Leading off

Dan Diaz is en fuego

May

I came back from Suffern-Clarkstown South pretty confident that I’d seen the best pitching performance in Rockland today. Robbie Aviles took a no-hitter into the seventh inning at Suffern. He ended up missing his second no-no by a couple of batters.

I was wrong. An hour after I got back to the office came word that Dan Diaz of Nanuet had thrown a no-hitter against Hastings, the defending (albeit depleted) Class B champ. That’s about the sixth no-hitter in Section 1 this year. I’m starting to lose count. Diaz’s last two starts have been off-the-charts incredible. Maybe the best back-to-back starts in section HISTORY.

You heard me.

Get this. On May 2, Diaz takes the hill against Albertus, gives up one hit in the first inning, then shuts the Falcons down on one walk the rest of the way. He strikes out a school record 17. Remember there are only 21 outs. Ten days later, rested and refreshed, he fans 11 Yellow Jackets in today’s no-hitting of Hastings. Talk about overpowering. In 30.1 innings he’s got 56 strikeouts, tied for third in the section. His next start is Saturday against Briarcliff at Cooperstown. Be afraid, Bears, be very afraid.

As for Aviles, he’ll have to settle for second-best. Just like he settled for three hits instead of none, and a 5-2 win instead of a shutout. The crucial moment was Ian Baker’s at-bat to lead off the seventh inning. Brian Aviles, Robbie’s father and pitching coach, called for a curveball. Robbie waved him off and threw a fastball. Baker turned on it and shot it up the middle to the delight of the South dugout. With history no longer intact Aviles gave up two more hits and two runs. It was a disappointing sequence.

Which should say something about the sophomore. He can throw a three-hitter, pick up his section-leading seventh win, beat the hottest team in Class AA, and leave with a funky taste in his mouth. Or my mouth at least. I was looking forward to gushing over Aviles’s second no-hitter in three starts. He no-hit North Rockland ten days ago (and squeezed a three-hit win in between). The kid’s stuff and location are top notch. And he’s just coming into his own.

Anthony Dimarsico provided the support with a pair of hits including a two-run single in a three-run second. The left fielder had been hitless in Suffern’s last three games.

This win establishes Suffern as the top team in Rockland. Although if someone other than Aviles is on the mound South would probably be favored. South’s rotation of JJ Giordano, Jake Ross, and John Tricario is very deep. But Suffern gets bragging rights for now with two wins over South. Barring a miracle the Mounties will win League I-B. They’re 7-0 in the league. South and North Rockland are second at 4-3.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 at 1:19 am by Jake Thomases.
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3 Responses to “Dan Diaz is en fuego”

Jake Thomases May 13th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Nanuet has a game on Saturday that I didn't know about. Diaz will almost certainly throw there instead of Monday. I've changed the post to reflect that.
Baseballer May 19th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Dan Diaz didnt throw but, Nanuet was handled by Briarcliff up in Cooperstown judging by the box score
John June 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Danny Diaz on May 21, 2008 threw a 2 hit 4-0 shutout against Sleepy Hollow allowing 2 walks and striking out 11.

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