Warriar's Pitching, Fried's HR Highlight Pittsfield Tourney Opener
PITTSFIELD , Mass. — Roshan Warriar’s seven strikeouts and Morrie Fried’s solo home run led Pittsfield past Upper Cape Cod, 2-1, in Saturday's Division 4 State Tournament First Round game.
The No. 6-seeded Generals faced off against Upper Cape Cod, the 27 seed in what can only be called a close contest throughout.
The bats were asleep for both teams as well, as pitching was lights out for both teams.
Pittsfield’s only runs scored were off of an error on a throw in the third, and Fried’s solo blast in the fourth.
Upper Cape Cod waited a little too long to start making a comeback.
The Rams scored a run off of a sacrifice groundout to shortstop to score their only run in the top of the seventh.
Warriar threw 70 pitches with 53 of those being strikes.
That is a 75% strike/ball ratio the entire game.
On the defensive side of the game, Pittsfield third baseman Jason Codey and first baseman Jack Reed were both great.
Sophomore Catcher Jackson Almeida was locked down at the catcher spot, not allowing a single passed ball all game.
Ben Jacobs scored Pittsfield’s first run via a hard grounder to the outfield, the throw in to the infield went over the third baseman’s head causing extra bases and allowing Jack Abel to score the game’s first run.
“Our offense could produce more runs, {Roshan Warriar} threw a amazing game,” Pittsfield coach Drew Pearce said.
“On the base paths, we did some things that winning ball clubs don't do consistently so there's room to improve.”
Warrior, who lowered his ERA to .390 with his sixth win of the spring, expressed confidence that the Generals have what it takes to make a deep run in the tournament.
“We have to lock down these next [four] games and I think we are good for the rest,” he said.
Fried’s sixth home run of the season gave Pittsfield some insurance that came in handy when the Rams made their move three innings later.
“First at-bat, I swung at some pitches I shouldn’t have,” Fried said. “They were balls. He was mixing curveball/fastball well, struck me out.
“So, the second AB, I was just looking to be aggressive. He ended up throwing me a fastball first pitch. It was in the zone, so I swung at it, hit it well, and it went over the fence.”
Pittsfield Tuesday will host No. 11 Abington (14-7) at Buddy Pellerin Field in the Sweet 16. Abington advanced Friday with an 8-3 win over Hampshire Regional.