individual talents and gaudy numbers, West Fairmont’s baseball success this season has been more about team than anything.

“We’re a true team,” Polar Bears’ catcher Levi Pawich said. “We’ve grown up together. There’s isn’t anybody who isn’t friends with one another.

“The team is everything in baseball. Talent plays a huge role, but team is No. 1.”

It’s an approach that’s served West well, whether rolling through the North Central Athletic Conference or the Class AAA, Region I, Section 3 playoffs, which the Polar Bears swept in two games with an 11-1, five-inning victory over North Marion Wednesday at Mary Lou Retton Park.

West (24-5) will play either East Fairmont or Preston in the regional semifinals May 20 at East.

“You’ve got to like (where we are),” West coach Steve Naternicola said. “We’re still playing, and there’s quite a few teams that aren’t.”

The Polar Bears are still hanging around because of an explosive offense — last night marked the 13th time they’ve scored in double figures — and contributions all the way down the roster.

While every player in the batting order scored or drove in a run, West’s Mark Gardner took charge.

On the mound, the right-hander dazzled, and had a no-hitter going before Anthony DeMary doubled to the left-centerfield gap in the fourth inning. DeMary later scored the Huskies’ lone run on an infield error.

In all, he gave up the one hit, struck out seven and didn’t issue a walk.

The reason for such a quality start for a someone still rounding into form following a hamstring injury?

Gardner simply hit his spots, pounding the strike zone at will. His changeup left North batters flailing at air. His curveball dipped. His fastball hit its intended target as if there was a scope on the end of the senior’s arm.

He hit his stride in the third, punching out the Huskies’ first two hitters on breaking pitches and ringing up a third, Jonathan Munza, on a fastball looking.

“He pitched real good. He hit his spots,” Pawich, who caught all five innings, said of Gardner. “He didn’t waste a lot of pitches.”

Added Naternicola: “You can’t ask for much more. He did a very good job. It’s a big difference if you can only get one pitch over or two or three. (Mark) had all three working.”

Garder also had a strong night with the bat, finishing 3-for-3 with two triples, a double and four RBIs. His second triple, which scored three, capped a seven-run fourth.

Joey Buonaiuto added a two-run homer in the frame, while Mike Ice had an RBI groundout. Buonaiuto finished with three hits and Andrew Marra had two. Pawich, Josh Stewart, Brad Dodrill and Ryan Tennant tallied one apiece.

“It’s basically a snowball effect,” Pawich said. “When one of us hits good, the rest of us hit good. When somebody hits bad, we look for someone to pick us up, and when they do, we get rolling.

“Everybody on this team has a legit shot at hitting the ball. Some may be better than others, but everyone can hit.”

Gardner’s second-inning double brought home Tennant, who singled with two outs and stole second, for a 1-0 lead.

West added three runs the next inning, two coming off an errant throw from the shortstop that nearly crept into the Polar Bears’ dugout.

“It was miscommunication,” North coach Tom Myers said of the third-inning miscues, which included the error and no one covering first base on a Marra sacrifice bunt. “You can’t break down. You do, and things start falling apart.”

Ryan Moore struck out none and walked one in three innings for the Huskies, who ended their season at 5-18 after a one-win season in 2007.

“If things are going to improve, we’re going to have to work in the offseason to get to (West’s) level of competition. But I saw a lot of young players grow up. There’s a good core here, but there has to be some victories.”

E-mail Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com.

        

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