Pitching to contact is the usual plan for Dom Delio, but the Penn-Trafford right-hander needs his defense to make plays behind him to get the maximum effect.
In his latest start, the defense made so many putouts and played so crisply that Delio was left shaking his head and grinning, almost in disbelief.
It was a gold glove kind of afternoon for the Warriors’ fly chasers.
“The outfield was outstanding,” Delio said. “They made plays left and right. They saved me a lot of pitches.”
Warriors outfielders had 11 putouts — including highlight catches by center fielder Logan Matrisch and right fielder Nico Casciato — and Delio tossed a three-hit shutout as the Warriors stayed in the Section 1-5A title chase with a 6-0 win Monday over visiting Franklin Regional.
Delio threw 84 pitches, struck out seven and walked one for the Warriors (13-5, 9-2), who could at least share the section title if they can sweep the Panthers (13-5, 7-4) in Tuesday’s series and section finale in Murrysville.
“We still have a shot,” Delio said. “Now we have to go take it.”
Penn-Trafford and Plum are tied for first. Latrobe is a game back at 8-3. Plum plays Tuesday night at Latrobe.
All four teams have clinched playoff spots but are jockeying for position and seeding with one game to play. The WPIAL will announce playoff matchups Friday.
Penn-Trafford coach Lou Cortazzo said his team’s latest win was its sharpest of the season. The Warriors have won 6 of 7.
Franklin Regional was shut out for the first time this season.
“You see what happens when the outfielders make plays?” Warriors coach Lou Cortazzo said. “That was huge, not giving them extra outs. That team has players in its lineup; Dom kept them off balance.”
The Warriors had a 4-0 lead after three innings, plating a run in the first and three in the third.
Zach Feldman singled, and Matrisch doubled to the warning track in right center. Tanner DeStefano knocked in Feldman with a sacrifice fly.
A busy third saw Jordan White double down the third-base line and score on a single from Casciato.
A wild pitch allowed another run before Colton Tyburski singled, and Bryce Ruby lofted a single into shallow center for an RBI to make it 4-0.
“Defensively, they were sound and crisp,” Panthers coach Bobby Saddler said. “Delio commanded the zone with his fastball and had us in his counts.”
The Warriors scored twice more in the sixth, on back-to-back singles by Evan Gigliotti and White, the second off of reliever Lucas Brazel, who took over for Nico Fioravanti with one out in the frame.
Casciato caught six flyouts in right. Matrisch made a diving grab in center, catching the ball as he laid out on his stomach.
“Our defense allowed Dom to keep his pitches down,” Cortazzo said. “That’s the difference between 84 pitches and 156. (Casciato and Matrisch) caught it, covered it and rolled. That’s what you want to see.”
Delio, a Pitt-Johnstown commit, said he primarily used two pitches to silence a strong Panthers’ order.
“I was humming my fastball and curveball today,” Delio said. “I have been working on my mechanics.”
Franklin Regional star shortstop Luke Williams, who has more than 30 runs scored and 30 steals, was limited to a double. He did not have a steal and did not reach third.
Once again, several pro scouts were on hand to watch Williams.
Feldman and White each had two hits for the Warriors.
“The thing I like is that it’s not about anybody else at this point,” Cortazzo said of the last-day section title possibility. “It’s on us to earn it.”