Safe to say, Cicero-North Syracuse baseball pitcher Steven Theetge had a good day.
Theetge kept the Northstars undefeated in the CNY Counties League by pitching a one-hitter, striking out 11, and also producing the game’s lone run at the plate, as the Northstars defeated Baldwinsville 1-0 Monday afternoon at the Gillette Road complex.
It marked the second time in as many weeks that Theetge won a 1-0 decision, the senior left-hander having done the same on April 13 against Syracuse, when he allowed just three hits, struck out 10 and won when Stephen Kires doubled home the game’s lone run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In his second league start, Theetge was opposed by B’ville’s right-handed ace, Cody Kaestle. Given the match-up, and the chilly, windy conditions, it was little surprise that neither team got a hit in the first three innings, Theetge and Kaestle only surrendering one walk apiece.
By the bottom of the fourth, Theetge had six strikeouts on the ledger, but no run support – something he would have to do something about.
Leading off, Christian LaLomia got the game’s first hit. He was forced at second, putting Chad McArdell on first as Theetge, the clean-up hitter, strode to the plate.
Here, Kaestle made his lone mistake, grooving a pitch that Theetge drove to the wall for a double. Even with his relative lack of speed, McArdell tore around third base for home, with the throw seemingly set to beat him by at least 30 feet – but the throw was mishandled, and McArdell scored the game’s only run.
Kaestle didn’t allow anything more, overcoming a pair of hit batsmen by coaxing a series of groundouts. His two-hit complete-game effort would win most times, but not here.
Protecting his slim lead, Theetge saw B’ville’s Billy Clifford double with two out the top of the fifth to break up the no-hitter. But he struck out Tom Scarfino and ended up retiring the last seven batters he faced, finishing it off with a called strike three on Andy Chajkowski.
