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Sports

Baseball: Waubonsie Falls to York in Season Opener

York 4, Waubonsie Valley 2: Dukes pitcher Joe Paparone is a dual threat, throws six solid innings, hits two-run homer.

 

’s baseball team got off to a rough start in their season opener against host York. Dukes pitcher Joe Paparone burned the Warriors on the mound and at the plate, throwing six solid innings and going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in a 4-2 win over the Warriors. 

“It was a good job for York,” Warriors coach Dan Fezzuoglio said. “They made it hurt when they had to on offense.” 

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The Warriors (0-1) got on the board first in the top of the third with a two-out RBI single by left fielder Matt Murphy, scoring catcher Eric Josupait. Murphy, however, was thrown out on the next play trying to steal second. 

Warriors pitcher Mitch Stefani, who struggled all game, loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame with one out. DH Phil Gunser hit a two-run double to put the Dukes (2-0-1) in front, 2-1. 

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Stefani’s struggles continued in the fourth with a leadoff walk, which led to Paparone’s two-run homer to left-center, giving the Dukes a 4-1 lead. Stefani pitched four innings, allowing four runs, four hits, and three walks. 

The Warriors also struggled on offense, managing only five hits in the game and leaving five men on base. Eric Josupait did most of the damage on offense, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. 

“We’re really counting and leaning on our one to four guys in the order [Josupait, Murphy, Ryan Vega, Henry Vickers] to get on base and score some runs for us,” Fezzuoglio said.

The top four hitters combined to go 4-for-11 with a walk and a hit by pitch. The rest of the offense went an anemic 1-for-13. 

The Dukes helped their pitcher. Sophomore shortstop River Pitlock, in particular, was impressive, having a hand in nine of the 21 outs with no errors.

In spite of the loss, Fezzuoglio remains optimistic: “We gotta get innings and we have to get out on the field, work off some of the rust.” 

The Warriors play their home opener Wednesday morning against .

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