Stonerock Proves Tough to Crack

Ryan Stonerock is tough. With a name like that, people would expect that.

The Notre Dame High junior left-hander showed just how tough he can be by stifling potent Alemany, 7-0, in a Mission League game Friday at Notre Dame.

Stonerock (3-0) allowed a two-out single by Joe Melaragno in the first inning, a two-out single by Jeff Myers in the seventh and no hits in-between against a lineup that features five players batting over .350.

He also had two hits and scored the only run he would need, on a wild pitch in the second inning.

But it was on the mound where Stonerock did the most damage.

Stonerock struck out eight and walked one in the complete-game effort. He retired 12 of 13 batters from the first to the fifth innings and no runner advanced past first base.

Only three batters besides Melaragno and Myers reached base for the Indians--Scott Drake and Bill Scott, who were hit by pitches, and Scott, who reached on a passed ball after striking out in the fourth inning.

“I was in a big-time groove,” Stonerock said. “I felt good out there.

“I’ve gradually been getting better all season and today my stuff was working.”

Said Coach Tom Dill: “I was pleasantly surprised. Not that Ryan pitched so well, but that they didn’t hit the ball more.”

The victory moves Notre Dame (13-5, 3-1 in league play) into a first-place tie with Crespi in the league.

For Alemany (8-7, 1-3), it was a disappointing loss that puts the Indians in a hole in the league race.

“One thing I swore about this team is that it would never lack heart,” Alemany Coach Tim Browne said.

“I questioned that today. It’ll be interesting to see how we respond to this.”

Melaragno, who started on the mound for the Indians, did not have his best stuff. He allowed five runs on six hits in four innings, walked six and threw two wild pitches.

The big inning for the Knights was a four-run fourth.

Kevin Jerkens led off with a home run, J.P. Prepuk followed with a walk, then took third on a hit-and-run single to right field by Shawn Smith.

Prepuk stole home on a double steal and Jorge Piedra, who had two hits and two runs batted in, drove in Smith with a single. Piedra stole second and third, and scored on a wild pitch.

Jerkens also hit a double and scored twice. Smith had two hits.

Alemany’s Jason Westemeir , who had arthroscopic surgery on a knee two weeks ago, was expected to return to the lineup Friday, but is expected to miss at least another week.