Michael Mariano Jr. knows what his fielders want on a chilly night: Action. The Liberty High School senior right-hander worked fast and threw just 74 pitches (51 strikes) to lead the top-ranked Hurricanes to a 2-1 victory over No.
2 Freedom during an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Northampton Division contest at Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday night. “I don’t like working slow,” said Mariano, who is ready to deliver almost immediately after receiving the ball from the catcher. “I play the field in travel (ball); I don’t like when pitchers work slow.
I give my fielders what I would want if I was in the field.” Mariano surrendered an earned run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout during his complete-game effort. “He’s been great all year,” senior Jaxon Horvath said of Mariano.
“He was good last year as more of a closer for us. This year, obviously, he’s stepping in as a starter. He’s doing his thing.
We’re proud of him.” “Mikey wants to get the ball and go,” Liberty coach Andy Pitsilos added. “He can throw three pitches for strikes.
I call him ‘the magician.’ He’s not overpowering (in terms of velocity). But, he can overpower you with his off-speed pitches .
.. because he keeps you off-balance all the time.
” Mariano, a Lock Haven University recruit, isn’t afraid to throw his litany of breaking balls (12-6 curveball, knuckle curve, dropdown slider, splitfinger) in any count. “I worked backwards,” he said. “I threw off-speeds early,.
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