St. Mary pitcher Joe Lubanski delivers a pitch against a Wesfield Voc-Tech batter. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – The St. Mary High School baseball team has been a bit, well, heavenly lately.
St. Mary won its seventh straight game to begin the 2013 season, receiving another spectacular outing from its fine cast of pitchers. Saints’ righty Joe Lubanski improved to 3-0 with a complete game four-hitter in the team’s 10-2 win over Westfield Voc-Tech Wednesday at Bullens Field.
Lubanski struck out four batters, and allowed no earned runs. He has yet to yield a run this season.
Jeff Hockenberry (3 hits), Brandon Gawron (2 hits), Matt Plasse (hit, 2 RBIs), and Justin Crosby (hit, 2 RBIs) led St. Mary’s at the plate.
Colin Fecteau went 2-for-3 to lead Voc-Tech.
The win came on the heels of two straight no-hitters, courtesy of St. Mary’s junior Bryce Kibbe, who in his first varsity start shut down Smith Voke 10-0; and, senior ace Noah Parker who recorded 17 strikeouts in a 6-0 shutout of Franklin Tech.
Kibbe struck out 11 batters and walked none in his dazzling varsity mound debut Monday.
“For his first varsity start, it was very memorable for him,” St. Mary coach Troy Collins said.
In Parker’s season debut last Friday against Franklin Tech, he was nearly perfect allowing just a borderline walk in the second inning.
“He was very dominant that day,” the coach said of Parker.
The entire pitching staff has been lights out, combining for a .055 Earned Run Average. Senior Matt Plasse improved to 2-0 with a 4-1 win over Granby Tuesday.
“It’s a luxury I’ve never had before,” coach Collins said. “We have arms, and everybody healthy. …With 10 seniors, this could be a real special year if everybody stays focused.”
Westfield 2, Amherst 1
In the second game of the evening at Bullens Field, Nate Barnes pitched a complete-game, four-hitter to go along with 4 Ks, and Chris Sullivan plated Tim Donahue in the bottom of the seventh for the game-winning run.
