Cutrone steers Island Trees in Game 1
Island Trees pitcher Chris Cutrone pumps his fist after he threw a complete game to defeat Garden City 10-3 in Game 1 of the Nassau Class A semifinals. (May 23, 2011) Credit: Kathy Kmonicek
Chris Cutrone didn't waste time after Saturday's win over Lynbrook in the quarterfinals. The senior righthander immediately told the Island Trees coaches he wanted to pitch in Monday's game despite short rest.
Cutrone pitched the final two innings of relief for the victory Saturday after getting the win in a start Wednesday.
Cutrone came through again Monday, going the distance for No. 3 Island Trees in a 10-3 win over No. 4 Garden City in Game 1 of the best-of-three Nassau Class A baseball semifinals. The game was supposed to be at Island Trees, but the field was unplayable because of rain and was switched to Garden City (18-5-1) less than two hours before game time.
Island Trees (20-4) will host Game 2 at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Cutrone allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out eight. All the runs and five of the hits came in the fifth inning or later.
"I just wanted to throw strikes," Cutrone said. "Big games like this, I want the ball. I felt good coming into the game. I started to get tired in the fifth inning but pushed through it."
Island Trees third baseman Mike Manganiello said: "It's like he has had a rubber arm all season. He can go seven innings and then go three the next day. He's not overpowering, but he knows how to pitch. He's come in this year and really proved something."
James Ragusa had an RBI single in the first inning and the Bulldogs scored six runs in the third, as Manganiello, Mike Witteck and Ragusa had run-scoring singles.
Cutrone went 2-for-4 with a walk, Manganiello went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Ragusa went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs for Island Trees, which had 11 hits.
"Some guys who haven't been swinging the bat all season are now," Manganiello said. "That Lynbrook game got us going. You have to see the whole field and be aggressive. Guys were thinking too much. After that win, there was so much energy."
Island Trees coach Joe D'Auria usually calls the game for his pitchers, but not with Cutrone.
"He has four pitches and confuses me too much," he said. "He has a feel for the hitters, so we don't have to work with him that much. It was an outstanding performance."
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