By Roger Gordon

Correspondent

Two pitching gems got Garfield back on the winning track after six straight losses.

Senior Aidan Hill started and went the distance in leading the G-Men to a 2-0 victory at home May 9 over LaBrae.

Three days later, on May 12, junior Brandyn Bogucki started and went the distance in pacing the G-Men to a 10-0 triumph at Liberty in a game shortened to six innings due to the 10-run rule.

Garfield is now 10-8 on the season.

In the win over the Vikings, Hill gave up just four hits while striking out 11 and walking six. He threw 126 pitches, 71 of which were strikes.

“Aidan pitched really, really well,” head coach Mike Paes said. “He did a real good job spotting everything and keeping the hitters off balance. He used his overpowering fastball when he had to.

Offensively, Brock Pesicek had a double and two RBI, while sophomore left fielder Nate Bacskowski singled twice.

“We got a big win over a good, quality team,” said Paes. “It re-galvanized the attitude of some of the kids.”

In the win over the Leopards, Bogucki yielded only three hits while fanning five and walking none. He threw just 62 pitches.

“Brandyn was in command and was very efficient,” said the coach. “He just kept throwing strikes.”

Bogucki helped his own cause by singling, doubling, knocking in a run and scoring three times.

“Brandyn is a very talented kid,” Paes said. “He’s continually hitting the ball, putting it in play and rarely striking out.”

Junior designated hitter Garet Warnick had a double, a single, an RBI and a run, while Hill tripled, singled, drove in a run and scored once.

The G-Men lost 2-0 May 8 at home to Warren John F. Kennedy Catholic.

Bogucki started and went the distance, giving up no earned runs and eight hits while striking out four and walking one. He threw 104 pitches, 70 of which were strikes.

“Brandyn was very efficient and did a great job,” said Paes. “We didn’t field behind him in the times we needed to. We didn’t give him any run support either.”

At the plate Hill, the shortstop in this game, rapped a pair of singles.