Erker Leads ’Pac Baseball Team to Three Straight Wins

MAHOPAC—Chris Erker had quite the week for the Mahopac High baseball team - he picked up two wins and earned the save in his team's other game of the week, all without allowing a run.

Mahopac shortstop Jim McGowan tags out Chris Mosca of Yorktown at second Monday at Mahopac. SKIP PEARLmAN The Indians (11-5, 7-1) started their week with an 11-0 win over Brewster on Tuesday, and beat them 6-5 in extrainnings on Thursday before Monday's win 3-0 over Yorktown.

“It was a phenomenal pitching performance by Erker,” said coach Chris Miller about their game with Yorktown. “He pitched well the hole game, he was pretty much in control of the game the whole day.”

Erker struck out 10, and limited Yorktown to just four hits in seven innings.

In addition to Erker's strong performance on the mound, the Indians got some big two-out hits to pull away with the victory. Jim McGowan, Keith Mattos, and Paul Harnish all came through with two-out RBIs in the game. Mc- Gowan finished 2-for-3, with two runs, a double and an RBI. Mattos was 2-for- 3 with an RBI, and a double, while Harnish finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Mahopac's Chris Erker delivers Monday against Yorktown. SKIP PEARLmAN “It was one of those days where you needed the clutch hit, and we got them,” said Miller. “Any time you get a two-out hit it's a big deal; it helped us out a lot today.”

Heading into the sixth inning on Thursday the Indians had a 5-1 lead and were looking to complete the sweep of the Bears. But Brewster made the most of their last two at bats, scoring a pair off of Ryan Kuck in the sixth the Bears scored two more against Billy Demersky with two-outs in the seventh to tie the game.

"It didn't look like we were going to blow them out," said Miller. "But we looked like we were in control of the game."

Jeremy Love of Mahopac takes a cut in Monday's game against Yorktown. SKIP PEARLMAN Fortunately for Demersky, he was able to make the best of the bad situation by leading off the eighth with a triple.

"Give Demersky some credit," said Miller. "He could have very easily have hung his head and just been out of the game. When ever you don't pitch well you feel like you let the team down, for him to bounce right back, it was definitely a good mood after the game."

Two outs later, and with Demersky still at third, Alec Petrone drove him in with his third hit of the day. Petrone finished 3-for-3, with an RBI, while Harnish had another good game, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

With the one run lead, Erker was ready to step up and finish the game.

"Erker being the stud that he is, says to me 'coach I can close it out if you need me,'" said Miller.

Erker pitched retired the side in order to pick up the save, and end the game.

Ryan Kuck of Mahopac swings Monday against Yorktown. SKIP PEARLMAN "Afterwards it was a sense of, 'hey, we can face a little adversity,'" said Miller. "I was happy with the way the responded to get that win."

Earlier in the week Erker made the start against Brewster and pitched six innings, collected 13 strikeouts and held them to one hit.

"You could tell from the get-go he had his stuff," said Miller. "He has been pretty much unbelievable, to say great would be an understatement."

While Erker was shutting down the Bears offense, the Indians broke out for eleven runs. Nine different players combined to collect 13 hits, led by Mattos, Harnish, John Maloney and Jeremy Love, who all finished with two hits.

Maloney finished with a pair of triples and four RBIs, while Love had a double and three RBIs.

"It was a good day for us offensively," said Miller. "A lot of people getting hits, RBIs, you need those days for confidence sake. Every now and then you need a day where everybody plays, and everybody can relax."

The Indians next game is Friday at home against Putnam Valley, the game is set to start at 4:30. On Saturday the Indians host the Tantalos Tournament where they will face Carmel in the opener at 11 a.m., and will play either Fox Lane or John Jay-Cross River in the second half of the doubleheader.