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Baseball: Delphey Leads Alonso Past Sickles

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2009

TAMPA Ray Delphey tossed six innings of two-hit ball and Alonso came up with some clutch hits in a three-run second inning to help the Ravens edge Sickles 3-0 in a Class 6A-District 7 baseball matchup Wednesday night at Sickles.

"It's good to win our first district game," Alonso coach Landy Faedo said. "We were a little bit undisciplined at the plate, but we played solid defense and Ray did a hell of a job on the mound again."

Delphey's performance was almost identical to the one he turned in during Alonso's season-opening win over Chamberlain, in which the senior right-hander struck out 11 and limited the Chiefs to just two hits over six innings in a 1-0 victory.

Delphey faced just two over the minimum against Sickles and again struck out 11 while allowing only an infield single to Chase Wilcocks in the first and a double to Josh Dunn in the fourth.

"That's what we expect from him. He's a good pitcher," said Faedo, who added Delphey did a great job preparing for this season. "In all his bullpen [sessions] he's been right on, and he's just extremely focused. I guess it's just a maturity thing now with him being a senior. The tunnel vision is there and outside distractions don't get to him."

The Ravens (3-0) scored all they would need in the second. Catcher Adam Pendleton brought home the first two runs with a double to right center, and shortstop Tito Martinez (2-for-4) added a two-out RBI single to cap the inning.

That support was more than enough for Delphey, who continued to hold the Gryphons' (2-1) bats in check before giving way in the seventh to reliever Jordan Huchro, who retired the side in order to earn his second save of the season.

"He was on," Sickles coach Bob Pagano said of Delphey. "That's the best I've ever seen him pitch. He was on his game."

Sickles starter Gregg Cooke also turned in a good game in a losing effort. The senior right-hander yielded only five hits (three coming in Alonso's three-run second) while striking out 10 in six innings.

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