By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
In his mind the playoffs have already started and Jake Moore took the mound Monday at George Robert Field as if the whole season was at stake.
Getting plenty of help from his offense the senior right-hander came within one batter of pitching a complete game as the Dolphins needed five innings to mercy Venice 13-0 in a battle for first place in the Western League.
The Gondos loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, but Moore got out of the jam with a strikeout and the Dolphins put up four runs in the bottom half of the inning and added six more in the second inning to make it 10-0.
“The most important part was the hitting… this is one of the best games we’ve had and we put them away early,” said Moore, who had six srikeouts and allowed four hits in 4.2 innings. “Having a big lead allowed me to relax, go right at them and make them swing. My changeup was effective in the first four innings, then it was straight fastballs after that. These are all must-win games.”
The teams met again Wednesday at Venice. The Dolphins are trying to play their way into the Open, the City Section’s highest playoff division.
Ryan Johnson’s RBI double to the gap in left-center field got the home team on the scoreboard and was followed by a two-run home run over the left field fence by Vincent Langdon. A fourth run scored on an overthrow to third base.
In the second inning Palisades added to it lead as Langdon hit an RBI double and Johnson, Jabe Payne and Sean Nguyen added RBI hits. The Dolphins tacked on three insurance runs in the fourth. Jake Herrera drew a bases-loaded walk and two runs scored on a sacrifice fly to center—Amari Yolas showing his blazing speed by tagging and scoring from second for the Dolphins’ final run.
Moore struck out the first two batters in the top of the fifth, but allowed a single and was lifted for Zach Ritts, who struck the next batter out on three pitches.
“Sure I wanted the complete game but I have confidence in my teammates and I knew Zach would get it done,” Moore said. “These are all must-win games. We can’t afford to let up now.”
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