Andrean's Pokers tosses no-hitter as 59ers beat Lowell, 4-0

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

4-17-2009

Team (Record) / Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
LOWELL (1-4)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
ANDREAN (3-2)	1	0	0	1	2	0	-	4	5	0

Wednesday, 4-15-2009 - 51 degrees & sunny at MERRILLVILLE, IN

WP - Mike Pokers (2-0) 15K, 2 walks, 95 pitches
LP - Derek Brandenburg (0-2) 1K, 4 walks, 3 earned runs (4.3 innings)

LOWELL (1-4)
Josh Del Rio (CF) 0-for-2, walk
JD Muscari (DH-P) 0-for-2, walk
Brandon Grubbe (LF) 0-for-2, sac bunt
Derek Brandenburg (P) 0-for-3
Craig Austgen (SS) 0-for-3
Josh Manis (3B) 0-for-2
Matt Hilbrich (RF) 0-for-2
Matt Milcarek (1B) 0-for-2
Evan Ensweiler (C) 0-for-1
Zack Brueckman (PH) 0-for-1

ANDREAN (3-2)
Ryan Dineen (2B) 0-for-3, walk
Evan Rapacz (LF) 1-for-2, double, RBI, walk
Adam Norton (SS) 1-for-3, double, RBI
Kevin Franchetti (C) 0-for-2, walk
Matt Doolin (1B) 1-for-2, walk
Ken Mahala (3B) 0-for-2
PJ Mason (RF) Double, sac fly, RBI
Kyle Kovach (PH) 0-for-1
Kyle Otte (PH) 0-for-1
Thomas Polus (CF) 0-for-2
Sam Tornincasa (PH) 0-for-1
Mike Pokers (P) 0-for-2
Vince Tornincasa (PH) Single, RBI

MERRILLVILLE (4-15-2009) It might have been exactly what Andrean needed. Oddly, it might have been what Lowell needed, too. Andrean senior Mike Pokers walked the first two batters of the game Wednesday and then retired 21 in a row as the 59ers broke a brief two-game losing streak with a 4-0 shutout of Lowell.

Pokers (6-2, 195) walked the first two batters of the game before the Niners coach Dave Pishkur visited him on the mound. The conversation was brief.

"Coach came out and said, "Challenge the hitters and throw it right down the middle," Pokers recalled after the game. "From that point on, I took his advice and threw it right down the middle. It worked out."

There's no arguing that point.

Pokers, with an upper 80 MPH fastball and a sharp breaking curve, retired the next 21 batters, 15 by strikeout to reestablish the Niners dominance over Northwest Indiana teams.

This was a rare case when a senior pitching a no-hit game wasn't the main focus. It was reason for only a mild on-field celebration. In fact, after winning a no-hit game, the 59ers were 'asked' to stay on the field for several minutes of bunting drills. Andrean was a nationally ranked team before two ugly losses (to Illiana Christian and Penn) last week and nothing short of a win would do on another very chilly April afternoon.

"I was thinking about this game," he said. "But I knew our team was going to win. I knew that coming in. It wasn't about being afraid to lose. It's the beginning of the season. We're working out all the kinks and we'll be on the right path, soon."

Andrean scored in the first-inning on a double-error. With two out and a runner at second base, Kevin Franchetti sliced a hard ground ball, which caromed off the glove of Lowell first baseman Matt Milcarek. Second baseman Justin Bolda grabbed the ball and threw wildly to first base, allowing Adam Norton to score.

The Niners made it 2-0 in the fourth after Franchetti and Matt Doolin walked. After a force play, PJ Mason lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to right against Lowell starting pitcher Derek Brandenburg, who allowed just three hits in five innings. Andrean, which returned six starters off a 30-2 team in 2008, got back-to-back RBI doubles by Rapacz and Norton in the fifth inning to complete the scoring.

"We're getting a little bit better," said Andrean coach Dave Pishkur, who wasn't thrilled with the 4-0 win. "Mikey threw the ball very well. But when it's cold like it is and the winds are blowing in, it's a little irritating. Just throw the ball over the plate. I know you're not trying to walk people, but attack the plate a little more. After the first two batters, he did that."

Andrean did not hit the ball well and they haven't so far in five games. But they have at least six future college players in Norton, Franchetti, Dineen and Polus (Mike Pokers hasn't signed with anyone and Ken Mahala is just a junior) and there's no doubt they'll hit.

"We didn't score a lot and we didn't do a lot of great things," said Pishkur. "Its a start. Four runs is not very good with a team of this caliber. Trying too hard? I don't accept that one."

"I will say this. Evan Rapacz is having a great year so far. He's our leading hitter. He never played. Had to play JV ball his junior year. Now, he's batting second and hitting the ball hard. You like to see guys who persevered like that have success."

Lowell is hoping to persevere. Actually, they are hoping to prosper now that they've survived the toughest part of their schedule.

"I think Mike Pokers no-hit us last year, too (for 4 innings before a rain suspension) so we've never figured him out," said Stoner. "We're not going to see a stretch of teams like this again. That's the way I wanted it. This is the first time in five years that we haven't been 10-runned (beaten by 10 or more) by Lake Central, Crown Point and Andrean. And to play them in the first two weeks of the season.

"We've played Andrean twice every year (since Stoner has been coach) and they've 10-runned us every time. I'm proud of this."

Mike Pokers was proud, too. Andrean is supposed to beat Lowell every time, but that didn't mean that Pokers was nonchalant about his no-hit effort, which was keyed by a lot of first pitch strikes.

"I can't say that," he smiled. "It feels great to throw a no-hitter. When my curve is locating for strikes and I have good control over it, that's a good pitch for me to start out with because it has a good 12-6 (straight overhand) break and it catches hitters off guard. If I can throw it for a strike I can get people to take the first pitch."

As for Lowell, their 2009 season prospects may be defined by three road losses. The Devils lost 7-3 at 4A No. 1 Lake Central, 9-0 at 4A No. 8 Crown Point and 4-0 to 3A No. 3 Andrean. If playing good teams (competitively) makes you a better team, the Devils have good things coming in the next six weeks.

"We've got to get the bats figured out," said Stoner. "We're trying too hard and we're too easy to get out with two strikes. I was a little nervous coming out here today. And we've got to get better bunting. I can't call for bunts until I have some confidence we can lay them down. But I thought we held them down. I'm not going to balk at the final score. I'm not going to balk at our pitching and defense. I wish we had the four runs, but it could have been a lot worse."

DEVIL NOTES: Andrean senior right-hander Adam Norton has not pitched in seven games and there is no word on when he will. Norton is playing everyday at shortstop and his arm appears to be OK. The Niners may just be being careful with their No. 1 pitcher, who has signed to attend Notre Dame beginning this fall.

Lowell's 6-foot-5 right-hander Keith Greer, who has not pitched all season, is unlikely to get into a game until next month.

"He's doing therapy," said manager Tom Stoner. "I think he'll be able to throw soon. Once we get him back, we'll have a third solid starter."

2009 Andrean (5-2)
30-2 in 2008, 25-10 in 2007
Coach Dave Pishkur (29th year) 689-230
Home games in Bold, NWC games in CAPS
4/4 (W) 10-3 Gavit (2-4)

4/20/9 (rain) at KANKAKEE VALLEY - 4:30 p.m.
4/22/9 (W) (Chicago Hts.) Marian Catholic - 4:15 p.m.
4/24/9 (F) at HIGHLAND - 4:30 p.m.
4/25/9 (Sat) vs. Bishop Noll (at Railcats Stadium) - 12 noon
4/28/09 (Tu) MUNSTER - 4:30 p.m.
4/30/09 (Th) at HOBART - 4:30 p.m.

Brebeuf Invitational (in Indianapolis)
5/2/9 (Sat) vs. Norwell - 12:00 noon
5/2/9 (Sat) vs. Brebeuf - 2:00 p.m.

5/4/9 (M) at LOWELL - 4:30 p.m.
5/5/9 (Tu) vs. Naperville Central - 5:00 p.m. (CDT)
at (South Bend) Notre Dame
5/6/9 (W) at GRIFFITH - 4:30 p.m.
5/8/9(W) KANKAKEE VALLEY - 4:30 p.m.
5/12/9 (Tu) at Hanover Central - 4:30 p.m.
5/13/9 (W) at Lemont, Ill. - 4:45 p.m.
5/14/9 (Th) HIGHLAND - 4:30 p.m.
5/18/9 (M) at MUNSTER - 4:30 p.m.
5/20/9 (W) HOBART - 4:30 p.m.

Carmel Invitational (Hartman Field)
5-22/9 (F) to be announced (p.m.)
5-23/9 (Sat) to be announced (a.m.)

5/25/9 (M) Merrillville - 10:00 a.m.

Kankakee Valley (3A) Sectional
5/28/9 (Th) quarterfinals - 6:00 p.m.
5/28/9 (Sat) semifinal - 6:00 p.m.
5/28/9 (Mon) Sectional championship - 4:30 p.m.